Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN/WGR 550) - Baseball season is officially back in Western New York!
Friday marks opening day for the Buffalo Bisons, as they kick off their 2024 season against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders for a 2:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Sahlen Field.
This year's opening day officially marks the franchise's earliest home game in 139 seasons of professional baseball in Downtown Buffalo. Luckily for the Bisons and baseball fans alike, the weather forecast for first pitch appears favorable, despite maybe some chilly temperatures.
"These early games, we need the weather to cooperate a little bit, because it's March, it's April, it's Buffalo. You never know what you're gonna get," said Bisons general manager Anthony Sprague. "If we do, happen chance, get a 50-degree day with some sun, we know Western New York is going to come out and support us. Even if it was [cold and snowing], everyone tailgates for Bills games like this, people would be out for our opening day, too. It's a holiday, and March 29, I know we'll get a good crowd, regardless of what the weather is."
Sprague knows it's tough for not just Buffalo, but anywhere in the Northern part of the country to open a baseball season this early in the year. However, it's important for Minor League Baseball teams to start the season as close as possible to their Major League parent clubs, and Sprague feels as prepared as he can realistically be.
"If the weather cooperates and all that white stuff is gone, we'll be ready to go. There's honestly nothing we can do about it, we understand it. We need to have our schedule as close to the Major League schedule as possible, but we'll be ready, and we'll get it done," Sprague said.
As the players get ready to commence the 2024 campaign Friday, the Bisons organization is also excited to host the fans for another great season of baseball at Sahlen Field. However, there are a pair of notable changes that Bisons fans should be aware of before heading to the ballpark.
Perhaps the most notable change to everyone's game day experience this year will be Sahlen Field going cashless, joining the likes of KeyBank Center and Highmark Stadium.
"We think that will speed up service, and help out," Sprague said. "The comments we get usually after a homestand is, 'It took a while to get some food.' This will certainly speed up everything that we're doing along through there."
Sahlen Field will be cashless for concessions, merchandise, vending and at the Consumer’s Pub at the Park restaurant. Fans can continue to use all major American and Canadian credit card and U.S. debit cards, as well as secure forms of digital payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
It is important to note the Sahlen Field Box Office will still accept both cash along with credit card payments towards the purchase of all ticket options, including single-game tickets and the full selection of Bisons ticket package options.
As part of this transition, the Bisons have added 30% more payment devices to assist with the efficiency of all purchases.
The other notable change this season will be with the timing of evening games at the ballpark excluding Friday nights.
"You'll notice our game times for the majority of the season, instead of 7:05 p.m., it's 6:35 p.m. That's a big change as well this year," Sprague explained. "That's a family-oriented decision. We feel like if we can open the gates at 5:30 p.m. for those summer games, and let us take care of your dinner for you, come on down. It's an earlier night for some folks, and trust me, I hear it at home that the earlier we start, the better. You will get more families to come down. That was the rationale behind that decision."
With new promotions, new offerings in the concession stands, the addition of two one-of-a-kind non-game day events and more, Bisons fans are ensured a number of fun times at the ballpark this year.
For three games this season, the Bisons will take to the field as "Luces de Buffalo", a new alternate team identity developed in conjunction with the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, and joining the MiLB's "Copa de la Diversión" initiative.
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The Bisons are also pleased to be hosting "Good Neighbors Wednesdays" at 12 home games this year, where a portion of every ticket sold will go back to the fans’ community.
"Each community can come out and support their communities. And it's a little competition, whoever can sell the most tickets is going to get a nice little donation from the Bisons Charitable Foundation," Sprague explained.
The town from which the most per-capita ticket sales comes from by the end of the season will receive a $2,000 grant from the Bisons to benefit their youth sports or recreational departments.
The Bisons also have a number of additional promotional games scheduled at Sahlen Field this year, including Bingo and Bluey Day on July 21, "Obscure Cap Night" on July 19, World Softball Day on June 13, Friendship Bracelet Night on May 24 and more.
And, of course, the staple promotional games will return to Sahlen Field in 2024, including fridaynightbash!® nights with Resurgence Brewing Happy Hour and postgame Fireworks, Family Funday Sundays with Kids Run the Bases, and TWOsdays with $2 Sahlen’s Hot Dogs.
Among your special theme night games this season includes Star Wars Night on May 25, Father’s Day on June 16, and the annual KeyBank Independence Eve Celebration with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on July 3. The Bisons will also be hosting a Hockey Night with the Buffalo Sabres (Sept. 7) and Lacrosse Night with the Buffalo Bandits (June 27), where new designed jerseys will also be unveiled.
The full promotional schedule for games this season in Buffalo is available here:
And what isn't a day at the ballpark without a vast array of food and drink items for fans to enjoy?
Along with your staple Sahlen’s hot dogs topped with Weber's Mustard, the concessions lineup in 2024 will be filled with many great local options.
After debuting at the ballpark in 2023, Alexandra’s Pierogis returns with two new offerings: Mini Dumplings in Buffalo Chicken and Beef flavors. Fans will also be able to choose from Beef Short Rib Skewers and Crab Cake Sliders with Coleslaw at concession stands.
And just like at Sabres game with their "hot dog of the game", there will be "Super Weekly Nachos", a new and different style of nachos that will change each Bisons homestand during the season.
And for desert, why not try some Ice Cream Nachos, with fans being able to select their favorite soft-serve ice cream in a nacho-style dish filled with wafer crackers and caramel sauce.
"When you come to a ballgame you're having a Sahlen's hot dog. That's definite, 100% You're gonna have a Bud, a Blue Light, you're gonna have a Coke, and then that's kind of is where is frays off a little bit. So we try and get to those core things the most. Get those the easiest in people's hands, because that's what they want. But you come to a game, you still want to maybe try something different. That's why we'll have some of these other offerings here, and we try and see if some of that will take," Sprague said.
The Bisons will send left-handed pitcher Ricky Tiedemann to the mound for Friday's opener, as he's currently ranked as the Toronto Blue Jays No. 1 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, in addition to the 29th overall rated baseball prospect in the Top 100.
In addition, the Bisons announced last week that Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane will throw the ceremonial first pitch just before the 2024 season officially gets underway at Sahlen Field.
You can catch every Bisons game this season on the radio over on our sister station, The Bet 1520 with Pat Malacaro.
