Cutouts at a Toronto Blue Jays game at Sahlen Field.
Just like we saw at Sahlen Field for Toronto Blue Jays games in August and September, there will be no actual fans in KeyBank Center for Buffalo Sabres games – but the paying customers will be represented by cardboard cutouts.
The Sabres announced Monday night that fan cutouts will be available for $60 (or $150 for a cutout autographed by a player). The cutouts can be shipped after the season for an additional $25 or picked up for free. Season ticket-holders get a $10 discount. Proceeds benefit the Sabres Foundation.
All the information is available in a link at the Sabres web site, but the key points are as follows:
• Cutouts will be located on the 200 and 300 levels of the arena, depending on order of purchase. They will thus not be visible on television during game play as the lower seats of the 100 level will be covered by advertising tarps. The cutouts may be visible at other times in the television broadcast or on the team's social media channels.
• Photos are limited to one person per cutout. Pet photos are allowed.
• The only branding allowed is Sabres gear. No other sports teams, college or professional, may be represented. No commercial advertising is allowed.
• Also among the 10-point listing of rules for photos: "No offensive or negative comments about the Buffalo Sabres."
Cutouts in right field prior for the Toronto Blue Jays' game against the New York Yankees at Sahlen Field on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020
Mike Harrington
Sports Columnist
A News staffer since 1987, I'm a Baseball Hall of Fame voter, a 2013 inductee into the Buffalo Baseball HOF and the Buffalo chapter chair of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. And I insist only Chicago & New York can come close to Buffalo pizza.
