On the Buffalo evening news tonight they were talking about Bass Pro potentially coming to Buffalo and located in the Aud. What's the story with the Aud.. It is closed and vacant, correct?

Yeah, Bass Pro have been blowing smoke up the city of Buffalo's ass about that one for a long time now. From what I remember they made the big announcement over two years ago that they were going to set up shop in there, but haven't yet made any formal arrangements to put their money where their mouth is. So yes, the Aud is still closed and it's still vacant and it's sealed up good and tight too.

I was hoping to catch a glimpse inside of it during Discovery Channel's series on Urban Exploration, but alas, all they ended up showing was them abseil from its roof. If Steve Duncan (Undercity) is reading this then maybe he can shed some light on what it was like on the inside since they no doubt had to walk through a portion of it in order to get up there.

Edit: didn't realize I was responding in the trusted forum, so I'm guessing Steve probably won't be offering us any details here. Duh.

On Buffalo's channel 4 last night, there was a special on the direction of waterfront development, including what is being done with Beth Steel. I didn't watch it, but I assume it mentioned the aud too. I recall hearing something a couple days ago about Bass Pro backing out, and the waterfront development is being done without Bass Pro included.

Here is the Bass Pro plan:
As currently planned, the public development corporation would spend $45 million to prepare the idle Aud for build-out as a huge Bass Pro store. That price tag includes removal of asbestos and mold and installation of basic electrical, plumbing and heating services. A 150-car parking lot will be created in the basement.

Bass Pro estimates it will spend $20 million of its own money to create a multilevel store with extensive water features throughout, including a simulated creek and pond.

"There will be some reshuffling of money we have in hand, but we want people to understand that we are not giving Bass Pro any more money than previously committed," Quinn said. "We have $35 million. That hasn't changed."

The outdoor store would occupy about three-quarters of the cavernous sports arena. An as-yet-undetermined retailer will share the Aud with the seller of outdoor gear, utilizing the north end of the building. The $10 million cost of preparing that space for build-out would be repaid through future rent payments. Quinn acknowledged local planners and the retailer seriously weighed the option of tearing down the Aud to create a shovel-ready site for Bass Pro. But in the end, Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris could not shake his original vision of reinventing the local landmark.


But interestingly, there was an article a couple weeks ago highlighting the string along Bass Pro has been giving Buffalo. I'm not sure if anyone really believes it anymore..


UPDATE: I heard on the news this morning that the city has given Bass Pro 30 days to essentially put up or shut up. They really want to get the waterfront plan in motion.

it's water logged and moldy and would basically have to be demoed IF bass pro really wanted it. anyone who knows buffalo knows the bass pro thing was NEVER gonna happen to begin with.