Sahlen Field facts for kids
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"The House That Jimmy Built"
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A view of the field from upper-level seating
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| Former names | Pilot Field (1988–1995) Downtown Ballpark (1995) North AmeriCare Park (1995–1999) Dunn Tire Park (1999–2008) Coca-Cola Field (2009–2018) |
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| Address | 1 James D. Griffin Plaza |
| Location | Buffalo, New York United States |
| Coordinates | 42°52′52.7″N 78°52′27.4″W / 42.881306°N 78.874278°W |
| Public transit |  Seneca |
| Owner | City of Buffalo |
| Operator | Bison Baseball, Inc. |
| Executive suites | 38 |
| Capacity | 16,600 (2019–present) 16,907 (2017–2018) 17,600 (2015–2016) 18,025 (2005–2014) 21,050 (1990–2004) 19,500 (1988–1989) |
| Record attendance | Baseball: 21,050 (June 3, 1990 / August 30, 2002) Concert: 27,000 (June 12, 2015) |
| Field size | Left field: 325 ft (99 m) Left-center field: 371 ft (113 m) Center field: 404 ft (123 m) Right-center field: 367 ft (112 m) Right field: 325 ft (99 m) Backstop: 55 ft (17 m)  |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 10, 1986 |
| Opened | April 14, 1988 |
| Renovated | 2004, 2020 |
| Expanded | 1990 |
| Construction cost | US$42.4 million ($105 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HOK Sport |
| Services engineer | Wendel Engineers PC |
| General contractor | Cowper Construction Management |
| Tenants | |
| Buffalo Bisons (AA/IL/Triple-A East) 1988–present Buffalo Nighthawks (LPBL) 1998 Empire State Yankees (IL) 2012 Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) 2020 |
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Sahlen Field is a baseball park in Buffalo, New York. It is home to the Buffalo Bisons baseball team. The stadium opened on April 14, 1988. It can hold up to 16,600 people. This makes it the largest stadium in Triple-A baseball in the United States.
Sahlen Field was the first "retro-classic ballpark" ever built. This style combines old-fashioned stadium looks with modern features. It was designed with the hope of bringing a Major League Baseball (MLB) team to Buffalo. However, these efforts were not successful.
The stadium has also been home to other teams. These include the Buffalo Nighthawks in 1998 and the Empire State Yankees in 2012. In 2020, the Toronto Blue Jays of MLB played their home games here. Besides baseball, Sahlen Field has hosted many concerts and professional wrestling events.
Contents
History of Sahlen Field
Early Baseball in Buffalo
Professional baseball started in Buffalo in 1877. The Buffalo Bisons played at Riverside Park. Later, the Bisons joined the National League in 1879. They moved to Olympic Park in 1884.
The Bisons then became a minor league team. They played in different leagues over the years. In 1914 and 1915, another team called the Buffalo Blues played MLB games at Federal League Park. Bison Stadium was built for the Bisons in 1924. It was later renamed Offermann Stadium.
Famous baseball players also played at Offermann Stadium. Hank Aaron was discovered there in 1952. Toni Stone became the first woman to sign a professional baseball contract in 1953.
The Bisons moved to War Memorial Stadium in 1961. In 1968, Buffalo tried to get an MLB expansion team. They planned a large domed stadium. But the new teams went to Montreal and San Diego.
Later, plans for a domed stadium for the Buffalo Bills football team also failed. The Bills got a new open-air stadium instead. The Buffalo Bisons team moved in 1970. This left Buffalo without a professional baseball team for a while.
Building the Ballpark
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In 1978, Buffalo's mayor, James D. Griffin, helped bring baseball back. He bought a team that became the new Buffalo Bisons. They played at War Memorial Stadium starting in 1979.
In 1983, Robert E. Rich Jr. bought the Bisons. He moved the team up to the Triple-A league in 1985. This is the highest level of minor league baseball.
The stadium was designed by HOK Sport. It was the first "retro-classic ballpark" in the world. This means it looked like older stadiums but had modern features. The design was meant to fit in with the buildings downtown. It was also close to public transport.
The stadium cost $42.4 million to build. Most of the money came from public funds. The Bisons signed a 20-year lease to play there. The land where the stadium stands used to be a church and a hotel.
Construction started in July 1986. The stadium first had 19,500 seats. This made it the third-largest minor league stadium at the time. The design allowed for more seats to be added later if an MLB team came to Buffalo.
Changes Over Time
In 1990, more seats were added. This increased the stadium's capacity to 21,050.
Robert E. Rich Jr. tried to buy the Montreal Expos in 1990. He wanted to move them to Buffalo. He also tried to get an MLB expansion team. But the costs were too high. Buffalo was a finalist for new MLB teams in 1993, but they were not chosen.
In 1991, the Bisons set a new attendance record for minor league baseball. Over 1.2 million fans came to games that season.
In 1992, Rich Jr. tried to buy the San Francisco Giants. He wanted to move them to Buffalo. But the owner said no.
In 1996, the outfield fence was changed. This made the field dimensions similar to Jacobs Field, where the Cleveland Indians played. This helped the Indians evaluate their young players.
The Bisons joined the International League in 1998. This created fun rivalries with nearby teams. The stadium was also home to the Buffalo Nighthawks women's baseball team in 1998.
A new video screen was added to the scoreboard in 1999. In 2004, $5 million in renovations were completed. This included removing some bleacher seats and adding a Party Deck. This reduced the stadium's capacity.
In 2011, a new, larger high-definition video screen was installed. New field drainage and lighting systems were also added.
The Empire State Yankees played at the stadium in 2012. Their home field was being renovated.
From 2014 to 2019, the stadium's seats were replaced. The old red seats were swapped for wider green ones. This gradually reduced the stadium's capacity to 16,600.
In 2020, the Bisons' season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Toronto Blue Jays then played their MLB season at Sahlen Field. This was because they could not play in Canada.
Major League Baseball and the Blue Jays paid for $5 million in renovations. These upgrades included new LED field lights and instant replay technology.
Stadium Names Over the Years
The stadium has had several names. It was first called Pilot Field in 1988. This was because Pilot Air Freight bought the naming rights.
In 1995, the name was changed to Downtown Ballpark for a short time. Then, North AmeriCare bought the naming rights, and it became North AmeriCare Park.
In 1999, Dunn Tire took over the naming rights. The stadium was then known as Dunn Tire Park.
From 2009 to 2018, it was called Coca-Cola Field. This was after Coca-Cola Bottling Company bought the naming rights.
Since 2019, the stadium has been known as Sahlen Field. This name comes from Sahlen's, a local meat packing company.
Exciting Events at Sahlen Field
Baseball Games
The first game at the stadium was on April 14, 1988. The Buffalo Bisons won 1–0 against the Denver Zephyrs. Pam Postema, the first female umpire in pro baseball, was there.
The stadium hosted the first-ever Triple-A All-Star Game in July 1988. This game was shown live on ESPN.
On June 3, 1990, a game between the Bisons and Oklahoma City 89ers set a record. With a concert by The Beach Boys after, 21,050 fans attended. This was the most ever for a baseball game at the stadium.
In May 1991, the Bisons played an exhibition game against their MLB team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bisons won 4–2. Barry Bonds hit a home run during a pregame derby.
The baseball events for the World University Games were held here in July 1993. Cuba won the gold medal.
In May 1995, a Bisons game was the first Triple-A game shown live on ESPN2.
Bartolo Colón of the Bisons threw a no-hitter in June 1997. He helped his team win 4–0 against the New Orleans Zephyrs. A no-hitter is when a pitcher doesn't allow any hits during a game.
On August 30, 2002, another game matched the attendance record. 21,050 fans watched the Bisons win 5–0.
In September 2004, the Bisons won the Governors' Cup championship. They defeated the Richmond Braves at home.
The stadium hosted the 25th Triple-A All-Star Game in July 2012.
The first Major League Baseball game at Sahlen Field was on August 11, 2020. The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Miami Marlins 5–4.
Concerts and Music Festivals
Since 1988, the Buffalo Bisons have hosted a yearly Summer Concert Series. Many famous artists have performed after games. These include Aretha Franklin, Chicago, Reba McEntire, and Willie Nelson. The Beach Boys played ten concerts at the stadium.
Music festivals have also been held here. The Budweiser Superfest took place in 1989. The Bluestime Jam festival was in 1995.
The WEDG Edgefest music festival has been held at the stadium. It featured bands like the Goo Goo Dolls and Weezer.
The WYRK Taste of Country music festival has been held here since 2001. In 2015, Dierks Bentley headlined the event. It set a record for concert attendance with 27,000 fans.
Professional Wrestling Events
Ballpark Brawl was a series of professional wrestling events. They were held after games from 2003 to 2007. Famous wrestlers like Jeff Jarrett and Sabu competed.
The Natural Heavyweight Championship was created for these events. Wrestlers like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe won this title.
TNA Wrestling also held BaseBrawl events at the stadium. These included matches with Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode.
Other Fun Events
In August 1988, Reverend Billy Graham held a large event here.
The Goo Goo Dolls filmed their music video for "There You Are" at the stadium in 1990.
Jim Kelly, a famous football player, held his StarGaze charity event here. It raised money for his Kelly for Kids Foundation.
The stadium has been home to the National Buffalo Wing Festival since 2002. This popular event celebrates Buffalo wings.
In 2019, Nitro Circus brought their extreme sports show to the stadium. Also, Micah Hyde of the Buffalo Bills held a charity softball game.
Special Features of Sahlen Field
Places to Eat
Consumer's Pub at the Park is a restaurant inside the stadium. It has indoor and outdoor seating with views of the field. You can visit it year-round.
The stadium also has many food stands. They offer local favorites like beef on weck sandwiches and Sahlen's hot dogs. You can also find pizza and ice cream.
Union Pub is a restaurant across from the stadium. It has been open since 1864.
Tributes and Honors
The Buffalo Bisons mark where their players hit home runs into the parking lot. This is a rare and exciting feat. Russell Branyan holds the record with three such home runs.
The original flagpole from the old War Memorial Stadium is now at Sahlen Field. It stands behind the Party Deck.
The initials of Robert E. Rich Sr., the founder of Rich Products, are above the owner's box. This is a tribute to him.
A statue of former Mayor James D. Griffin is outside the stadium. It honors his help in building the ballpark. The stadium's address is now One James D. Griffin Plaza.
The Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame has a special room at the stadium. It displays plaques honoring all its members. It also has exhibits about Buffalo's baseball history.
The Bisons display banners in left field for their championships. They also honor retired numbers of great players. These include Ollie Carnegie (6), Luke Easter (25), Jeff Manto (30), and Jackie Robinson (42).
The Toronto Blue Jays also have retired numbers honored at the stadium. These include Roberto Alomar (12) and Roy Halladay (32).
Getting to Sahlen Field
Sahlen Field is easy to reach by car. It is located near exits from I-190, Route 33, and Route 5.
There are parking garages and lots close to the stadium. A pedestrian bridge connects one garage to the stadium area.
You can also get there by public transport. The Buffalo Metro Rail has a stop called Seneca Station nearby. Amtrak trains also stop at Buffalo–Exchange Street station close by.
Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are also available in Buffalo.
Climate
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- General
| Events and Tenants | ||
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| Preceded by War Memorial Stadium |
Home of the Buffalo Bisons 1988 – present |
Succeeded by Present |
| Preceded by Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
Host of the Old-Timers Baseball Classic 1988 – 1990 |
Succeeded by Final event |
| Preceded by Inaugural event |
Host of the Triple-A All-Star Game 1988 |
Succeeded by Cooper Stadium |
| Preceded by Inaugural event |
Host of StarGaze 1992 – 1993 |
Succeeded by University at Buffalo Stadium |
| Preceded by Don Valley Stadium  UK |
Universiade venue 1993 |
Succeeded by Fukuoka Dome  Japan |
| Preceded by Spring Mobile Ballpark |
Host of the Triple-A All-Star Game 2012 |
Succeeded by Aces Ballpark |
| Preceded by Rogers Centre |
Home of the Toronto Blue Jays 2020 |
Succeeded by Rogers Centre |
Images for kids
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War Memorial Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bisons (1961–1970), and later home of the modern Buffalo Bisons franchise (1979–1987)
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A view of the venue's construction from Exchange Street parking ramp, December 1987
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Bleacher expansion as seen in right field behind Fabio Lanzoni, June 1993
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A satellite view of the venue with new outfield fence, circa 1996–2003
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Party Deck, July 2021
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A view of the venue and its seating bowl from I-190, June 2019
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Bullpens, July 2021
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Larry King, who dedicated the venue in May 1988 and later invested in Buffalo's 1993 Major League Baseball expansion bid
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Barry Bonds, who became the first player to hit a home run to center field in May 1991
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The Governors' Cup, won by the Bisons at the venue in September 2004
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Stephen Strasburg, who attracted a large crowd at the venue for his final Triple-A appearance in June 2010
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Jonah Heim, who became the first Buffalo native in 130 years to play an MLB game in his hometown in July 2021
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The Beach Boys, who played ten concerts at the venue between 1988 and 2001
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Goo Goo Dolls, who filmed their music video for "There You Are" at the venue in 1990 and later headlined Edgefest in June 1997
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The Jim Rome Show, which made a tour stop at the venue in July 2001
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Zack Hample, who vlogged the Toronto Blue Jays residency
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Left field foul pole, July 2021
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Lower-level concourse, July 2021
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The venue's press box that bears the initials of Rich Products founder Robert E. Rich Sr., September 2021
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Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame and Heritage Room, July 2015
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A view of the venue from Buffalo–Exchange Street station, November 2021
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