Buffalo, NY( WBEN) What does a hockey team do with tickets that are suddenly available? The Sabres are dealing with that dilemma with a new standby program for fans.

As part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, every NHL team is required to reserve an increased number of tickets for players, referees and league officials. When these tickets go unused, they become available for purchase the day of the scheduled home game. The Sabres Standby program was designed as an efficient way to alert fans to these additional tickets and gives them the opportunity to purchase last-minute tickets for games that may have been sold out for weeks.
 
To be eligible for the Sabres Standby program, fans will be required to sign up at www.sabres.com/standby. While Sabres Standby will be available for all home games, fans will only be able to sign up beginning 48 hours prior to each desired home game. Enrollment will consist of providing verified contact information, first and second option seating locations, desired price range and number of tickets requested. After enrolling, patrons will be sent a confirmation message with further instructions on when they will be contacted with potential ticket options.
 
Once the ticket holds have been lifted on the day of the desired home game, fans enrolled in the Sabres Standby program will be contacted on a first-come, first-served basis with information on how to complete their order. Patrons who are selected will have a 30-minute window to accept or reject the ticket order and orders will be filled until the entire ticket inventory is exhausted. As a reference point, tickets for home games with a 7 p.m. start time should be released that afternoon by 1 p.m.
 
A Sabres customer service representative will serve as a game-day concierge to assist with the process and a dedicated phone line will be available for patrons to respond to Sabres Standby inquiries. 
 
The first Sabres home game to utilize this new program will be the team’s game against Boston on Friday, Feb. 15. Fans can begin enrolling in Sabres Standby, beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, to become eligible to purchase the limited number of remaining tickets for Friday’s game.