April 4, 2003
NCAA Tournament
Buffalo Primer | Part I

NCAA Tournament Coverage

Brackets | Info The Dean's List Frozen Four Team Capsules Other Stories --------------------------------- Minnesota's C. Harrington Cornell's Sam Paolini UNH's Patrick Foley --------------------------------- Midwest Reg. Final East Regional Final Northeast Regional Final West Regional Final Midwest Reg. First Round East Regional First Round Northeast Reg. First Rd. West Reg. First Round --------------------------------- East Reg. Capsules Northeast Reg. Capsules Midwest Reg. Capsules West Reg. Capsules East Reg. Preview Northeast Reg. Preview Midwest Reg. Preview West Reg. Preview

As any college hockey coach will tell you, you're only as good as your scouting report. We're all embarking on a weekend in a strange city, but have no fear: Inside College Hockey has broken down the tapes and developed a game plan for your trip to Buffalo. Today, check out how to get around and a few Friday getaways. In Part II, check out the scoop on where to go out at night.

GETTING AROUND

To HSBC Arena: The rink has a terrific location in downtown Buffalo, and depending on where you are staying, you can walk, drive, take the Metro Rail, or take a shuttle to the games.

Still in the planning stages?

Don't have a flight to Buffalo, or need a place to stay? Have no fear: you can find what you need on Orbitz. Buffalo is in a terrific location for college hockey fans to reach by car. If you're making the trek from Michigan or Minnesota, you'll probably want to cut through Canada. From New England, just get on I-90. And keep driving. Here are the driving distances and approximate times, according to MapQuest, from each participating team's home arena to HSBC Arena: Cornell: 155 miles and 3 hours, 3 minutes driving time Michigan: 309 miles and 5 hours, 14 minutes driving time Minnesota: 954 miles and 15 hours, 30 minutes driving time New Hampshire: 517 miles and 8 hours, 29 minutes driving time

If you’re staying downtown, HSBC Arena is at the end of Washington Street, about 10 blocks from the Hyatt Regency. If you’re not up for the walk, hop on the Metro Rail – when it runs on street level, it’s free. You’ll want to take the “Inbound to Auditorium” train, and the rink is at the last stop.

The Metro Rail is underground until it gets near the Radisson Suites Downtown, near the corner of Main and Chippewa. If you get on the Metro Rail at an underground stop – and the first is as far from downtown as the SUNY-Buffalo South Campus – you must pay the $1.25 fare. Pay the fare before you board, and carry the proof of purchase with you – there are no turnstiles, but a Metro Ticket Inspector can ask you for your proof of payment.

If you're driving to the game, you can find parking lots and ramps downtown (marked with a "P" on the local organizing committee's online maps). In addition, normal street parking restrictions as suspended on the west side of Main Street for Thursday.

The organizing committee warns, however, that downtown parking will be limited during the day on Thursday. You may want to explore other options, including:

1) Park at a Metro Rail lot at either the LaSalle station or the UB South Campus station. Parking is free and the Metro Rail will take you to the arena.

2) Park for $5 at the Erie Basin Marina, located to the Northwest of the rink about a 10-minute walk away.

3) For Thursday only, you can take a $12 shuttle from an airport park 'n ride lot. Click here for details.

Related Links

Downtown Map HSBC Arena Buffalo Convention and Visitors Bureau Hockey Hall of Fame Toronto Blue Jays Casino Niagara Seneca Niagara Falls Casino

Going to Canada: A lot of the area's top-notch attractions – as you'll see from our list of Friday Getaways, below – are over the border.

You can get to Canada by way of the Peace Bridge, the Rainbow Bridge, or the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, but the Peace Bridge is the most convenient to the city. Located off I-190 (the New York State Thruway-Niagara Section), it's just minutes from downtown.

If you plan to visit Canada at any time during your stay, you'll want to bring either your passport or your birth certificate to minimize complications when crossing the border in both directions. Keep in mind that a driver's license is not considered to be proof of citizenship.

Buffalo Forecast from the Weather Channel
The Weather Channel
Day	High/Low	Precipitation
Wed.	39/29	20%
Thurs.	45/33	0%
Fri.	48/34	30% showers
Sat.	43/31	30% rain/snow
Sun.	51/35	20%
As of Tuesday, April 8

WEATHER

It's early spring in Upstate New York, which means that cold weather and even snow is not out of the question. The preliminary forecast from the Weather Channel looks promising, however: it calls for temperatures to warm up as the week progresses, with highs reaching the mid-50s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and a 50 percent chance of rain on Saturday.

FIVE GREAT FRIDAY GETAWAYS

Need something to do after the Hobey ceremony? Or just want to get out and see the sights? Here are your best bets:

1. Hockey Hall of Fame: A must-see for any fan, it's less than two hours from Buffalo in downtown Toronto.

2. Niagara Falls: Like so much in life (beer, hockey on TV, ballet), it's better from the Canadian perspective. Cross the border for the best view.

3. Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays: Sure, SkyDome was a lot cooler 10 years ago. But it's still a sight. Combine this trip with the Hall of Fame, and you've got yourself a great day.

4. Casinos: Cross the border for Casino Niagara, or stay state-side and visit the new Seneca Niagara Falls Casino.

5. Tour downtown: The Buffalo Niagara Visitors Center leads a two-hour walking tour of downtown, starting from its office at 617 Main Street. Better yet, create your own tour of downtown watering holes. We'll give you a rundown of the best ones in Part II of Inside College Hockey's Buffalo Primer.