Governor Kathy Hochul attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new M&T Bank Center in Schenectady, New York. The event marked the opening of a multi-purpose venue that will host concerts, hockey games, and family-oriented shows.
During her remarks, Governor Hochul acknowledged the efforts of local leaders and community members who contributed to the project. She highlighted the historical significance of the site, referencing its past as a General Electric facility and noting its role in Upstate New York’s economic history.
“What a visionary — you will go down in the history books of the transformation of Upstate New York because of your vision. When you come to a place as I did with Gary McCarthy many years ago, and looked at this site, and saw the old GE facility, and remembered all the great jobs that had just driven this community to new heights back at that era when everything was coming through Upstate New York, and we had the Erie Canal,” said Hochul.
She also addressed challenges faced by upstate communities over recent decades. “But, you don’t have to be just from Buffalo to know what Upstate decline looked and felt like. I mean, you had every community from Buffalo, to Schenectady to Albany, and it takes people who have a lot of fortitude, strength, a vision to carry on despite decades and decades of nothing happening and adversity.”
Hochul praised individuals involved in bringing the center to completion. “Dave, you are truly someone I admire immensely. I knew I could not ever see you again and not be at this event today. You started talking about it years ago and said, ‘Governor, you’ll be there.’ And so, proud to be here with you and all the other leaders, and Gary Hughes from the Legislature and our elected leaders from Albany.”
The Governor expressed optimism about future opportunities for sports at the center: “And President Kiss, this is a big day for you welcoming extraordinary hockey teams for the men and women, and hopefully setting off Olympians and professionals right from this very location. I have every confidence we’re going to be doing that.”
Hochul emphasized her connection with Schenectady through personal visits: “But, I fell in love with this, so this is love at first hello when you come to this place… A big date for my husband and I is to go to Johnny’s for dinner…”
She also recalled an incident during an Erie Canal trip where she sought shelter at a nearby marina due to severe weather: “And what’s nearby? Oh, the brand new marina. So thank you for being literally my safe harbor…”
Addressing local leadership’s commitment to Schenectady’s growth she stated: “Every time I talk to you [Neil Golub], he tells me one more thing he’s done to boost Schenectady… those who call this place — they’re going to not take this for granted.”
Highlighting economic benefits brought by construction projects like these she said: “Dave, 2,500 people working down here who did not have a job perhaps. And the union workers — thank God we have such hardworking men and women building projects like this…”
She concluded by reiterating her support for regional development across New York State: “So… I’m going to continue… making sure that people know what we have here that was not here a few short years ago… And to get this done in the aftermath of the pandemic… that’s why we’re here today.”
The opening of M&T Bank Center comes after several years of planning amid disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic-related delays.
