Success of Pond Hockey Event and Ice Fishing Cited as Potential for Winter Use

For decades the Erie Basin Marina has closed in mid-October and reopened in mid-May, now Mayor Byron Brown and Congressman Brian Higgins want to open and promote the marina and waterfront as an all-season destination.

Their plan outlines immediate and longer term goals, including:

•  Immediately opening the Erie Basin Marina as 12 month, all-season destination.
•  Developing a winter-use plan for next season to include ice skating, pond hockey, concessions      and other winter activities.
• Developing a new master plan for the phased-in upgrade of the Erie Basin Marina to include new             streetscapes and more pedestrian-friendly usage. 

"There is pent-up demand for winter-related waterfront uses. The small boat harbor is increasingly becoming a favorite place for ice fishing and this weekend’s successful Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tournament points to the need to unleash this demand”, Congressman Brian Higgins said.

"The City of Buffalo is a four-season city that benefits from the different weather conditions we experience every year," said Mayor Brown. "And yet, recreational opportunities along our waterfront, particularly in the Erie Basin Marina, have been cut off every year for almost seven months.  This makes no sense at all and I'm proud to join Congressman Higgins in a joint effort to open this area of the Buffalo waterfront for year-round enjoyment by city residents, our suburban neighbors and out-of-town visitors.  Buffalo's waterfront continues to improve and this effort will make it even better."

The Mayor and Congressman indicated that input regarding this proposal would be solicited from interested parties such as the Police Athletic League of Buffalo, Buffalo Place and the downtown business community, tourism and development agencies, and local recreational sports organizations.

The Mayor and Congressman expressed appreciation to Labatt USA for organizing Saturday’s pond hockey tournament, which attracted hundreds to Buffalo’s downtown waterfront and convincingly demonstrated the viability of the Erie basin Marina as a recreational winter sports venue.