The Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League) have unveiled new menu items at Coca-Cola Field for the upcoming season. In addition, the Bisons announced several other new features at the ballpark for what will be their 30th season at Coca-Cola Field.
The 30th Season of Coca-Cola Field will include several tributes to the milestone year during every home game in 2017. A special ’30th Season Celebration Night’ has been scheduled for August 30, while the team has added Championship Banner Replicas giveaways on May 30, July 30 and August 30 to commemorate the team’s three titles in 1997, 1998 and 2004. Those nights will also feature $1 Sahlen’s Hot Dogs throughout the game. The team will also hold a special Coca-Cola Field Replica giveaway for the first 3,000 fans to take home on June 15.
A staple event for the Bisons over the past three decades has been the fridaynightbash! series, which will include an all new In-Park Fireworks Experience in 2017. The award-winning show from Zambelli Internationale has been brought inside the ballpark walls, giving fans in attendance a post-game show with greater intensity and a more immersive, exciting feel. Starting on May 5, each fridaynightbash! game will also be preceded by an all-new Resurgence Brewing Happy Hour, with gates opening at 5:00 p.m. for fans to enjoy Resurgence Brewing Company’s great-tasting line of locally-produced craft beers, such as the Sponge Candy Stout and Loganberry Wit. All 14 oz. craft beer flavors will cost just $3.00 during the Resurgence Brewing Happy Hour from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Another tradition that Bisons fans have grown to love over the last 30 years is delicious ballpark food, and fans will be able to try something new in 2017 no matter where their seats are. In their commitment to bring great local foods into Coca-Cola Field, the Bisons will now offer Ru’s Pierogis in concession stands, with varieties such as Buffalo Wing and Beef on Weck, as well as Rich’s Fried Cheese Curds. In Pettibones Grille, fans can order Chiavetta’s Chicken Drumsticks as well as an all-new Chicken Wing Dip appetizer. Also for the first time, Seabar’s Sushi will be available for fans enjoying a Bisons game in one of their game day rental suites.
Other new menu items at the ballpark include a Pulled Pork Bread Cone that you can hold in your hands, Deep Fried Twinkies, Deep Fried Pickle Spears, Phyllo-wrapped Shrimp and Roast Beet & Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese.
For fans looking to enjoy great ballpark delights on the lighter side, the team will introduce a new Blue Cross/Blue Shield Healthy Options Cart at Section 105, which will feature different items to help keep fans in playing form.
Making sure their customers always feel safe and comfortable at Coca-Cola Field has been the Bisons top priority since the ballpark first opened in 1988. With that as their main focus, the Bisons have installed all new Metal Detectors at all ballpark entrances, becoming one of the first teams in minor league baseball to add this level of security to their facility. Fans will only be required to their cellphones and cameras before walking through the metal detectors. The second phase of the team’s Ballpark Seating Replacement has also been completed, offering even more of the wider, more comfortable green seats down the first and third base sides of the ballpark.
With the installation of nearly 2,900 new seats, Coca-Cola Field’s new seating capacity for a Bisons home game is now 16,907. The seating project was funded by the continued support of the City of Buffalo Common Council and Mayor Byron W. Brown in another example of the strong public-private partnerships that exists with the Buffalo Bisons.
Along with the team’s year-long celebration of 30 years at Coca-Cola Field, one of the major story lines in 2017 will be the Retirement of Celery. At the end of last season, the loveable loser of the team’s nightly W.C.C. (Wing, Cheese & Celery) Race announced its plan to retire at the end of 2017. Opening Day on April 6 will mark the beginning of Celery’s Farewell Tour, as well as the start of the mascot’s quest to get ‘Just One Win’ before hanging it up.
Earlier this season, the Bisons announced several new additions to the team’s Promotional Calendar. With the team’s annual Star Wars Night entering its 10th season, the event will now feature an appearance by the larger-than-life Jabba the Hutt character. The team will hold an Oven Mitt Giveaway on June 4 as well as an Atomic Bobble Head Giveaway on June 28 for fans wishing to complete their set. Dino Day will make its debut on July 15 while Buffalo Bills great Darryl Talley will be at the ballpark on July 13 for a very special Autograph Session and Bobble Head Giveaway. The Bisons have also expanded their popular Dog Day promotion to a pair of games this year: Sunday, May 6 and Monday, August 28.
The Bisons also have a new way for you to take in your favorite events of the summer. An all new Celebration Suite located on the club level behind home plate gives groups of 25 a unique view of the action in a spacious suite that honors all of the team’s top events each year.