BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bisons are making a temporary move and will start their season in Trenton, N.J.
It's also likely the Toronto Blue Jays will play their second season at Sahlen Field in downtown Buffalo.
The Bisons officially announced the move Friday morning on Twitter. The team says the move to New Jersey will allow contractors to to finish some upgrades of Sahlen Field that will make it possible for the Blue Jays to play the rest of the season in Buffalo.
The Toronto Blue Jays began regular season home games at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on April 8. No official date has been set for a Blue Jays move to Sahlen Field. The team says Major League Baseball will give them an update in the future.
Fans who had ticket vouchers for the 2020 season will be contacted by the team to discuss options.
The statement from General Manager Anthony Sprague said that while this is temporarily inconvenient for the Bisons, the renovations being made at Sahlen Field to accommodate the Blue Jays will mean the Bisons will benefit from those facilities for years to come.
Some of those changes include: Moving the bullpens off the field and behind the outfield walls, new batting cages built beyond right field, a new weight room and renovated clubhouse facilities, and LED light bulb replacements plus two additional temporary lighting poles.
“After a nearly decade-long partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays, these Sahlen Field upgrades are a natural progression of our successful partnership. Sahlen Field is one of the oldest ballparks in all of Triple-A so these upgrades are essential for the long-term success of having high-quality baseball in Buffalo, NY for many years to come,” said Mike Buczkowski, President, Rich Baseball Operations in a statement sent to 2 On Your Side.
The Bisons will play at the former Arm & Hammer Park, where the Double-A Trenton Thunder played. “We thank the Trenton Thunder organization for opening their doors and welcoming the Bisons so this renovation can be completed,” Buczkowski said.
Last month, Major League Baseball delayed the start of the Triple-A season by a month. The Bisons were originally scheduled to open on April 6.
The team will open May 4 at home against Worcester.