I really do miss all those tournament games Sean and I went to over the years. We would always have great seats in the 100 level because of my being a Canisius College basketball season ticket holder. Downtown Buffalo was always an amazing scene during those tournament weekends and we saw a lot of great games. The subway rides to and from the games were full of people going to the games and most of them from out of town coming from the various hotels. The tournament was a big deal for Buffalo. Restaurants and bars were full for the entire weekend.
Our ticket package gave us six games. The first day was always a Thursday or Friday and would include two sessions of two games each. Then there would be a 90 minute break between sessions and the crowds would descend on the area restaurants for a quick meal. Then there was the evening session of two more games. Getting something to eat was crazy and hectic and sometimes we would take the subway up to Allen Street and go to one of the restaurants there instead of fighting the crowds downtown.
We went to the tournament in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2014 and had a wonderful time together each weekend. The tournament was last in town in 2017 but I war retired and no longer a season ticket holder at Canisius and didn't go to any games. I always have enjoyed watching the tournament on television every year and it was very weird when it was cancelled in 2020. Last year's tournament was held entirely in one location because of the pandemic. Very strange but at least they were able to have the games. This year things seem to be back to normal.
The tournament is scheduled to return to Buffalo again in 2026.
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