Welcome to Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, a trendsetting ballpark constructed with Major League enlargement in thoughts. Grab a beer from Conehead, cheer on Buffalo Wing racers and watch the Toronto Blue Jays of tomorrow, as we speak.
Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays since 2013)
Established: 1979
League: International League (since 1998)
Ballpark: Sahlen Field (opened 1988)
Championships: 1997 (within the American Association), 1998, 2004
Notable Alumni: Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Moises Alou, Jay Bell, Otis Nixon, Tony Pena, R.A. Dickey, Mike Hessman
Today’s Bisons are carrying on an extended and wealthy Buffalo baseball custom, one which stretches again to 1877. The Bisons of 1879-1885 have been members of the National League, marking the primary of three events wherein Buffalo hosted a Major League crew (or 4 events, contemplating the Toronto Blue Jays performed there throughout the COVID-disrupted seasons of 2020-21). From 1912 by means of 1969 the Bisons performed within the International League, the identical circuit they function out of as we speak.
21 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame as soon as performed, managed or coached for the Bisons, together with long-ago luminaries similar to Dan Brouthers, Jim O’Rourke, Connie Mack and Charlie “Old Hoss” Radbourne.
The present iteration of the Bisons dates again to 1979, when Buffalo landed a Double-A Eastern League franchise after 9 seasons with out skilled baseball. The crew shifted to the Triple-A American Association in 1985; in 1998, following the dissolution of the American Association, they started their present run within the International League.
The Bisons have been affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays since 2013, a helpful relationship given the proximity between the 2 cities (even when one has to cross a global border alongside the way in which). The Blue Jays partnership follows affiliations with the New York Mets, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Chicago White Sox.
Sahlen Field
Sahlen Field hosted the Toronto Blue Jays for components of the 2020 and ’21 campaigns, a belated coronation for a facility that was constructed with Major League Baseball in thoughts. Originally named Pilot Field, this downtown ballpark opened in 1988 as a alternative for War Memorial Stadium. (That venue, affectionately generally known as “The Rockpile,” was the place nearly all of the baseball scenes in “The Natural” have been filmed.)
Sahlen Field may accommodate greater than 20,000 followers in its early days, and accommodate them it did. Minor League Baseball’s six highest single-season attendance marks have been achieved on the ballpark, with the all-time report of 1,240,951 achieved in 1991. Buffalo was within the operating to be a Major League enlargement metropolis on the time; if this had come to go, a 3rd deck would have been added to the ballpark.
Even if Buffalo hadn’t been auditioning for a Major League crew, followers possible nonetheless would have flocked to Sahlen Field. It served as a precursor to the ballpark increase of the Nineties, wherein so-called cookie cutter multi-use stadiums have been changed by “classic retro” baseball-only amenities. It possesses a grandeur not often related to as we speak’s Minor League ballparks, with stately columns and arched home windows ringing the outside.
Fans enter Sahlen Field into a big, echoing multi-level exterior concourse full of concession stands, memento kiosks, and restrooms. Walkways from the concourse result in the seating bowl, which spans from foul pole to foul pole. There is a celebration deck in proper subject, however no outfield seats. I-190 runs behind the ballpark, main south to Albany and Erie and north to Niagara Falls and Ontario, Canada.
The Party Deck changed a set of bleachers, one among a number of cases wherein Sahlen Field’s capability has been decreased through the years. It now stands (or, extra precisely, sits) at 16,600.
The Blue Jays two-season residency necessitated a rapid-fire ballpark renovation, leading to an expanded residence clubhouse, new batting cages and observe mounds, rebuilt and relocated bullpens, a brand new lighting system and a re-sodded outfield (complementing an infield that had been changed previous to the 2020 season).
Concessions
“Cold Labatt’s! Blue light! Peanuts! Who needs a beer!”
If you hear these phrases at Sahlen Field, then vendor Tom “Conehead” Girot, the beloved beer vendor of Buffalo, is close by. He wears a Conehead hat whereas on the job, a vogue alternative impressed by the Seventies “Saturday Night Live” sketches that includes Dan Ackroyd and Jane Curtin as natives of the planet Remulak.
Sahlen, the Bisons’ ballpark naming rights sponsor, is a Buffalo-based sizzling canine firm. In addition to Sahlen franks, different native objects that may be obtained embody beef on weck from Charlie the Butcher’s, pizza from La Nova and Nick Charlap’s ice cream. Though it isn’t one thing notably related to Buffalo, one of many Bisons’ hottest concession objects is fried bologna, served on a roll and topped with peppers and onions.
For those that need slightly little bit of the whole lot: Consumer’s Pub, an onsite restaurant, options an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Mascot
Perhaps you’ve got “herd”: Buster T. Bison is a Sahlen Field staple. He roams the stands all through the sport, typically joined by the Bisons’ WCC Racers. WCC stands for Wing, Cheese and Carrot, who interact in a nightly between-inning race across the warning observe. Celery was part of this crew, however he retired in 2017 after profitable his first race. It solely took him 450 makes an attempt.
Local Attractions
Buffalo’s Canalside, strolling distance from Sahlen Field, is situated on the unique (1825) western terminus of the Erie Canal. It’s now a bustling vacationer and recreation space, with a boardwalk, carousel and sights such because the USS The Sullivans. This, a decommissioned WWII Destroyer, is a part of the Naval and Military Park.
Head south to Orchard Park to see the Buffalo Bills’ residence of Highmark Stadium, or head north to Niagara Falls. The Rainbow Bridge connects Niagara Falls, N.Y., with its Canadian counterpart. Bring your passport and take a stroll to a different nation.
Two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s main works may be discovered within the Buffalo space. The Darwin Martin House is within the metropolis correct, whereas Graycliff is situated within the city of Derby.
And do you know? President William McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo throughout the Pan American Exposition in 1903. His successor, Teddy Roosevelt, was sworn in on the Wilcox Mansion (on Delaware Avenue, about half a mile away from Sahlen Field).
(Thanks to Paul Synor of the Buffalo Bisons Booster Club for offering a lot of the above info.)
Food and Drink
When fascinated with Buffalo meals, it is just about not possible not to consider Buffalo wings. The best-known institution is Anchor Bar, “home of the original Buffalo wing,” which claims to have invented them in 1964. Anchor Bar wings are nice, no query, however locals are inclined to view it in a “nobody goes there, it’s too crowded” type of means.
As for what wing spot the locals suggest? Ask 10 individuals and also you’re apt to get 10 completely different solutions; wings are in all places. Spots which have been really useful to this author embody Bar-Bill Tavern (within the suburbs), Hot Mama’s Canteen (northwest Buffalo), Washington Square (close to the ballpark) and La Nova.
The aforementioned Washington Square is a good spot for the Buffalo staple that’s Beef on Weck (a uncommon roast beef sandwich on a kummelweck roll, dipped in au jus). La Nova, in the meantime, can also be acclaimed for its pizza. Experience the grease-pool crammed goodness that’s Buffalo-style “cup and char” pepperoni.
Thirsty? Sahlen Field is situated in shut proximity to the Southern Tier Brewing Company in addition to Labatt Brew House.
Lodging
There are quite a few downtown accommodations situated inside strolling distance, a brief drive or a Metro Rail trip away from Sahlen Field. On a price range? Consider a hostel. Not on a price range? Consider a mattress and breakfast in a historic location.
Moving On
Before or after a Bisons recreation, take a look at the mum or dad Blue Jays in Toronto. If your focus is home and/or Minor League-centric, there are nonetheless loads of choices. Head west to see the Erie SeaWolves and Lake County (Ohio) Captains. Or hold issues within the Empire State and journey east to see the Rochester Red Wings, Syracuse Mets and Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
The Road to Toronto
The sprawling Blue Jays’ system begins at their Spring Training residence in Dunedin, Florida, and from there it is solely 3,250 miles or so to Vancouver (the one Minor League metropolis in Canada). A promotion from Vancouver leads to one other lengthy journey, to Manchester, New Hampshire. Buffalo is subsequent on the docket, adopted by the final word vacation spot of Toronto.
Low-A: Dunedin Blue Jays
High-A: Vancouver Canadians
Double-A: New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Triple-A: Buffalo Bisons
