Bisons feeling chill of getting season going at home earlier than ever

As the snow came down around Sahlen Field on Tuesday, Buffalo Bisons officials were inside the Pub at the Ballpark talking about their first home game this season just 10 days away.

The March 29 game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will be the earliest home game the Bisons have played in their 139 seasons of professional baseball.

Finding ways to get fans in the seats for early season games has become a priority for the team over the years, but this season’s earlier start will present an even bigger challenge.

In recent seasons, the team has run deals and promotions to help with early season attendance and this spring will be no different.

On opening day, there will be a 2024 magnetic schedule and ice scraper giveaway and for the next two games, on March 30 and 31, children 14 and younger will get a free ticket with the purchase of a ticket for an adult.

Thanks to some of these deals, the team has sold out most of its suites for April and May in recent seasons, said Bisons General Manager Anthony Sprague.

“It’s March and April in Buffalo, so you never know what you’re going to get,” Sprague said.

The schedule needs to be as close as possible to the Major League Baseball schedule, Sprague said. Opening day for MLB this season is March 28, aside from a pair of games overseas beginning Wednesday morning.

“I know we’ll get a good crowd regardless of the weather,” Sprague said. Long-range forecasts call for temperatures in the mid-40s with possible rain showers in Buffalo on March 29, which is also Good Friday.

Here are five things to look for at the ballpark this season.

Among the many promotions for this season will be 12 “Good Neighbors Wednesdays,” where a portion of every ticket sold will go back to the fan’s town.

Additionally, the town with the most per capita ticket sales by the end of the season will receive a $2,000 grant from the Bisons Charitable Foundation to benefit youth…