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Buffalo Bisons

Bisons Showcase 'What's New' at Coca-Cola Field for 2015

March 25, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Grab your seat and get ready for spring! Buffalo Bisons baseball is just 15 days away as Opening Day is Thursday, April 9 against the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field (2:05 p.m.). With the season we've all been waiting for fast approaching, the Bisons announced today 'What's New at the Ballpark' to get fans ready for sunny days and nights in downtown Buffalo.

Bisons' fans are no doubt gearing up for the end of winter and the beginning of another season of great baseball action on the field. To ensure the Bisons Baseball tradition of providing the absolute best family entertainment experience and value in town, the Bisons have made exciting additions that are sure to delight the senses of every fan in Western New York and Southern Ontario.

Feel the comfort of the brand new Special Reserved Seating, installed just days after the conclusion of the 2014 season. Smell and taste Buffalo favorites like The Original Pizza Logs, Big Ditch Craft Beers and Buffalo Wing Popcorn as well as new flavors like Oreo Churros and Turkey Nachos, brought to fans faster than ever with the ballpark's new Systems Technology Group's Point of Sale System. See the exciting new designs of Under Armour and Nike apparel, new to the Bisons team shop, as well as the debut of a specially designed Star Wars Night logo cap. Hear the non-stop baseball action on the newly expanded Bisons Baseball Network.

Changes to the Bisons Playing Schedule and Pace of Play Regulations are also new additions for the 2015 season as is a new Great Lakes Brewing Company Ticket Pack.

The best seat in town!

Beginning only days after the conclusion of last season, the Bisons installed just over 3,200 new seats in the special reserved section of the ballpark's lower seating bowl in phase one of a multi-year seating project. From section 114 on the first base side through 113 on the third base side (dugout to dugout), the new American Seating seats are 22" in size, an increase of three inches from the older models. Because they are wider than the 3,700 removed in the project, the new official seating capacity at Coca-Cola Field to 17,600.

The seating project was funded by the continued support of the City of Buffalo and Mayor Byron W. Brown in another example of the strong public-private partnerships that exists with the Buffalo Bisons. American Seating has set the standard for quality sports seating solutions with installations dating back to the early 1900s in parks like Boston's Fenway Park, Chicago's Wrigley Field and US Cellular Field and Detroit's Comerica Park.

Exciting baseball action is on the clock!

Upon returning to Coca-Cola Field, fans will no doubt notice the installation of three new Pace of Play Clocks at the ballpark; two behind home plate and a third beyond the centerfield wall. Beginning in 2015, the International League (and all Triple-A and Double-A leagues) will use these clocks in an effort to improve the overall pace of play of games. The clocks will count down two minutes and 25 seconds for between inning breaks and 20 second between pitches. Beginning on May 1, pitchers and batters may incur automatic balls and strikes respectively if they are not ready for baseball action by the expiration of time on the clocks. The complete Pace of Play Guidelines were released on Tuesday and is will be available throughout the season on Bisons.com.

Better than a steak at the Ritz!

Great ballpark food has always been the perfect complement to the exciting action on the field. In 2015, the Bisons continue their fan-favorite traditions of bringing the great local food products into the ballpark and providing diverse menu options for all fans to enjoy. A Western New York staple for 25 years, The Original Pizza Log will now be served at Coca-Cola Field with each pizza log hand-rolled with the finest ingredients available. Buffalo Wing Popcorn puts a new spin on the area's most famous food, making it possible to enjoy great chicken wing flavor right at your seat! And Buffalo's own Big Ditch Brewery has been added to the team's popular Craft Beer Corner, open every game and during all fridaynightbash!® Happy Hours.

Bisons fans don't have to wait until Fridays to enjoy great tasting craft beer. The all-new Great Lakes Brewing Company Ticket Pack includes two reserved seat tickets to any Bisons game (excluding special events) and four great-tasting Great Lakes Craft Beers. This pack is only $30.

New concession items will also include Oreo® Churros for those with a sweet tooth and Pulled Pork Sandwiches produced by Rich Products. Pettibones Grille will see if Bisons fans are up to the challenge of The MONSTER -two half-pound burgers with crispy fried onions, mozzarella and bacon in-between! If you're more interested in finger foods, try the Turkey Nachos with guacamole, bell peppers, black olives and cheese or the Irish Nachos, sidewinder potatoes with cheese, scallions, bacon bits and bleu cheese.

All Bisons food and merchandise services will be rendered at a faster and more convenient way with the installation of a brand new Point of Sale system throughout the ballpark by Systems Technology Group of Buffalo, NY.

Under Armour heads to the front of the shopping list

In 2015, Bisons fans can 'Earn their Armour' by visiting either Coca-Cola Field shop or Bisons.com. One of the most popular brands of sports apparel, Under Armour Bisons' logo gear is now available with great designs for Men's, Women's and youth. From long and short sleeve polos to t-shirts, Bisons fans can outfit themselves with an exciting new brand of comfortable, stylish gear.

Also, fans should check out the new additions from Nike, The New Era Cap Company and more to the Bisons merchandise catalog. The entire selection of Bisons apparel and merchandise can be found in both the Batter's Box Gift Shop and the Bisons Team Shop at Coca-Cola Field as well as online at Bisons.com.

Get the Star Wars Cap, you must!

There's no denying that Bisons Star Wars Night has become the must-attend event of every summer at the ballpark. For the first time in the event's history, the Bisons will sell a New Era Cap Star Wars Night Logo Cap. The specially designed cap will be available in royal blue and scarlet red in both fitted and adjustable designs. However, the caps will be available on Star Wars Night ONLY - Saturday, July 18 against the Columbus Clippers (6:05 p.m.). Proceeds of the cap sales on Star Wars Night will benefit the Compass House, a not-for-profit agency offering safe shelter and services for runaway and homeless youth in Western New York.

Star Wars Night tickets, including the Star Wars Night 4-Pack and Super Pack, are on sale at Bisons.com.

Never miss a pitch of Bisons baseball

The Bisons Baseball Network has expanded its coverage yet again in 2015. This year, the club welcomes in WOEN 1360 AM in Olean and WGGO 1590 AM in Salamanca, providing fans in the Southern Tier an opportunity to catch every pitch of Bisons baseball. All Bisons games will continue to be heard locally on ESPN 1520, the flagship station for exciting Bisons baseball. "The Voice of the Bisons" Ben Wagner and Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Duke McGuire will continue to anchor all Bisons broadcasts, starting with a pre-game show 30 minutes before each contest.

International League moves to 'Unbalanced Schedule'

The International League has moved to an 'unbalanced schedule' for 2015, meaning the Bisons won't play the same number of games against each divisional and non-divisional opponent. This change has allowed the league to even out preferred weekend/summer dates for all teams in the league, give all off days while teams are home, minimize short and long homestands/roadtrips and offer better scheduling flexibility working with a seven-day week.

The Bisons will play 90 games against IL North foes, taking on Syracuse a high of 21 times and Rochester, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Pawtucket only 17 times (Lehigh Valley 18 games). Each non-divisional opponent will travel to Buffalo once next year, for either a three or four-game series. The Bisons will face each IL South and IL West team from six to eight times in 2015.

In previous years, the Bisons faced every IL North team 16 times (eight home, eight away) and every IL South/IL West team eight times (four home, four away).

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