Expo was nice and had a few good sale items, but mostly other races there to advertise to you.
Race packet had no goodies, but the tech shirt was pretty nice (I would order a size up, mine was small on me and I'm a pretty tiny person, but also it's 100% my fault that I didn't try it before race day because they allow exchanges, which is super nice), and there was no line to pick up.
Both before and after the race the convention center wasn't well labeled, or spots were totally unlabeled inside, and I spent a lot of time walking around looking for what I needed. Signs are cheap and easy, and that's something big I would want them to improve/make clearer.
Race itself: The first half is fantastic, I would recommend the half for a first timer, but I don't think I would recommend the full for a first time marathoner. The views are great for the first 13 high energy, tons of people, and it flies by. After the half splits to finish and the full goes on, it was dead. It was so hard for me as a first timer to feel that alone.
BUT, the crowds in Buffalo are AMAZING. They made it for me. This race can be a hot one, and they came out with sprinklers, watermelon, oranges, popsicles, twizzlers, you name it. The support was huge and I am so grateful for them. The water station volunteers were also fantastic and the pitchers to refill water bottles were so great.
The medals were great and the key chain is also awesome. After the race it takes a good bit to get yourself the heck out of the finish corral because there is so much in the way and it's fenced in. I really wished they had not put so much of the post race food and drinks upstairs because even on an escalator there was no way I could travel that far after running 26.5 miles (this course is definitely long, even if you subtract out the usual weaving and bobbing, everyone I know had it as long on their watches).
I would definitely recommend running the half to anyone because it was fantastic, but the full be prepared to pace yourself like a champ because it thins out big time (or run with a friend and it's all good!). The people of Buffalo are absolutely wonderful, and they are a huge part of why I made it. Definitely a great one to experience!