DUNN TIRE PARK

Dunn Tire Park was the first true retro park, according to Andrew Kulyk of thesportsroadtrip.com. Opened in 1988 (it was called Pilot Field in those days) in anticipation of major league baseball coming to Buffalo, it revolutionized minor league baseball. In its first season, over 1,100,000 people attended a game at Pilot Field, breaking all previous minor league records. People from around the country came to see this new marvel and it changed the way baseball stadiums were to be built.

These days, the park is probably about average for a AAA park, but I still enjoyed it, despite the foul weather that had game time temperatures at 29F. The first good thing is the location, right downtown, close to HSBC arena, the home of the Buffalo Sabres. There is plenty of parking around the stadium, but for a day game, many lots are filled with commuters. I recommend the $3 lot on Scott Street in front of HSBC Arena, but no matter what, avoid the $10 lots.

Once inside, you can enjoy a wide variety of food choices. I recommend the fried bologna sandwich, which is served with cheese, onions, and peppers if you wish. The concourse is wide enough, although if there were a full crowd, it might be a problem getting around. On the concourse walls, you can find blurbs of Bisons history as well as pictures of former players.

The seating deck is two levels of red seats. As with most minor league parks, there are no bad seats, although if the weather is not good, you can sit underneath the overhang in the top few rows of the lower deck. If the weather is really cold, try a meal in Pettibones, an indoor restaurant on the second level, which is reached by elevator from the concourse.

One final note is that Dunn Tire Park is going to be renovated early in the 2003 season, in order to make it more cozy. So I will have to pay another visit to report on the changes, which include the removal of the bleachers and the insertion of a grass berm in the outfield.

Overall, Dunn Tire Park is a great place to see a game, if the weather is nice. But if the temperature dips below freezing, best to stay at home and wait for spring to arrive.

Retired numbers