Sahlen Field

Sahlen Field
"The Jewel of Downtown Buffalo"
"The House That Jimmy Built"
Sahlen Field in 2023
Map
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
Buffalo, New York
US
Coordinates42°52′52.7″N 78°52′27.4″W / 42.881306°N 78.874278°W / 42.881306; -78.874278
Elevation600 feet (180 m)
Public transitAmtrak Buffalo–Exchange Street
Bicycle facilities Reddy Bikeshare
Light rail interchange Seneca
Bus interchange Washington & Seneca, Route 8
OwnerCity of Buffalo
OperatorBison Baseball, Inc.
Executive suites26
Capacity16,600 (2019–present)
16,907 (2017–2018)
17,600 (2015–2016)
18,025 (2005–2014)
21,050 (1990–2004)
19,500 (1988–1989)
Record attendanceBaseball: 21,050
(June 3, 1990 / August 30, 2002)
Concert: 27,000
(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)
Acreage13 acres (5.3 ha)
SurfaceKentucky Bluegrass
ScoreboardDaktronics LED
Construction
Broke groundJuly 10, 1986
OpenedApril 14, 1988
Renovated2004, 2020, 2021
Expanded1990
Construction costUS$42.4 million
($109 million in 2023 dollars[1])
ArchitectHOK Sport
Project managerBen B. Barnert
Structural engineerGeiger Associates
General contractorCowper Construction Management
Tenants
Buffalo Bisons (AA/IL/AAAE) 1988–present
Buffalo Nighthawks (LPBL) 1998
Buffalo Bulls (NCAA) 2000
Empire State Yankees (IL) 2012
Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) 2020-2021
Website
Sahlen Field

Sahlen Field is a baseball park in Buffalo, New York, United States. 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 the International League, 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 1995. 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, the Buffalo Bulls of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 2000, 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), World University Games (1993) and National Buffalo Wing Festival (2002–2019).

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.

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