Sahlen Field

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Sahlen Field
"The House That Jimmy Built"
Sahlen Field logo.png
Sahlen Field - Toronto Blue Jays.jpg
A view of the field from lower-level seating, July 2021
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Former namesPilot Field (1988–1995)
Downtown Ballpark (1995)
North AmeriCare Park (1995–1999)
Dunn Tire Park (1999–2008)
Coca-Cola Field (2009–2018)
Address1 James D. Griffin Plaza
LocationBuffalo, New York
United States
Coordinates42°52′52.7″N 78°52′27.4″W / 42.881306°N 78.874278°W / 42.881306; -78.874278Coordinates: 42°52′52.7″N 78°52′27.4″W / 42.881306°N 78.874278°W / 42.881306; -78.874278
Public transitTram interchange Seneca
OwnerCity of Buffalo[2]
OperatorBison Baseball, Inc.
Executive suites26[5]
Capacity16,600 (2019–present)[6]
16,907 (2017–2018)[7]
17,600 (2015–2016)[8]
18,025 (2005–2014)[9]
21,050 (1990–2004)[9]
19,500 (1988–1989)[9]
Record attendanceBaseball: 21,050[10]
(June 3, 1990 / August 30, 2002)
Concert: 27,000[11]
(June 12, 2015)
Field sizeLeft 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)Sahlen Field Dimensions.svg
SurfaceKentucky Bluegrass
Construction
Broke groundJuly 10, 1986[1]
OpenedApril 14, 1988
Renovated2004, 2020, 2021
Expanded1990
Construction costUS$42.4 million
($92.8 million in 2020 dollars[3])
ArchitectHOK Sport
Services engineerWendel Engineers PC[4]
General contractorCowper Construction Management
Tenants
Buffalo Bisons (AA/IL/AAAE) 1988–present
Buffalo Nighthawks (LPBL) 1998
Empire State Yankees (IL) 2012
Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) 2020, 2021

Sahlen Field is a baseball park in Buffalo, New York. Originally known as Pilot Field, the venue has since been named Downtown Ballpark, North AmeriCare Park, Dunn Tire Park, and Coca-Cola Field. Home to the Buffalo Bisons of Triple-A East, it opened on April 14, 1988 and can seat up to 16,600 people, making it the highest-capacity Triple-A ballpark in the United States. It replaced the Bisons' former home, War Memorial Stadium, where the team played from 1979 to 1987.

The stadium was the first retro-classic ballpark built in the world, and was designed with plans for Major League Baseball (MLB) expansion. Buffalo had not had an MLB team since the Buffalo Blues played for the Federal League in 1915. However, Bisons owner Robert E. Rich Jr. was unsuccessful in his efforts to bring an MLB franchise to the stadium between 1988 and 1994. The stadium was a temporary home to the Toronto Blue Jays of MLB in 2020 and 2021 when they were displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sahlen Field was previously home to the Buffalo Nighthawks of the Ladies Professional Baseball League in 1998 and the Empire State Yankees of the International League in 2012. In addition to concerts and professional wrestling, the stadium has hosted major events including the National Old-Timers Baseball Classic (1988–1990), Triple-A All-Star Game (1988, 2012), StarGaze (1992–1993) and World University Games (1993).

History[]

Background[]

Riverside Park, the first home of professional baseball in Buffalo

Buffalo began hosting professional baseball in 1877, when the Buffalo Bisons of the League Alliance began play at Riverside Park.[12] The Buffalo Bisons (IA) joined the International Association for Professional Base Ball Players in 1878, winning the league championship in their first season.

The Buffalo Bisons (NL) then defected to the National League of Major League Baseball in 1879. The Bisons moved to Olympic Park before the 1884 season, and left Major League Baseball following the 1885 season to join the Eastern League as the Buffalo Bisons.[12] The Eastern League was absorbed into the International League in 1887, but the league folded after a single season.

While the minor league Bisons continued play in the International Association for Professional Base Ball Players, an unaffiliated team also calling itself the Buffalo Bisons (PL) competed in the Players' League of Major League Baseball in 1890.[12] The minor league Bisons would rejoin the Eastern League in 1891, and later join the Western League in 1899. The Western League renamed itself the American League for the 1900 season, but the Bisons were replaced by the Boston Americans when the league joined Major League Baseball prior to the 1901 season.[13] The Bisons returned to the Eastern League, which was absorbed into the International League in 1912.

As the minor league Bisons continued play in the International League, an unaffiliated team called the Buffalo Blues competed in the Federal League of Major League Baseball in 1914 and 1915 at Federal League Park.[14] Bison Stadium was built for the Buffalo Bisons in 1924 at a cost of $265,000, and was later renamed Offermann Stadium following the death of team owner Frank J. Offermann in 1935.[15]

The Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League played at Offermann Stadium from 1951 to 1955. Hank Aaron was discovered while playing for the Clowns in 1952, and his contract was bought out by the Boston Braves for $10,000.[16] Toni Stone signed with the Clowns in 1953 for $12,000, becoming the first woman to sign a professional baseball contract.[17]

War Memorial Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bisons from 1961–1970, and later home to the modern Buffalo Bisons franchise from 1979–1987

Buffalo was awarded an expansion franchise by the Continental League of Major League Baseball in January 1960, and made plans to play at War Memorial Stadium beginning with the 1961 season. However, the league folded before the season began.[18] The Bisons remained in the International League and began play at War Memorial Stadium in 1961, as Offermann Stadium had already been slated for demolition.

In April 1968, Robert O. Swados and his investment group, which included George Steinbrenner, presented their bid for a Buffalo expansion franchise to the National League Expansion Committee.[19][20] This bid included plans for a $50 million domed stadium that was designed by the architects of the Astrodome and had a capacity of 45,000.[21] Buffalo was one of five finalists for the 1969 Major League Baseball expansion, but franchises were awarded to the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres in May 1968.[19]

Erie County went on to modify the planned domed stadium to accommodate the Buffalo Bills, approving its construction as a 60,000-seat football venue in Lancaster that could also host baseball.[22] However, bids for the stadium in 1970 came in over budget, and the project stalled. Bills owner Ralph Wilson threatened to move the Bills if action was not taken to replace the aging War Memorial Stadium, forcing Erie County to abandon the domed stadium in favor of building open-air Rich Stadium in Orchard Park.[23][24] The Buffalo Bisons moved mid-season in 1970 and became the Winnipeg Whips, leaving Buffalo without professional baseball.[25]

Planning and construction[]

Groundbreaking of the venue in July 1986. From left to right: Bisons owner Robert E. Rich Jr., Governor Mario Cuomo and Mayor James D. Griffin

Mayor James D. Griffin and an investment group purchased the Jersey City A's of the Double-A class Eastern League for $55,000 in 1978, and the team began play as the Buffalo Bisons at War Memorial Stadium in 1979.[26] This new franchise assumed the history of prior Buffalo Bisons teams that had played in the city from 1877 to 1970. Robert E. Rich Jr. purchased the Bisons for $100,000 in 1983, and upgraded the team to the Triple-A class American Association in 1985 after buying out the Wichita Aeros for $1 million.[27][28]

HOK Sport (now known as Populous) designed the downtown venue as the first retro-classic ballpark in the world.[29] The City of Buffalo originally hired HOK Sport to design a $90 million domed stadium with a capacity of 40,000 for the same parcel of land, but the project was scaled back after New York State only approved $22.5 million in funding instead of the $40 million requested.[30][31][32] The open-air venue was designed to fit within the neighborhood's existing architecture of the Ellicott Square Building, the Main-Seneca Building, Marine Midland Center and the Old Post Office. Located in close proximity to Buffalo Memorial Auditorium and along the newly built Buffalo Metro Rail, the venue would be an attractive and accessible destination for suburban residents.[33] The same design firm would later bring this concept to Major League Baseball with Oriole Park at Camden Yards.[34] The venue's exterior would be constructed from precast concrete, featuring arched window openings at the mezzanine level, rusticated joints, and inset marble panels. The baseball field itself would feature a Kentucky Bluegrass playing surface and have dimensions that were designed to mirror those of pitcher-friendly Royals Stadium.[35]

Hotel Statler, which occupied the venue's land from 1907–1968

The $42.4 million venue was mainly paid for with public funding. $22.5 million came from New York State, $12.9 million came from the City of Buffalo, $4.2 million came from Erie County, and $2.8 million came from the Buffalo Bisons.[36] The New York State funding was contingent on the Bisons signing a 20-year lease with the City of Buffalo for use of the venue, which they did just prior to groundbreaking.[37] The City of Buffalo and Erie County paid an additional $14 million for the construction of parking garages to service the venue and other downtown businesses.[36]

St. John's Episcopal Church originally occupied what is now the venue's land at the corner of Swan Street and Washington Street, and Randall's Boarding House originally occupied the adjacent lot on Swan Street. Mark Twain famously was a resident of the boarding house while editor of the Buffalo Express.[38][39] Constructed between 1846 and 1848 on land donated by Joseph Ellicott,[40] the church remained in use until 1893 and was demolished in 1906.[41] The land then became the site of Ellsworth Statler's first hotel, Hotel Statler, in 1907.[41] It was later renamed Hotel Buffalo after Statler built a new hotel on Niagara Square in 1923 and sold his former location. Hotel Buffalo was demolished in 1968, and the land became a parking lot. The City of Buffalo would later acquire the land through eminent domain.[42]

The venue broke ground in July 1986 and was originally built with a seating capacity of 19,500,[9] which at the time made it the third-largest stadium in Minor League Baseball.[29] 38 luxury suites were constructed on the club level of the stadium.[43] The overall design allows for future expansion to accommodate a Major League Baseball team, as capacity could be increased to 41,530 by double-decking the existing mezzanine.[44][45]

Opening and reception[]

Ticket from Opening Day, April 1988

The venue opened in April 1988 and was lauded by mainstream media outlets, including feature stories by Newsday, New York Daily News, San Francisco Examiner, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times Magazine and Vancouver Sun.[46] Eric Brazil wrote that month in his San Francisco Examiner article that the venue, "just may be baseball's prototype for the 1990s and beyond".[47]

In their first year at the venue after moving from War Memorial Stadium, the Buffalo Bisons broke the all-time record for Minor League Baseball attendance by drawing 1,186,651 fans during the 1988 season.[48][49]

Pete McMartin wrote fondly of the venue in his June 1989 article for the Vancouver Sun, contrasting it with the recently opened SkyDome in Toronto:

I have seen the future of baseball and it looks a lot like the past. The best new ballpark in North America looks like the best old ballpark in North America. Forget SkyDome. Pilot Field, home to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons baseball club, makes Toronto's newest toy look like a crass gimmick. It dares to offer the revolutionary concept of playing baseball on grass, open to the elements. And it does it in the prettiest playground in the game. Built last year for $42 million, (compared to SkyDome's half-billion), Pilot Field resembles a turn-of-the-century ballpark complete with soaring archways, exposed girders, palladian windows, and a copper-green metal roof above the stands topped with two cupolas. Its concrete facade has been "rusticated" to resemble the limestone walls of the heritage buildings in the downtown neighborhood that surround it. Pilot Field is so wildly popular with the citizens of Buffalo that it has helped rejuvenate Buffalo's once-decaying downtown. It was a matter of philosophy. Toronto built an edifice: Buffalo embraced an idea. Toronto elevated technology over the game: Buffalo honored the past. Buffalo ended up with the better ballpark. It may be the best ballpark built since the construction of the game's holy triumvirate - Wrigley, Fenway and Briggs.[50]

The inaugural Build New York Award was given to Cowper Construction Management in April 1990 by the General Building Contractors of New York State for their work on the venue.[51]

Alterations[]

Larry King, who dedicated the venue in May 1988 and later invested in Buffalo's 1993 Major League Baseball expansion bid

Prior to the 1990 season, 1,400 bleacher seats and a standing-room only area within the third-base mezzanine were added at a cost of $1.34 million, increasing the stadium's capacity to 21,050.[52][53]

In September 1990, Robert E. Rich Jr. attempted to buy the Montreal Expos for $100 million and move the team to Buffalo, but owner Charles Bronfman declined his offer.[54] That same month, Rich Jr. and his investment group, which included Larry King, presented their bid for a Buffalo expansion franchise to the National League Expansion Committee.[55] However, by February 1991 the entry fee and startup capital needed for securing a Major League Baseball expansion franchise had skyrocketed to $140 million, and Rich Jr. declined the chance to secure additional investors.[56][57] Buffalo was one of six finalists for the 1993 Major League Baseball expansion, but franchises were awarded to the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins in June 1991.[58]

In their fourth year at the stadium, the Bisons once again broke the all-time record for Minor League Baseball attendance by drawing 1,240,951 fans during the 1991 season.[59]

In June 1992, Rich Jr. attempted to buy the San Francisco Giants and move the team to Buffalo, but owner Bob Lurie declined his offer. The proposed name for the team would have been the New York Giants of Buffalo, as the franchise had previously played as the New York Giants from 1885 to 1957 in New York City.[54] That same month, the City of Buffalo chose to exercise an escape clause and buy back $24.2 million in federal bonds they had earmarked for expanding the venue to accommodate Major League Baseball.[60][61]

An aerial view of the venue, circa 1996–2003

In July 1994, Rich Jr. notified the Major League Baseball Expansion Committee that he was interested in pursuing a Buffalo expansion franchise.[62] However, he would retract this notification the following month after the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike commenced.[63] Buffalo was withdrawn as a candidate for the 1998 Major League Baseball expansion, and franchises were awarded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays in March 1995.[64]

For the 1996 season, a new outfield fence was erected at the venue at a cost of $50,000 so the baseball field mirrored the dimensions of Jacobs Field. Left-center field was reduced from 384 feet to 371 feet, center field was reduced from 410 feet to 404 feet, right-center field was reduced from 384 feet to 367 feet, and the height of the center field fence was reduced from 15 feet to 8 feet. This change allowed the Cleveland Indians, Buffalo's major league affiliate, to better evaluate their prospects, while also making the park more hitter-friendly.[65]

WestJet Flight Deck, July 2021

In wake of the American Association disbanding following the 1997 season, the Bisons joined the International League in 1998. The addition of regional rivalries allowed for the creation of the Thruway Cup, an annual competition between the Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings and Syracuse SkyChiefs.[66]

The venue was home to the Buffalo Nighthawks of the Ladies Professional Baseball League before the league shut down mid-season in July 1998. The Nighthawks were in first place with an 11–5 record when the league folded, and were declared Eastern Division champions.[67]

The park's original four-color dot matrix scoreboard in center field was retrofitted with a 38-foot wide by 19-foot tall Daktronics LED video screen in 1999 at a cost of $1.2 million.[68][69]

The 20-year lease between the Bisons and City of Buffalo for use of the venue was renegotiated in January 2003, with the addition of funding from Erie County.[70]

Prior to the 2004 season, $5 million in renovations to the venue were completed, including removal of the stadium's right field bleachers and construction of a four-tier Party Deck in its place.[71] The removal of the bleachers decreased the stadium capacity to 18,025.[72]

Center field video screen, July 2015

The 20-year lease between the Bisons and City of Buffalo for use of the venue expired following the 2008 season, and the city began offering year-to-year leases to the team thereafter.[73]

A conference suite was constructed on the first-base side of the stadium in 2010 at a cost of $250,000. The year-round suite can accommodate business gatherings of up to 40 people.[74]

For the 2011 season, the park's original scoreboard in center field was removed and replaced by an 80-foot wide by 33-foot tall Daktronics high-definition LED video screen at a cost $2.5 million.[75] That same year, a new $970,000 field drainage system and a new $750,000 field lighting system were added to the venue.[76][77]

The venue was home to the Empire State Yankees of the International League in 2012. The team was forced to play at alternate sites that season as PNC Field was undergoing renovations.[78] The Yankees finished the season with a 84–60 record and advanced to the International League playoffs.

For the 2014 season, $500,000 was spent in improvements to the venue, including a new sound system and the installation of new LED message boards down both baselines.[79]

A view of the venue from I-190, June 2019

A campaign to replace the park's original red seating with wider green seating began in 2014. The stadium's capacity was reduced from 18,025 to 17,600 when 3,700 seats were replaced prior to the 2015 season at a cost of $758,000.[80][81] 2,900 seats were replaced prior to the 2017 season, reducing capacity of the stadium from 17,600 to 16,907.[7] 2,000 seats were replaced prior to the 2019 season, further reducing capacity to 16,600.[6][82]

Following the 2019 season, protective crowd netting was installed throughout the venue at a cost of $475,000 to meet Major League Baseball safety standards.[83]

In June 2020, the Bisons cancelled their season at the venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[84] The Toronto Blue Jays, the Bisons' major league affiliate, announced the following month that they would play their 2020 season at the venue after the government of Canada denied them permission to play at Rogers Centre.[85][86] The Blue Jays finished the season with a 32–28 record, and advanced to the American League Wild Card Series.[87] A Blue Jays locker from the stadium was preserved as an artifact in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.[88]

Bullpens, July 2021

Major League Baseball and the Blue Jays organization jointly funded renovations of the venue prior to the 2020 season at a cost of $5 million.[89] Permanent upgrades included installation of LED field lighting, installation of instant replay technology, installation of Hawk-Eye for Statcast tracking, a resurfaced infield, and relocation of the home dugout to the third-base side of the stadium. Temporary facilities designed for the postponed MLB at Field of Dreams game were also utilized.[90][91]

In the wake of the International League disbanding, the Bisons joined the newly formed Triple-A East in 2021.[92]

The Blue Jays once again utilized the venue for their 2021 season due to the ongoing pandemic, after having started the season at TD Ballpark. The Bisons accommodated this residency by relocating to Trenton Thunder Ballpark in Trenton, New Jersey.[93] The Bisons and Blue Jays jointly funded additional renovations of the venue prior to the 2021 season. These permanent upgrades included the installation of new light standards, new batting cages, new foul poles, a resurfaced outfield, and the relocation of both bullpens from foul territory to right-center field.[94]

Naming rights[]

Clockwise from upper left: Dunn Tire Park, Coca-Cola Field, Sahlen Field

Pilot Air Freight of Philadelphia purchased the 20-year naming rights to the venue in 1986.[95] The stadium would be named Pilot Field in exchange for the company paying the City of Buffalo $51,000 on an annual basis.[96] Their name was stripped from the venue by the City of Buffalo in March 1995 after defaulting on payments.

The stadium was then known as Downtown Ballpark until July 1995, when local HMO North AmeriCare purchased the naming rights and the stadium became North AmeriCare Park.[96] North AmeriCare agreed to pay the City of Buffalo $3.3 million over the course of 13 years.[97] The Dunn Tire chain of tire outlets assumed North AmeriCare's remaining contract with the City of Buffalo in May 1999, and the venue became Dunn Tire Park.[97]

Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo purchased the 10-year naming rights to the stadium in December 2008, and it was renamed Coca-Cola Field for the 2009 season.[98] Local meat packing company Sahlen's purchased the 10-year naming rights to the stadium in October 2018, and it was renamed Sahlen Field for the 2019 season.[99]

Notable events[]

Baseball[]

The Oak Ridge Boys, who performed at the venue's first game in April 1988

Opening Day of the venue's inaugural season took place on April 14, 1988, and saw the Buffalo Bisons defeat the Denver Zephyrs 1–0.[100] Pam Postema, the first female umpire in the history of professional baseball, officiated the game.[101] Prior to the event, The Oak Ridge Boys performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and both Mayor James D. Griffin and Governor Mario Cuomo threw ceremonial first pitches.[101][102]

The formal dedication of the venue took place on May 21, 1988 prior to the Bisons defeating the Syracuse Chiefs in an interleague Triple-A Alliance game by a score of 6–5. Larry King threw the ceremonial first pitch and sat in on commentary with WBEN broadcasters Pete Weber and John Murphy.[103]

The seventh-annual National Old-Timers Baseball Classic was held at the venue in June 1988. The event aired on ESPN and saw the National League defeat the American League 8–2.[104]

The venue was host to the inaugural Triple-A All-Star Game in July 1988. The event aired live on ESPN and saw a team of American League-affiliated players defeat a team of National League-affiliated players 2–1.[105] Celebrity appearances were made by Morganna, the Kissing Bandit and Spuds MacKenzie.[106][107]

The eighth-annual National Old-Timers Baseball Classic was held at the venue in June 1989. The event aired on ESPN and saw the National League defeat the American League 8–7.[108]

The June 3, 1990, game between the Buffalo Bisons and Oklahoma City 89ers with a post-game concert by The Beach Boys set the all-time single-game attendance record for baseball at the venue with 21,050 fans. The Bisons lost the game 7–6.[109]

The ninth-annual National Old-Timers Baseball Classic was held at the venue in June 1990, which saw the National League defeat the American League 3–0.[110]

Barry Bonds, who became the first player to hit a home run to center field in May 1991

An exhibition between the Bisons and their Major League Baseball affiliate Pittsburgh Pirates took place at the venue in May 1991, with the Bisons winning the game 4–2.[111] Barry Bonds became the first player in the venue's history to hit a home run to center field during a pregame home run derby.[112] A second exhibition between the Bisons and Pirates took place in May 1993, with the Bisons winning the game 3–2.[113]

The venue hosted an exhibition between Team USA and Korea at the venue in July 1992, with Korea winning the game 4–2.[114] The exhibition was part of Team USA's 30-game tour of Cuba and the United States to promote their appearance in the 1992 Summer Olympics.[115]

The baseball events of the World University Games were held at the venue in July 1993.[116] Cuba defeated South Korea in the Gold Medal game 7–1.[117]

A viral video of Rich Aude pimping his walk-off home run to end a May 1994 game at the venue between the Bisons and Louisville Redbirds was covered by media outlets including Deadspin and MLB.com.[118][119][120]

An exhibition between the Bisons and their Major League Baseball affiliate Cleveland Indians took place at the venue in April 1995, with the Indians winning the game 2–1.[121]

A May 1995 game between the Buffalo Bisons and Iowa Cubs was the first-ever Triple-A game broadcast live by ESPN2. The Bisons lost this morning game, their annual School Day promotion, by a score of 5–1.[122]

Bartolo Colón, who threw the venue's only no-hitter in June 1997

Celebration of Baseball, an Old-Timers Game to benefit the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association was held at the venue in June 1995.[121][123]

The all-female Colorado Silver Bullets lost an exhibition to the all-male Queen City Rockers at the venue in July 1995 by a score of 2–1.[124][125]

An exhibition between the Bisons and their major league affiliate Cleveland Indians took place at the venue in June 1996, with the game ending in a 3–3 tie.[121]

Bartolo Colón of the Bisons threw a no-hitter at the venue in June 1997 against the New Orleans Zephyrs, sealing a 4–0 win.[121]

The venue was host to the Adam's Mark Celebrity Old-Timers Classic event in July 2000.[126]

An exhibition between the Bisons and Cleveland Indians took place in July 2002, with the Indians winning the game 4–3.[127][128]

An August 30, 2002, game between Buffalo and the Rochester Red Wings matched the all-time single-game attendance record for baseball at the venue with 21,050 fans. The Bisons won the game 5–0.[129]

Jonah Heim, who became the first Buffalo native in 130 years to play an MLB game in his hometown in July 2021

In September 2004, the Bisons defeated the Richmond Braves at the venue in Game 4 of their championship series to win the Governors' Cup by a score of 6–1.[130]

A June 2010 game between the Bisons and Syracuse Chiefs was promoted as the final Triple-A appearance of Stephen Strasburg; he led the Chiefs to a 7–1 victory over the Bisons.[131][132]

The venue was host to the 25th-annual Triple-A All-Star Game in July 2012, which saw the Pacific Coast League defeat the International League 3–0.[133]

The venue's first Major League Baseball game took place on August 11, 2020, in which the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Miami Marlins 5–4 in extra innings.[134]

Alek Manoah set a new Blue Jays franchise record for consecutive strikeouts with 7, sealing an 11–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at the venue on July 2, 2021.[135]

Jonah Heim of the Texas Rangers became the first Buffalo native in 130 years to play a major league game in his hometown in their 10–2 loss to the Blue Jays at the venue on July 16, 2021. John Gillespie of the Buffalo Bisons was the last player from Buffalo to do so on October 1, 1890.[136]

Concerts[]

The Beach Boys, who played ten concerts at the venue between 1988 and 2001

The Buffalo Bisons have presented a yearly post-game Summer Concert Series at the venue since 1988. The Summer Concert Series has included headlining performances by Aretha Franklin (1991),[137] Bill Cosby (1997),[138] Bo Diddley (1990),[139] Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (1995–2019),[140] Chicago (1990, 1994),[139][141] Chubby Checker (1992),[142] Eddie Rabbitt (1988),[143] Foreigner (1994),[141] Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (1990), Gloria Estefan (1988),[143] Huey Lewis and the News (1991),[137] Kansas (1996–1997),[144][145] KC and the Sunshine Band (1995),[146] Loverboy (1997),[145] Michael McDonald (1992),[142] Reba McEntire (1993),[147] Styx (1996),[144] The Beach Boys (1988–1995, 2000–2001),[148] The Doobie Brothers (1994),[141] The Monkees (2001),[149] The Temptations (1989),[150] The Turtles (1992),[142] Tommy James (1992),[142] Tony Bennett (1999),[151] Village People (1995)[146] and Willie Nelson (1989).[150]

The Budweiser Superfest music festival took place at the venue in July 1989 and included performances by Guy, Kool Moe Dee and New Edition.[152]

The Bluestime Jam music festival took place at the venue in August 1995 and included performances by B.B. King, Etta James and Jimmie Vaughan.[153]

Dierks Bentley, who headlined Taste of Country before a record crowd in June 2015

The third-annual WEDG Edgefest music festival took place at the venue in June 1997 and included performances by Buck-O-Nine, David Usher, Goo Goo Dolls, Moist, Saturn Battery, Sloan, Tugboat Annie and Weezer.[154]

WKSE presented their annual Kiss the Summer Hello music festival at the venue from 2001 to 2002, and again from 2009 to 2013. Kiss the Summer Hello included headlining performances by 98 Degrees (2001),[155] Ashanti (2002),[156] Carly Rae Jepsen (2012),[157] Emblem3 (2013),[158] New Boyz (2010),[159] The Veronicas (2009)[160] and Travie McCoy (2011).[161]

WYRK has presented their annual Taste of Country music festival at the venue since 2001. The 2015 event headlined by Dierks Bentley set the all-time attendance record for concerts at the venue with 27,000 fans.[11]

WEDG staged their tenth-annual Edgefest music festival at the venue in May 2003, and it included performances by Cold, Finch, Hed PE, Klear, Powerman 5000, Seether, Smile Empty Soul, Staind, The Juliana Theory and Trapt.[162]

The second-annual Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival took place at the venue in June 2003 and included performances by California Guitar Trio, Chris McHardy, Doug Yeaomans, Hubert Sumlin, Jim Weider, Johnny Hiland, Larry Coryell, Murali Coryell, Savoy Brown, Sid McGinnis and The Yardbirds.[162]

Counting Crows headlined a show at the venue in August 2007 as part of their Rock 'n' Roll Triple Play Ballpark Tour. They were supported by Collective Soul and Live.[163][164]

Professional wrestling[]

AJ Styles holding the Natural Heavyweight Championship at Ballpark Brawl IV in July 2005

Ballpark Brawl was a series of post-game professional wrestling events produced by the Buffalo Bisons and promoted by Christopher Hill, their Director of Sales and Marketing between 2003 and 2007.[165] The promotion's Natural Heavyweight Championship paid homage to The Natural, which was filmed in Buffalo at War Memorial Stadium.

  • Ballpark Brawl (August 2003) was headlined by Jeff Jarrett and Sabu defeating Disco Inferno and Raven.[166]
  • Ballpark Brawl II: Field of Screams (July 2004) was headlined by Al Snow defeating Chris Candido.[167]
  • Ballpark Brawl III: Canadian Carnage (August 2004) was headlined by AJ Styles defeating Sabu and Teddy Hart to become the inaugural Natural Heavyweight Champion.[168]
  • Ballpark Brawl IV: fridaynightSMASH (July 2005) was headlined by Christopher Daniels defeating AJ Styles to become Natural Heavyweight Champion.[169]
  • Ballpark Brawl V: Bang! Bang! Have a Nice Day! (August 2005) was headlined by The Sandman defeating Sabu, with Mick Foley as the guest referee.[170]
  • Ballpark Brawl VI: Rochester Rumble (August 2005) took place at Frontier Field and was headlined by a 20-man battle royal.[171]
  • Ballpark Brawl VII: Survival of the Fittest (August 2006) was headlined by Samoa Joe defeating Christopher Daniels, Homicide and Low Ki to become Natural Heavyweight Champion.[172]
  • Ballpark Brawl VIII (August 2007) was headlined by Sterling James Keenan defeating Rikishi and Samoa Joe to become Natural Heavyweight Champion.[173]

TNA Wrestling held their unrelated BaseBrawl event at the venue in June 2011, headlined by Kurt Angle defeating Scott Steiner, and an appearance by Hulk Hogan.[174] TNA held another BaseBrawl event at the venue in June 2012, headlined by Bobby Roode defeating Jeff Hardy to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[175]

Other events[]

Jim Kelly, who held StarGaze at the venue from 1992–1993

Reverend Billy Graham staged his Greater Buffalo-Niagara Crusade at the venue in August 1988.[176]

An ice skating rink was erected in the venue's outfield by the Greater Buffalo Chamber of Commerce for Winterfest III in January 1989.[177][178]

Goo Goo Dolls filmed the music video for their debut single "There You Are" at the venue in October 1990.[179]

Artist Jenny Holzer commandeered the venue's center field scoreboard in July 1991 to display her famed Truisms. She was in town to promote the opening of her Venice installation at the Albright–Knox Art Gallery.[180]

Jim Kelly held his inaugural StarGaze charity event at the venue in June 1992. The event drew a crowd of 14,500 and raised $150,000 for the Kelly for Kids Foundation.[181] The charity event returned in June 1993, drawing a crowd of 10,000 and raising $100,000 for the Kelly for Kids Foundation.[182]

A low-budget film called Angel Blues was shot at the venue in August 1993. It was directed by William Zabka and starred Michael Paloma, Loryn Locklin, Meredith Salenger, Richard Moll, David Johansen and Michael Horse.[183][184][185]

National Buffalo Wing Festival, September 2012

In July 1996, the Opening Ceremonies of the Empire State Games took place at the venue. Buffalo native Todd Marchant was the event's keynote speaker.[186]

The venue was home to the National Buffalo Wing Festival from 2002 to 2019.[187]

Reverend Franklin Graham staged his Evangelical outreach and music festival Rock the Lakes at the venue in September 2012.[188]

Nitro Circus brought their You Got This Tour, an extreme sports exhibition, to the venue in May 2019.[189]

Micah Hyde held his inaugural Charity Softball Game at the venue in June 2019. The event featured current and former members of the Buffalo Bills, and raised $40,000 for the Imagine for Youth Foundation.[190]

Special features[]

Dimensions[]

Crosby Spencer of RotoFanatic detailed the dimensions of Sahlen Field after the venue earned a hitter-friendly reputation during the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays season:

Sahlen Field’s center field sits facing South-Southeast with an 8 to 10 MPH breeze prevailing out from the right field foul pole to the left field foul pole all year long. Both the left field and right fields angle back from a 325 foot foul pole before squaring off at the power alleys (371 ft. LCF and 367 ft. RCF). The alleys then angle back inward forming a pointed A-Frame center field at 404 ft. Sahlen Field most resembles Nationals Park’s shape but it’s 12 feet shorter to left, 6 feet shorter to left-center, 2 feet deeper to center, 3 feet shorter to right-center and 10 feet shorter to right. Sahlen Field has definitely played as a very interesting park thus far. Despite the fact that left and left-center are the most offensively friendly fields it’s the left handed batters that have thrived the most. This does make some sense. The prevailing winds are out to left and opposite field balls are typically hit on a higher trajectory than pulled balls. This higher trajectory and steady winds gives the ball a chance to fly further than normal. Couple that with the friendly confines of 325 feet to left and 371 feet to the left-center alley and you have a recipe that serves up the number one ranked home run and RBIcon factors for left handed batters in all of baseball.[191]

An evening game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees in June 2021


Eateries[]

Lower-level concourse, July 2021

Consumer's Pub at the Park is a full service bar and restaurant located within the park's first-base mezzanine that features both indoor seating and outdoor patio seating with views of the field. It is open to the public year-round via an entrance on Washington Street, and exclusively to ticketholders on game days. The restaurant was formerly known as Pettibone's Grille from 1988 to 2016.[192]

Concessions around the venue's concourse feature selections from local eateries, including beef on weck from Charlie the Butcher, craft beer from Consumer's Beverage, hot dogs from Sahlen's, ice cream from Upstate Farms, pierogis from Ru's Pierogi, pizza from La Nova Pizzeria, and pizza logs from Original Pizza Logs.[193]

Union Pub is a full service bar and restaurant located directly across from the venue on Swan Street that has been in business since 1864.[194]

Tributes[]

The venue's press box, which bears the initials of Robert E. Rich Sr.

The Buffalo Bisons have customarily marked the landing spot of every home run their players have hit into the right field parking lot since the venue's inaugural season in 1988.[195] This feat is rarely accomplished because the balls have had to clear either the right field bleachers or the Party Deck that replaced them in order to reach the parking lot. Russell Branyan holds the record for most parking lot home runs, with three.[196]

The original flag pole from center field at War Memorial Stadium was preserved and installed at the venue in July 1990. It can be found behind the Party Deck in right field, on land adjacent to the parking garage.[197]

Robert E. Rich Sr., the founder of Rich Products and father of Buffalo Bisons owner Robert E. Rich Jr., died in February 2006. His initials are inscribed on the press box, above the owner's suite, in tribute.[198]

Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame and Heritage Room, July 2015

Former Mayor of Buffalo James D. Griffin was posthumously honored by the Buffalo Common Council in July 2008 after they voted to change the venue's address to One James D. Griffin Plaza.[199] A bronze sculpture of Griffin titled The First Pitch, referencing his ceremonial first pitch at the venue's inaugural game, was unveiled outside the stadium in August 2012. The William Koch piece was commissioned by the Buffalo Bisons to honor Griffin's contributions in constructing the ballpark and bringing professional baseball back to Buffalo.[200]

Plaques honoring all members of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame are on permanent display within the Hall of Fame and Heritage Room, which was built on the venue's third-base concourse in 2013.[201] The Heritage Room also contains rotating exhibits of memorabilia that honor Buffalo's baseball history.[202] It is open to ticketholders one hour prior to the first pitch on gamedays, and stays open through the third inning.[203]

The Bisons hang a Championship Corner banner in left field that commemorates the team's many league and division championships, along with the retired numbers of Ollie Carnegie (6), Luke Easter (25), Jeff Manto (30) and Jackie Robinson (42).[204]

Retired numbers of former Toronto Blue Jays players Roberto Alomar (12) and Roy Halladay (32), along with the retired number of Jackie Robinson (42), were inscribed above the venue's press box prior to the 2020 season. In addition, the number of former Toronto Blue Jays player Tony Fernández (1) was inscribed on the venue's outfield fence to honor his recent passing.[205]

Transportation access[]

Seneca Station, in front of the Ellicott Square Building

Sahlen Field is located at the Elm Street exit (Exit 6) of Interstate 190, and within one mile of both the Oak Street exit of Route 33 and the Seneca Street exit of Route 5.[206]

An Allpro parking garage is located behind right field on Exchange Street, and a Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps parking garage is located within the Seneca One Tower complex. Both parking garages are connected by a pedestrian bridge over Washington Street. Multiple surface parking lots are also in the stadium's vicinity.

The venue is publicly served by Seneca Station of Buffalo Metro Rail. It is also served by Buffalo–Exchange Street station of Amtrak.

Vehicle for hire services including Uber and Lyft are available in the Buffalo metropolitan area.

Climate[]

Sahlen Field
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
3.2
 
 
31
19
 
 
2.5
 
 
33
19
 
 
2.9
 
 
42
26
 
 
3
 
 
55
37
 
 
3.5
 
 
67
47
 
 
3.7
 
 
75
57
 
 
3.2
 
 
80
62
 
 
3.3
 
 
78
61
 
 
3.9
 
 
71
53
 
 
3.5
 
 
59
43
 
 
4
 
 
48
34
 
 
3.9
 
 
36
24
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: [207]

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General

External links[]

Events and tenants
Preceded by
War Memorial Stadium
Trenton Thunder Ballpark 		Home of the
Buffalo Bisons
1988 – 2019
2021 – present 		Succeeded by
Trenton Thunder Ballpark
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 		World University Games venue
1993 		Succeeded by
Fukuoka Dome
 Japan
Preceded by
Inaugural event 		Host of the
National Buffalo Wing Festival
2002 – 2019 		Succeeded by
Highmark Stadium
Preceded by
Spring Mobile Ballpark 		Host of the
Triple-A All-Star Game
2012 		Succeeded by
Aces Ballpark
Preceded by
Rogers Centre
TD Ballpark 		Home of the
Toronto Blue Jays
2020
2021 		Succeeded by
TD Ballpark
Rogers Centre
Retrieved from ""