Sahlen Field

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. The home of the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League (IL), 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.

Sahlen Field
"The House That Jimmy Built"
A view of the field from upper-level seating
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
Coordinates42°52′52″N 78°52′27″W
Public transit Seneca
OwnerCity of Buffalo[1]
OperatorBison Baseball, Inc.
Executive suites38[2]
Capacity16,600 (2019–present)[3]
16,907 (2017–2018)[4]
17,600 (2015–2016)[5]
18,025 (2005–2014)[6]
21,050 (1990–2004)[6]
19,500 (1988–1989)[6]
Record attendanceBaseball: 21,050[7]
(June 3, 1990 / August 30, 2002)
Concert: 27,000[8]
(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)
SurfaceKentucky Bluegrass
Construction
Broke groundJuly 10, 1986[9]
OpenedApril 14, 1988
Renovated2004, 2020
Expanded1990
Construction costUS$56.4 million
($122 million in 2019 dollars[10])
ArchitectHOK Sport
Services engineerWendel Engineers PC[11]
General contractorCowper Construction Management
Tenants
Buffalo Bisons (AA/IL) 1988–present
Buffalo Nighthawks (LPBL) 1998
Empire State Yankees (IL) 2012
Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) 2020

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.[12] However, Bisons owner Robert E. Rich Jr. was unsuccessful in his efforts to bring an MLB franchise to the stadium between 1988 and 1992. Due to travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) are currently playing their 2020 home games at Sahlen Field.

Sahlen Field was also home to the Buffalo Nighthawks of the Ladies Professional Baseball League (LPBL) in 1998 and the Empire State Yankees (IL) in 2012.

Additionally, the facility has been the site of numerous concerts and professional wrestling events.

History

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

Buffalo had been without a professional baseball team since 1970, when the Buffalo Bisons moved mid-season and became the Winnipeg Whips.[13] 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.[14] 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 Buffalo 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.[15][16]

St. John's Episcopal Church originally occupied what is now the venue's land at the corner of Swan and Washington, and Randall's Boarding House originally occupied the adjacent lot on Swan. Mark Twain famously was a resident of the boarding house while editor of the Buffalo Courier-Express.[17][18] Constructed between 1846 and 1848 on land donated by Joseph Ellicott,[19] the church remained in use until 1893 and was demolished in 1906.[20] The land then became the site of Ellsworth Statler's first hotel, Hotel Statler, in 1907.[20] 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.[21]

HOK Sport (now known as Populous) designed the downtown venue as the first retro-classic ballpark in the world.[22] The City of Buffalo originally hired HOK Sport to design a $90 million domed stadium for the same parcel of land, but the project was scaled back.[23][24] The venue was designed to fit within the neighborhood's existing architecture of the Ellicott Square Building, Main Seneca Building and 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.[25] The same design firm would later bring this concept to Major League Baseball with Oriole Park at Camden Yards.[26] The baseball field itself would feature a Kentucky Bluegrass playing surface and have dimensions that were designed to mirror those of Royals Stadium.[27]

The $56.4 million venue was mainly paid for with public funding. $22.5 million came from New York State, $14 million came from Buffalo and Erie County parking garages, $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.[28] The New York State funding was contingent on the Buffalo Bisons signing a 20-year lease with the City of Buffalo for use of the venue, which they did just prior to groundbreaking.[29]

The venue broke ground in July 1986 and was originally built with a seating capacity of 19,500,[6] which at the time made it the third-largest stadium in Minor League Baseball.[22] 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.[30][31]

Opening and reception

An aerial view of the ballpark

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.[32] 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".[33]

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.[34][35]

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 (since renamed Tiger Stadium).[36]

Alterations

Larry King, investor in Buffalo's 1990 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.[37][38]

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.[39] 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.[40] 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.[41][42] 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.[43]

In their fourth year at the venue, the Buffalo Bisons once again broke the all-time record for Minor League Baseball attendance by drawing 1,240,951 fans during the 1991 season.[44]

In June 1992, Robert E. 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.[39] 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.[45][46]

The Cleveland Indians replaced the Pittsburgh Pirates as Major League Baseball affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 1995 season. 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. Center field was reduced from 410 feet to 404 feet, and the height of the fence was reduced from 15 feet to 8 feet. This change allowed the Cleveland Indians to better evaluate their talent, while also making the park more hitter-friendly.[47]

In wake of the American Association disbanding following the 1997 season, the Buffalo 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 Mets.[48]

The park's original center field dot matrix scoreboard was retrofitted with a 38' wide by 19' tall Daktronics LED video screen in 1999 at a cost of $1.2 million.[49][50]

The 20-year lease between the Buffalo Bisons and City of Buffalo for use of the venue was renegotiated in January 2003, with the addition of funding from Erie County.[51]

The center field scoreboard in July 2015

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.[52] The removal of the bleachers decreased the stadium capacity to 18,025.[53]

The 20-year lease between the Buffalo 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.[54]

The New York Mets replaced the Cleveland Indians as Major League Baseball affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 2009 season.[55]

For the 2011 season, the original center field scoreboard was removed and replaced by a high-definition Daktronics LED video screen that is 80' wide by 33' tall. The screen cost $2.5 million and is the largest in all of Minor League Baseball.[56] That same year, a new $970,000 field drainage system and a new $750,000 field lighting system were added to the venue.[57][58]

The Toronto Blue Jays replaced the New York Mets as Major League Baseball affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 2013 season.[59]

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.[60]

A campaign to replace the park's original red seating with wider green seating began in 2014. 3,700 seats were replaced prior to the 2015 season at a cost of $758,000, reducing capacity of the stadium from 18,025 to 17,600.[61][62] 2,900 seats were replaced prior to the 2017 season, reducing capacity of the stadium from 17,600 to 16,907.[63] 2,000 seats were replaced prior to the 2019 season, further reducing capacity to 16,600.[3][64]

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.[65]

In June 2020, the Buffalo Bisons canceled their season at the venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[66] The Toronto Blue Jays announced the following month that they would play their 2020 home games at the venue after the government of Canada denied them permission to play at Rogers Centre.[67][68]

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to fund renovations of the venue prior to their 2020 season. 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 used at the venue.[69][70]

Naming rights

Coca-Cola, holder of the venue's naming rights from 2009 to 2018

Pilot Air Freight of Philadelphia purchased the 20-year naming rights to the venue in 1986.[71] The stadium would be named Pilot Field in exchange for the company paying the City of Buffalo $51,000 on an annual basis.[72]

Pilot Air Freight of Philadelphia had their name 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.[72] North AmeriCare agreed to pay the City of Buffalo $3.3 million over the course of 13 years.[73]

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.[73]

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.[74]

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.[75]

Notable events

Baseball

Ticket from Opening Day, 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.[76]

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.[77]

The venue was host to the inaugural Triple-A All-Star Game in July 1988. The event aired live on ESPN and saw the American League defeat the National League 2-1.[78]

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.[79]

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.[80]

The ninth-annual National Old-Timers Baseball Classic was held at the venue in June 1990. The event aired on ESPN and saw the National League defeat the American League 3-0.[81]

An exhibition between the Buffalo 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.[82]

An exhibition between the Buffalo Bisons and their Major League Baseball affiliate Pittsburgh Pirates took place at the venue in May 1993, with the Bisons winning the game 3-2.[83]

The baseball events of the World University Games were held at the venue in July 1993.[84] Cuba defeated South Korea in the Gold Medal game 7-1.[85]

A viral video of Rich Aude pimping his walk-off home run to end a May 1994 game at the venue between the Buffalo Bisons and Louisville Redbirds was covered by media outlets including Deadspin and MLB.com.[86][87][88]

An exhibition between the Buffalo 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.[89]

A May 1995 game at the venue 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.[90]

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.[89][91]

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.[92][93]

An exhibition between the Buffalo Bisons and their Major League Baseball affiliate Cleveland Indians took place at the venue in June 1996, with the game ending in a 3-3 tie.[89]

Bartolo Colón of the Buffalo Bisons threw a no-hitter at the venue in June 1997 against the New Orleans Zephyrs, sealing a 4-0 win.[89]

The venue was home to the Buffalo Nighthawks of the short-lived Ladies Professional Baseball League in 1998.[94]

The venue was host to the Adam's Mark Celebrity Old-Timers Classic event in July 2000.[95]

An exhibition between the Buffalo Bisons and their Major League Baseball affiliate Cleveland Indians took place at the venue in July 2002, with the Indians winning the game 4-3.[96][97]

An August 30, 2002 game between the Buffalo Bisons and 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.[98]

In September 2004, the Buffalo 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.[99]

A June 2010 game between the Buffalo Bisons and Syracuse Chiefs was broadcast live on Versus. Promoted as the final Triple-A appearance of Stephen Strasburg, he led the Chiefs to a 7-1 victory over the Bisons.[100][101]

The venue was home to the Empire State Yankees of the International League in 2012. The Yankees were forced to play at alternate sites that season as PNC Field was undergoing renovations.[102]

The venue was host to the 25th-annual Triple-A All-Star Game in July 2012. The event aired live on MLB Network and saw the Pacific Coast League defeat the International League 3-0.[103]

The venue's first Major League Baseball game took place on August 11, 2020, and saw the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Miami Marlins 5-4 in extra innings. The event aired live on Sportsnet and was simulcast on MLB Network.[104]

An evening game between the Buffalo Bisons and Syracuse Chiefs in July 2018

Concerts

The Beach Boys, who played ten concerts at the venue from 1988 to 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),[105] Bill Cosby (1997),[106] Bo Diddley (1990),[107] Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (1995–2019),[108] Chicago (1990, 1994),[107][109] Chubby Checker (1992),[110] Eddie Rabbitt (1988),[111] Foreigner (1994),[109] Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (1990), Gloria Estefan (1988),[111] Huey Lewis and the News (1991),[105] Kansas (1996–1997),[112][113] KC and the Sunshine Band (1995),[114] Loverboy (1997),[113] Michael McDonald (1992),[110] Reba McEntire (1993),[115] Styx (1996),[112] The Beach Boys (1988–1995, 2000–2001),[116] The Doobie Brothers (1994),[109] The Monkees (2001),[117] The Temptations (1989),[118] The Turtles (1992),[110] Tommy James (1992),[110] Tony Bennett (1999),[119] Village People (1995)[114] and Willie Nelson (1989).[118]

The Budweiser Superfest music festival took place at the venue in July 1989 and included performances by Guy, Kool Moe Dee and New Edition.[120]

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.[121]

Dierks Bentley, who headlined Taste of Country 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.[122]

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),[123] Ashanti (2002),[124] Carly Rae Jepsen (2012),[125] Emblem3 (2013),[126] New Boyz (2010),[127] The Veronicas (2009)[128] and Travie McCoy (2011).[129]

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.[8]

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.[130]

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.[130]

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.[131][132]

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.[133] The promotion's Natural Heavyweight Championship paid homage to The Natural, which was filmed in Buffalo at War Memorial Stadium.

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.[142] 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.[143]

Other events

The National Buffalo Wing Festival in September 2012

Reverend Billy Graham staged his Greater Buffalo-Niagara Crusade at the venue in August 1988.[144]

Goo Goo Dolls filmed the music video for their debut single "There You Are" at the venue in October 1990.[145]

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.[146]

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.[147]

Jim Kelly held his second-annual StarGaze charity event at the venue in June 1993. The event drew a crowd of 10,000 and raised $100,000 for the Kelly for Kids Foundation.[148]

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.[149][150][151]

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.[152]

The venue has been home to the National Buffalo Wing Festival since 2002.[153]

Reverend Franklin Graham staged his Evangelical outreach and music festival Rock the Lakes at the venue in September 2012.[154]

Nitro Circus brought their You Got This Tour, an extreme sports exhibition, to the venue in May 2019.[155]

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.[156]

Special features

Eateries

A traditional beef on weck sandwich

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.[157]

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.[158]

Tributes

Luke Easter, member of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame whose number was retired by the Buffalo Bisons

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.[159]

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 above the owner's box of the venue in tribute.[160]

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.[161] A statue of Griffin was unveiled outside the venue in August 2012 to honor his contributions in constructing the ballpark and bringing professional baseball back to Buffalo.[162]

Plaques honoring all members of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame are on permanent display within the Hall of Fame Heritage Room, which was built on the venue's third-base concourse in 2013.[163] The Heritage Room also contains rotating exhibits of memorabilia that honor Buffalo's baseball history.[164]

The Buffalo 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).[165]

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.[166]

Transportation access

Sahlen Field is served by Seneca Station on the Buffalo Metro Rail.

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: [167]

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General
Events and tenants
Preceded by
War Memorial Stadium
Home of the
Buffalo Bisons

1988 – present
Succeeded by
Present
Preceded by
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Old-Timers Baseball Classic
1988 – 1990
Succeeded by
Final event
Preceded by
Inaugural event
Triple-A All-Star Game
1988
Succeeded by
Cooper Stadium
Preceded by
Inaugural event
StarGaze
1992 - 1993
Succeeded by
University at Buffalo Stadium
Preceded by
Don Valley Stadium
 UK
Universiade
1993
Succeeded by
Fukuoka Dome
 Japan
Preceded by
Spring Mobile Ballpark
Triple-A All-Star Game
2012
Succeeded by
Aces Ballpark
Preceded by
Rogers Centre
Home of the
Toronto Blue Jays

2020 – present
Succeeded by
Present
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