So to start off I have stopped on my longer piece to start a letter. Well why? The frustration of the team and city needed a spark and I bet Duane better known as @DuaneS39 made it all happen. So I am “penning” a letter based off of the sweet song parody that Melody Martin wrote based off the hit song “Hey There Delilah”. She calls it “Hey Jason Botterill” you can see it here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HPgY_1MU9-M
Hey there Kim and Terry, Phil avid Sabres fan before you ask. No I do not have season tickets, I have two to three China knockoffs in my closet, and I use my parents MSG Go to watch all the games. But I do watch, I do support, I buy tickets to games even though my girlfriend couldn’t care less, I buy apparel other than jerseys, and I travel from Rochester to go to these games. Also, I go to a ton of Rochester American games. I am going to try to be nice but no promises.
When the team was bought over 8 years ago now I was hoping for an injection of blue and gold into my veins. An owner who would spend on the players and the arena. Alas, downtown is wonderful compared to how it was when I went to Buffalo State right down the road. However, the “pop” in the arena is gone but not buried. My passion for the Sabres is wearing. The team is well a laughingstock that even Barstool is making fun of us. Barstool loves Buffalo, but they even see this is kind of well a choke slam through a table at a Bills tailgate.
Ok, ok I am trying here. We as fans are at all-time low. Social media and in the arena. It’s a cesspool of negativity and poorly timed jokes. I am included. Even writers and radio hosts during the tank years are laughing with each other at this mess. Yes I said tank because that was what it was. Kind of still is but this time your team is kind of things it’s a winner when they are clearly far from it.
You would point to the 10 game winning streak. That’s a blip an anomaly as they say in the analytic world. Uh oh should have not brought math or spreadsheets because my good twitter friends who love the numbers will throw charts at me. Or tweet me them to tell me how pointless that streak became. I will not even bring up that small amount of time the arena had the “playoff atmosphere”. Again I am fan what do I know ?
What do we know as fans on running a business? We know the customers ya should just be shown something. Not two dollar glasses, not a small 90s goat head pennant, and not our gold ring partners hanging in the rafters with the best players in the franchise’s history. Mr. Pegula you cried about one of those players. Now he hangs with those “Gold Ring” partners. What a load of …. Nope I will not over step my bounds there sorry!
I will say the arena is not up to par. I go to Amerks game and at least there the jumbo-tron actually works in HD. Also, the seats in both arenas are terrible. They are stained, old, and some broken. Do not know why or how that can happen. Again I’m just a customer I mean fan. Wait what am I again?
I just want more effort from the organization overall. Stop putting people in positions that keep making embarrassing mistakes. Like misspelling jerseys. Stop giving out fake jerseys to alumni. That’s for fans to do. Not your own alumni.
Effort from the off ice staff. Instead of terrible give-aways and kids getting robbed in a game for naming Disney princesses from Kyle Okposo. Did you even know that happened? It was supposed to be fun but instead a little girls feeling was hurt. Bet her parents won’t come back. I’m not even a parent and that’s embarrassing.
Also, you own a dog you both love. Why does the team LIKE EVERY OTHER NHL TEAM have a dog. Or as the kids say these days doggo. You know something you can throw on social media with your head coach, maybe a few players playing soccer with the dog before the game. I don’t know I’m no social media mogul ! You have people hired for that ! Right? Or do they have to go through 20 forms of an approval to do something. Least the Bills get it right sometimes!
Ok I’m ranting I am sorry again! To put a bow on this. There is a lot of wrong with the team including the team you ice on a nightly basis. Please for the love of Buffalo sports fans who enjoy their hockey. Fix your arena, fix your banners, fix how you treat alumni, get a dog or animal or a baby yoda, and be better on social media! Just talk to us Mr and Mrs. Pegula. Unfiltered and, unedited. We don’t care if you stumble but at least let us know you hear us.
No really I’m stopping, I just would like accountability on why and what is going on at PSE. This is frustrating on all accounts I cannot imagine it is not for you both. Talk to us.
Sincerely, Phil a concerned fan for his favorite organization.
PS I don’t want you to sell the team or move it. And also beer is too expensive at the arena, just do a happy hour of cheap beer. You’ll make a killing!
Swords and Mafia 