Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Come next July 3, the Buffalo Bisons will not be home during the 2026 season, putting a pause on, what's become, a three-decade tradition for Western New York baseball fans.
Brad Bisbing with the Bisons says it's a scheduling issue with Major League Baseball.
"With the Independence Day holiday falling on a weekend for the next two years, that puts some strain on the travel situation," explained Bisbing in an interview with WBEN. "In years past, we've been able to divvy up being home on the 3rd, and then the other half of the league being home on the 4th. And with it being on a weekend and the travel that causes, maybe forcing the 3rd to be on a day game instead of a night game, what Major League Baseball decided to do for the next two years, while the Independence holiday is on the weekend."
Teams will now rotate over the next two years, so the Bisons will be on the road in 2026 and at home in 2027.
Bisbing says it's been a great ballpark tradition spanning almost three decades, partnering with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
"It's going to be tough to not have it next year, but I can tell you the Bisons organization, we're well underway planning very exciting and fun not only game days when we are home, but non-game day schedule for next year," Bisbing said.
He adds the team hopes to have those announcements coming soon.
Whether any future announcement will involve the BPO is yet to be determined, according to Bisbing.
"They have their own summer schedule, and they do a lot of great events around Western New York. Seeing what may or may not fit is all part of the discussion," he said. "But we know we have great partners in the BPO, and we'll keep calm, keep the conversation going with them and see what's possible."
The Bisons this year have home games through September.