Editing Sahlen Field (section)

===MLB preparation and seating expansion, 1990–1995===
[[File:Fabio appearing during StarGaze 1993 at Pilot Field.jpg|thumb|left|[[Bleacher]] expansion as seen in [[right field]] behind [[Fabio Lanzoni]], June 1993]]

In anticipation of Buffalo being awarded a major league franchise, [[Robert E. Rich Jr.]] began establishing minor league [[farm team]]s for the [[Buffalo Bisons]] organization. Rich Jr. acquired the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[Wichita Pilots]] and founded the [[Class A Short Season]] [[Niagara Falls Rapids]].<ref>{{cite web | title=The Odessa American from Odessa, Texas on October 12, 1988 · 25 | website=Newspapers.com | date=October 12, 1988 | url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/300252005/ | access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Baldwin | first=Richard | title=IT'S 'PLAY BALL!' AS NIAGARA FALLS RAPIDS BEAT PIRATES IN SAL MAGLIE STADIUM DEBUT | website=Buffalo News | date=June 17, 1989 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/its-play-ball-as-niagara-falls-rapids-beat-pirates-in-sal-maglie-stadium-debut/article_e96d9abb-d496-55fb-915f-81b300f3cfa8.html | access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref> He renamed Wichita's team to the Wranglers and planned to upgrade their franchise to Triple-A upon the Bisons joining [[Major League Baseball]].<ref>{{cite web | title=As Fans Flock to Big Time Stadium, Buffalo Takes Aim at Big Leagues | website=The New York Times | date=June 20, 1989 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/20/sports/as-fans-flock-to-big-time-stadium-buffalo-takes-aim-at-big-leagues.html | access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>

The proposed seating expansion to accommodate Major League Baseball was revised by [[Populous (company)|HOK Sport]] to preserve the aesthetic of the roof, which would now be kept and raised to cover a third deck. In this new design, less seating would be built on the third deck, and instead a new [[right field]] seating structure would be built in front of the Exchange Street [[parking ramp]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Collison |first1=Kevin |last2=Hammersley |first2=Margaret |title=Bisons Unveil Plans To Increase Pilot Field Capacity To 41,530 Upper Tier Would Be Added, Bleachers Converted |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/bisons-unveil-plans-to-increase-pilot-field-capacity-to-41-530-upper-tier-would-be/article_c635a0ed-9c50-51ee-8250-8ee5e078ee30.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=November 30, 1989}}</ref> In addition, expanded [[bleachers]] would be added in right field that could later be converted to permanent seating. Capacity after this expansion would increase from 19,500 to 41,530 at a cost of $30 million, but unlike the earlier design would take longer than a single offseason to complete.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Cardinale | first1=Anthony | last2=Collison | first2=Kevin | last3=Raeke | first3=Carolyn | title=NEW PLAN DOUBLES STADIUM EXPANSION COST | website=Buffalo News | date=December 1, 1989 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/new-plan-doubles-stadium-expansion-cost/article_ef59a8e1-db9a-5b49-9b99-0b5560ee12ed.html | access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref> Prior to the 1990 season, 1,400 [[bleacher]] seats and a [[standing-room only]] area within the third-base mezzanine were added at a cost of $1.34 million, increasing the stadium's capacity from 19,500 to 21,050.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heaney |first1=James |last2=Turner |first2=Douglas |title=Pilot Field Expansion Clears Council Vote Also Backs Architectural Study of Facility Next To War Memorial Site |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/pilot-field-expansion-clears-council-vote-also-backs-architectural-study-of-facility-next-to-war/article_d5a1789d-7899-5e3b-be91-bbce8c21ed4b.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=January 17, 1990}}</ref>{{sfn|Buffalo Bisons Media Guide|2019|p=134}}

In September 1990, [[Bob Rich Jr.]] attempted to buy the [[Montreal Expos]] for $100 million and move the team to Buffalo, but owner [[Charles Bronfman]] declined his offer.<ref name="BigLeague1992">{{cite news |last1=Felser |first1=Larry | author-link=Larry Felser | title=Rich Says Battle to Obtain Big League Franchise Isn't Over |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/rich-says-battle-to-obtain-big-league-franchise-isnt-over/article_30a04d0f-8ced-58c9-85be-173d7c35644f.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=August 16, 1992}}</ref> That same month, Rich Jr. and his investment group presented their bid for a Buffalo expansion franchise to the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] Expansion Committee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Summer Ends at Pilot Field; Rich's Investor Group Buoys Big League Quest |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/summer-ends-at-pilot-field-richs-investor-group-buoys-big-league-quest/article_cc5e61f5-c91a-590e-a20c-881a80e217de.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=September 6, 1990}}</ref> Members of this investment group included [[Jeremy Jacobs]], [[Larry King]], [[Northrup R. Knox]], [[Robert G. Wilmers]], [[Robert O. Swados]] and [[Seymour H. Knox III]].<ref>{{cite web | title=14 CO-INVESTORS, RICHES SHARE A TEAM SPIRIT | website=Buffalo News | date=December 19, 1990 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/14-co-investors-riches-share-a-team-spirit/article_b215e689-dd87-51be-9f17-5d656ae8a267.html | access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref> It was reported that the investment group was prepared to fund $134 million in private capital required for expansion, which included the $95 million [[franchise fee]] and initial operating costs.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Besecker | first1=Aaron | last2=Heaney | first2=James | last3=Allen | first3=Carl | title=BASEBALL COST GOING OUT OF SIGHT TAXPAYERS FACE PAYING BIG SHARE OF $230 MILLION | website=Buffalo News | date=December 9, 1990 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/baseball-cost-going-out-of-sight-taxpayers-face-paying-big-share-of-230-million/article_b6444546-c5dd-5135-9fa8-36b41a7c628f.html | access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref> The largest share of the financial burden would fall on Rich Jr., who pledged a minimum of $10 million cash and the equity in his three minor league teams. Rich Jr. publicly voiced concerns in December 1990 that without a [[salary cap]] and [[revenue sharing]], he would have to raise ticket prices to unaffordable levels while being unable to produce a competitive on-field product.<ref>{{cite web | last=DiCesare | first=Bob | title=PAINFUL TRUTH STARING AT RICH: BUFFALO'S MARKET IS TOO SMALL | website=Buffalo News | date=March 23, 1991 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/painful-truth-staring-at-rich-buffalos-market-is-too-small/article_f53a2ba2-b361-5aa5-857f-08a17961706b.html | access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> 27,000 major league [[season ticket]] commitments were made by April 1991, consisting of 18,000 paid seat deposits and 9,000 complimentary deposits awarded to the existing Bisons season ticket holders.<ref>{{cite news | title=HIPP D.C. EXPANSION GROUP HAS ENOUGH MONEY FOR TEAM | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=April 24, 1991 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1991/04/24/hipp-dc-expansion-group-has-enough-money-for-team/973be53c-4f76-4e18-bce8-462caf09da87/ | access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref> Buffalo was one of six finalists for the [[1993 Major League Baseball expansion]], but franchises were awarded to the [[Colorado Rockies]] and [[Florida Marlins]] in June 1991.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chass |first1=Murray |author-link = Murray Chass | title=Baseball Ready to Add Miami and Denver Teams |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/11/sports/baseball-ready-to-add-miami-and-denver-teams.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 11, 1991}}</ref> National League president [[Bill White (first baseman)|Bill White]] later confirmed that Rich Jr. publicly questioning the league's financial structure sunk his bid.<ref>{{cite book | last1=White | first1=B. |author-link = Bill White (first baseman) | last2=Mays | first2=W. | title=Uppity: My Untold Story About The Games People Play | publisher=Grand Central Publishing | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-446-56418-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bo6fbb8_-GsC&pg=PT176 | access-date=April 12, 2022 | page=176}}</ref>

In their fourth year at the stadium, the Buffalo Bisons once again broke the all-time record for Minor League Baseball attendance by drawing 1,240,951 fans during the 1991 season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Budd |title=This Day in Buffalo Sports History: Packing them in |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/this-day-in-buffalo-sports-history-packing-them-in/article_ae4ff0e0-31e6-5a58-aabb-3574fb1951bc.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=August 19, 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 2em; width: 39%; font-size: 85%;" cellspacing="3"
|-
!colspan="4"|All-Time Minor League Baseball Attendance Records{{sfn|Buffalo Bisons Media Guide|2019|p=104}}
|-
|'''Rank'''||'''Team'''||'''Year'''||'''Attendance'''
|-
| 1.
| [[Buffalo Bisons]]
| 1991
| 1,240,951
|-
| 2.
| Buffalo Bisons
| 1988
| 1,186,651
|-
| 3.
| Buffalo Bisons
| 1990
| 1,174,358
|-
| 4.
| Buffalo Bisons
| 1992
| 1,134,488
|-
| 5.
| Buffalo Bisons
| 1989
| 1,132,183
|-
| 6.
| Buffalo Bisons
| 1993
| 1,079,620
|-
| 7.
| [[Louisville Redbirds]]
| 1983
| 1,052,438
|-
| 8.
| Buffalo Bisons
| 1994
| 982,493
|-
| 9.
| Buffalo Bisons
| 1995
| 951,080
|-
| 10.
| [[Sacramento River Cats]]
| 2001
| 901,214
|}

Rich Jr. offered to let the [[Montreal Expos]] finish their home schedule at the venue in September 1991 after [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]] was damaged, but the team instead played their final 13 home games on the road.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Major League dream of Bob and Mindy Rich is, briefly, coming true | website=Buffalo News | date=August 9, 2020 | url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/baseball/the-major-league-dream-of-bob-and-mindy-rich-is-briefly-coming-true/article_6d49a710-d543-11ea-abb4-1bfd832cfcc3.html | access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=BASEBALL; Home Unsafe, Expos Move | website=The New York Times | date=September 14, 1991 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/14/sports/baseball-home-unsafe-expos-move.html | access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref>

In June 1992, Rich Jr. attempted to buy the [[San Francisco Giants]] and move the team to Buffalo, but owner [[Bob Lurie]] declined his offer. The proposed name for the team would have been the New York Giants of Buffalo, as the franchise had previously played as the [[History of the New York Giants (baseball)|New York Giants]] from 1885 to 1957 in New York City.<ref name="BigLeague1992" /> That same month, the City of Buffalo chose to exercise an [[escape clause]] and buy back $24.2 million in federal bonds they had earmarked for expanding the venue to accommodate Major League Baseball.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pilot Field Funds Eyed for Arena Plan Would Finance Sabres' New Home with $24 Million Raised to Expand Stadium |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/pilot-field-funds-eyed-for-arena-plan-would-finance-sabres-new-home-with-24-million/article_911bd9e5-fce2-560a-8759-d44ad7853d8d.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=February 22, 1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Griffin Rejects Shift of Pilot Field Funds to New Sports Arena Decision Called 'Slight Setback' |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/griffin-rejects-shift-of-pilot-field-funds-to-new-sports-arena-decision-called-slight-setback/article_178ba1e2-d0d8-563c-b6e6-dbf2d3769901.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=May 2, 1992}}</ref>

The 1988 to 1993 Buffalo Bisons seasons were the six highest-attended campaigns in [[Minor League Baseball]] history, with each season drawing over 1,000,000 fans.{{sfn|Buffalo Bisons Media Guide|2019|p=104}}

Prior to the 1994 season, a restaurant called Power Alley Pub was constructed under the bleachers in right-center field.<ref>{{cite web | last=Northrop | first=Milt | title=PILOT ISN'T A STADIUM STUCK IN 'PARK' FROM MENU TO MASCOT'S PAL, BISONS' HOME WILL HAVE DIFFERENT LOOK | website=Buffalo News | date=April 13, 1994 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/pilot-isnt-a-stadium-stuck-in-park-from-menu-to-mascots-pal-bisons-home-will/article_20af238c-bdc2-5233-844a-74f93446584d.html | access-date=April 22, 2022}}</ref> The restaurant provided seating with views of the field through the outfield wall.

Rich Jr. moved his [[Class A Short Season]] [[Niagara Falls Rapids]] after he was unable to secure repairs for the aging [[Sal Maglie Stadium]]. The team resumed play as the [[Jamestown Jammers]] in June 1994.<ref>{{cite web | last=Warner | first=Gene | title=IN A TALE OF TWO BASEBALL CITIES, FALLS' LOSS IS JAMESTOWN'S GAIN | website=Buffalo News | date=June 12, 1994 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/in-a-tale-of-two-baseball-cities-falls-loss-is-jamestowns-gain/article_4710e256-13b8-5117-90b1-bb04652aa896.html | access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>

In July 1994, Rich Jr. notified the Major League Baseball Expansion Committee that he was interested in pursuing a Buffalo expansion franchise.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DiCesare |first1=Bob |title=Despite Threat of Strike, Expansion Talk Surfacing |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/despite-threat-of-strike-expansion-talk-surfacing/article_d8bdeeaa-fb44-5eb6-9438-ca57cd201bee.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=July 16, 1994}}</ref> However, he would retract this notification the following month after the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]] commenced.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaughan |first1=Mark |title=Rich Says No Thanks To Big Leagues Unrest, Economics Temper Present Interest of Herd Owner |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/rich-says-no-thanks-to-big-leagues-unrest-economics-temper-present-interest-of-herd-owner/article_c9b2f1a2-d186-5643-b858-9db5355a5ef9.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=August 12, 1994}}</ref> Buffalo was withdrawn as a candidate for the [[1998 Major League Baseball expansion]], and franchises were awarded to the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] and [[Tampa Bay Rays|Tampa Bay Devil Rays]] in March 1995.<ref>{{cite web | title=MLB expands to Phoenix and Tampa | website=UPI | date=March 9, 1995 | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/03/09/MLB-expands-to-Phoenix-and-Tampa/9037794725200/ | access-date=May 30, 2022}}</ref>

Rich Jr. was offered an expansion franchise by the [[United Baseball League (proposed)|United Baseball League]] of Major League Baseball in November 1994 at a cost of $5 million, which would have played at the venue beginning with the 1996 season.<ref>{{cite web | last=DiCesare | first=Bob | title=RICH PLAYS WAIT-AND-SEE ON NEW LEAGUE | website=Buffalo News | date=November 2, 1994 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/rich-plays-wait-and-see-on-new-league/article_6d4c675c-0aca-52b4-9c47-9d7714ff2045.html | access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref> However, franchises were awarded in February 1995 to [[Long Island]], Los Angeles, [[New Orleans]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], Vancouver and [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] before the league folded without ever playing a game.<ref>{{cite web | title=THE UNITED BASEBALL LEAGUE UNVEILS ITS FRANCHISE PLAN | website=Sports Business Journal | date=February 15, 1995 | url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/1995/02/15/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/THE-UNITED-BASEBALL-LEAGUE-UNVEILS-ITS-FRANCHISE-PLAN.aspx | access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1=Wise | first1=A.N. | last2=Meyer | first2=B.S. | title=International Sports Law and Business | publisher=Springer Netherlands | issue=v. 1 | year=1997 | isbn=978-90-411-0977-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TnkuSogCVyIC&pg=PA636 | access-date=March 24, 2022 | page=636}}</ref>

The Buffalo Bisons considered sharing the venue with the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] for their [[1995 Toronto Blue Jays season|1995 season]], as the [[Ontario Labour Relations Board]] prohibited non-union [[replacement players]] from competing at [[Rogers Centre|SkyDome]] during the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Harrington | first=Mike | title=PILOT FIELD UNLIKELY SITE IF JAYS MUST MOVE GAMES | website=Buffalo News | date=January 21, 1995 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/pilot-field-unlikely-site-if-jays-must-move-games/article_9ac6148e-b041-59f2-bdb1-a5a946357b24.html | access-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref> The Blue Jays instead chose to play at their [[spring training]] home of [[TD Ballpark|Dunedin Stadium]], but the strike ended in April 1995 and the team returned to SkyDome.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sullivan | first=Paul | title=THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS MAY OPEN THE SEASON IN A 6,218-SEAT BALLPARK. IT'S OBVIOUS . . . | website=Chicago Tribune | date=March 26, 1995 | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-03-26-9503260347-story.html | access-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=BASEBALL STRIKE ENDS | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=April 3, 1995 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/04/03/baseball-strike-ends/b9949db1-116a-4a10-8c1c-24005f4d8a36/ | access-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref>