BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Billows of dark smoke were seen rising from the Sahlen Field facilities after a fire broke out Friday morning.
Despite the fire, the Bisons game against the Indianapolis Indians was played as scheduled Friday night, with Buffalo coming out on top 8-5.
Firefighters responded to the downtown scene just after 9 a.m. The blaze started in the concourse of the Bisons’ home field and was put out around 10 a.m. Nobody was hurt as a result, according to the team.
The fire was accidental and involved a portable concession stand along the first base side of that concourse that may have been caused by a compressor in the portable stand overheating. The overall damage was estimated at $600,000.
As a result of damage from the blaze, sections 118 to 120 along the first base side will not be open for seating Friday, and fans with tickets in those sections will be reseated to the third base side, team officials confirmed in a news conference. The concourse extending from sections 106 to 120, including concessions, will also be closed off, as will the right field ticket gate on Seneca Street. The Swan Street and Oak Street ticket gates will be open.
“I want to thank the Buffalo Fire Department, they are great neighbors,” Mike Buczkowski, President of Rich Baseball Operations, said. “The quick response prevented it from being worse than it could have been.”
The suite level along the first base side, the right field party deck and the restaurant near right field will be open as usual.
Fans with tickets for Friday’s game will receive an email with further information regarding operational changes. There is no known timeline regarding when the closed sections of the first base side will reopen.
You can watch the full press conference regarding the fire below.
Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.