Editing Sahlen Field (section)

===Alterations and seating reduction, 1996–2019===
[[File:DunnTireParkSat.png|thumb|left|A satellite view of the venue with new outfield fence, circa 1996–2003]]

A new outfield fence was erected prior to the 1996 season at a cost of $50,000 so that the venue's playing surface mirrored the dimensions of [[Progressive Field|Jacobs Field]]. Left-center field was reduced from 384 feet to 371 feet, center field was reduced from 410 feet to 404 feet, right-center field was reduced from 384 feet to 367 feet, and the height of the center field fence was reduced from 15 feet to 8 feet. This change allowed the [[Cleveland Indians]], Buffalo's major league affiliate, to better evaluate their [[prospect (sports)|prospects]], while also making the park more [[Glossary of baseball (H)#hitter's park|hitter-friendly]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Fences Moving at North Americare Park This Summer |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/fences-moving-in-at-north-americare-park-this-summer/article_fbe9bc2c-8f72-567b-b29d-b9ca06c8e95a.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=December 19, 1995}}</ref>

The venue was home to the Buffalo Nighthawks of the [[Ladies Professional Baseball League]] before the league shut down mid-season in July 1998. The Nighthawks were in first place with an 11–5 record when the league folded, and were declared Eastern Division champions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Starosielec |first1=Mark |title=Gates Close On Women's Baseball |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/gates-close-on-womens-baseball/article_f61d7050-e676-5810-bfff-527cccbe0ddb.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=July 29, 1998}}</ref>

The park's original four-color [[dot matrix]] [[scoreboard]] in center field was retrofitted with a 38-foot wide by 19-foot tall [[Daktronics]] [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] video screen in 1999 at a cost of $1.2 million.<ref>{{cite web | last=Harrington | first=Mike | title=HERD WILL BE LIGHTING UP A NEW SCOREBOARD IN 1999 | website=Buffalo News | date=November 6, 1998 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/herd-will-be-lighting-up-a-new-scoreboard-in-1999/article_2ebe3fce-e87f-572e-8e0e-12be47af379a.html | access-date=May 30, 2022}}</ref>

The venue was home to the [[Buffalo Bulls baseball|Buffalo Bulls]] of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite web | last=Graham | first=Tim | author-link = Tim Graham (sports journalist) | title=BASEBALL, SOFTBALL RETURN TO UB AFTER 13-YEAR HIBERNATION | website=Buffalo News | date=March 22, 2000 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/baseball-softball-return-to-ub-after-13-year-hibernation/article_e862dec8-7cf3-5449-afef-fe0165c2b77f.html | access-date=May 24, 2022}}</ref> The Bulls finished the season with a 12–35 record and moved to [[Amherst Audubon Field]] the following year.<ref>{{cite web | title=2017 UB Baseball Media Guide | website=Issuu | date=February 10, 2017 | url=https://issuu.com/buffalobulls/docs/2017_baseball_guide | access-date=May 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=May 10, 2001-Vol32n31: Sports Recap | website=University at Buffalo | date=May 10, 2001 | url=https://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/archive/vol32/vol32n31/sports.html | access-date=May 24, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Sahlen Field - Toronto Blue Jays - 51325046520.jpg|thumb|right|Party Deck, July 2021]]

[[Major League Lacrosse]] staged an exhibition at the venue on August 11, 2000, as part of their Summer Showcase Tour.<ref>{{cite web | last=Borrelli | first=Tom | title=LACROSSE TOUR ROLLS INTO DUNN TIRE PARK | website=Buffalo News | date=August 11, 2000 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/lacrosse-tour-rolls-into-dunn-tire-park/article_ceb11c7d-6628-5c49-a171-4f7c2fbe9f2b.html | access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref> [[Robert E. Rich Jr.]] planned to purchase a Major League Lacrosse franchise at a cost of $1 million to begin play at the venue in June 2001.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Borrelli | first1=Tom | last2=Bailey | first2=Budd | title=BUFFALO PLAYING THE WAITING GAME | website=Buffalo News | date=August 19, 2000 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/buffalo-playing-the-waiting-game/article_b9e3f801-5e88-5e89-96a3-09cdcb13465a.html | access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Borrelli | first1=Tom | last2=Bailey | first2=Budd | title=NEW LEAGUE GEARING UP FOR BUFFALO | website=Buffalo News | date=May 13, 2000 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/new-league-gearing-up-for-buffalo/article_32cb1a8d-bbd3-5439-8673-565e363b81a4.html | access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref> However, he withdrew support after determining that removing and replacing the [[pitcher's mound]] for lacrosse games would damage the field and put the Buffalo Bisons at a disadvantage.<ref>{{cite web | last=Harrington | first=Mike | title=INDIANS EXPECT TO RAID BISONS ROSTER ON SEPT. 1 | website=Buffalo News | date=August 12, 2000 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/indians-expect-to-raid-bisons-roster-on-sept-1/article_46b65285-09ae-5b2f-bccf-02ee3ee399e6.html | access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>

The 20-year lease between the Buffalo Bisons and City of Buffalo for use of the venue was renegotiated in January 2003, with the addition of funding from Erie County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/off-season-wrap-up/n-1986034|title=Off-season Wrap-up|date=February 20, 2003|website=OurSports Central}}</ref>

Prior to the 2004 season, $5 million in renovations to the venue were completed, including removal of the stadium's right field [[bleachers]] and construction of a four-tier Party Deck in its place.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pignataro |first1=T.J. |title=Party Deck Helps Revive Spirit at BallPark's Opener |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/party-deck-helps-revive-spirit-at-ballparks-opener/article_84474ed0-d8c3-54ec-89bf-471f5cbb6079.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=April 17, 2004}}</ref> The removal of the bleachers decreased the stadium capacity from 21,050 to 18,025.{{sfn|Buffalo Bisons Media Guide|2019|p=137}}

A 4-foot wide by 8-foot tall [[digital billboard]] was installed on the corner of Washington Street and Swan Street before the 2007 season at a cost of $70,000.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Davis | first1=Henry L. | last2=Linstedt | first2=Sharon | title=Bisons to pitch the team's promotions with video billboard outside ballpark | website=Buffalo News | date=March 3, 1007 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/bisons-to-pitch-the-teams-promotions-with-video-billboard-outside-ballpark/article_31ccacca-4b0c-5002-91e7-a8712e4322df.html | access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Coca-Cola Field HD Scoreboard.JPG|thumb|left|Center field video screen, July 2015]]

The 20-year lease between the Buffalo Bisons and City of Buffalo for use of the venue expired following the 2008 season, and the city began offering year-to-year leases to the team thereafter.<ref>{{cite web | last=Williams | first=Deidre | title=City, Bisons agree to 3-year lease extension | website=Buffalo News | date=April 4, 2017 | url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/baseball/professional/city-bisons-agree-to-3-year-lease-extension/article_a16dc2ba-3d31-553b-b154-9db7cfa2f46e.html | access-date=May 30, 2022}}</ref>

The venue's [[luxury suites]] were consolidated and renovated beginning in 2010, reducing the total number from 38 to 26.<ref>{{cite web | title=Renovation Project Yields Suite Results | website=[[Minor League Baseball]] | date=February 1, 2012 | url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-26539442 | access-date=September 4, 2021}}</ref> A [[Luxury box|conference suite]] was constructed on the first-base side of the stadium at a cost of $250,000, and the year-round suite can accommodate business gatherings of up to 40 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/05/31/story9.html|title=Bringing the boardroom to the ballpark |first=James|last=Fink|work=Business First|date=May 26, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2022}}</ref>

Prior to the 2011 season, the park's original scoreboard in center field was removed and replaced by an 80-foot wide by 33-foot tall Daktronics high-definition LED video screen at a cost $2.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=HD Scoreboard Highlights What's New|first=Blake|last=Arrington |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-17196810|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=March 30, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517114828/http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110330&content_id=17196810&vkey=pr_t422&fext=.jsp&sid=t422 |archive-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, a new $970,000 field drainage system and a new $750,000 field lighting system were added to the venue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/01/12/bisons-to-install-new-25m-videoboard.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022408/http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/01/12/bisons-to-install-new-25m-videoboard.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2011|title=Bisons to install new $2.5M videoboard - Buffalo Business First|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrington |first1=Mike |title=Bisons getting HD scoreboard, new lights |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/bisons-getting-hd-scoreboard-new-lights/article_41cf1fb9-21b1-506d-880a-204e8e94a4bb.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=January 13, 2011}}</ref>

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 200
 | header = 
 | image1 = Dunn Tire Park from I-190.jpg
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = A view of the venue and its seating bowl from [[Interstate 190 (New York)|I-190]], February 2006
 | image2 = Sahlen Field from I190.jpg
 | alt2 = 
 | caption2 = A view of the venue and its seating bowl from [[Interstate 190 (New York)|I-190]], June 2019
}}

The venue was one of six that played home to the [[Empire State Yankees]] of the International League in 2012. The team was forced to play at alternate sites that season as [[PNC Field]] was undergoing renovations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rochester puts out welcome mat for SWB Yankees |work=Ballpark Digest |date=April 18, 2012 |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/201204184745/minor-league-baseball/news/rochester-puts-out-welcome-mat-for-swb-yankees |access-date=June 8, 2022}}</ref> The Yankees finished the season with a 84–60 record and advanced to the International League playoffs.<ref>{{cite web | title=Yankees' | website=OurSports Central | date=September 8, 2012 | url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/yankees-road-warrior-season-falls-short-in-playoffs-with-3-1-series-loss-to-paw-sox/n-4486281 | access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref>

$500,000 was spent in improvements to the venue before the 2014 season, including a new sound system and the installation of new LED message boards down both baselines.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bisons to Unveil New Message Boards, Sound System on Opening Day at Coca-Cola Field|first=Mike|last=Harrington|url=http://blogs.buffalonews.com/insidepitch/2014/02/bisons-to-unveil-new-message-boards-sound-system-on-opening-day.html?ref=brp|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517115004/http://blogs.buffalonews.com/insidepitch/2014/02/bisons-to-unveil-new-message-boards-sound-system-on-opening-day.html?ref=brp|archive-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

A campaign to replace the park's original red seating with wider green seating began in 2014. The stadium's capacity was reduced from 18,025 to 17,600 when 3,700 seats were replaced prior to the 2015 season at a cost of $758,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bisons, City of Buffalo Announce Installation of New Seats in Special Reserved Sections|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-90886852|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421182643/http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140822&content_id=90886852&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t422&sid=t422|archive-date=April 21, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Updated: Bisons to Replace 3,700 Seats As Phase I to 'overhaul' of Coca-Cola Field|first=Mike|last=Harrington|url=http://www.insidepitch.buffalonews.com/2014/08/22/bisons-plan-major-announcement-tonight-ballpark-renovations/|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408051305/http://insidepitch.buffalonews.com/2014/08/22/bisons-plan-major-announcement-tonight-ballpark-renovations/|archive-date=April 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> 2,900 seats were replaced prior to the 2017 season, reducing capacity of the venue from 17,600 to 16,907.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bisons unveil 2017 schedule & announce Phase 2 of ballpark seating project|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-197054486|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=August 22, 2016|access-date=September 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002113618/http://buffalo.bisons.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160822&content_id=197054486&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t422&sid=t422|archive-date=October 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> 2,000 seats were replaced prior to the 2019 season, reducing capacity of the venue from 16,907 to 16,600.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2019/03/23/buffalo-bisons-freshen-the-ballpark-lineup-for.html|title=Buffalo Bisons freshen the ballpark lineup for 2019 |first=James|last=Fink|work=Business First|date=March 23, 2019|access-date=March 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Harrington | first=Mike | title=Plenty of new amenities around Sahlen Field, International League | website=Buffalo News | date=April 2, 2019 | url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/baseball/professional/plenty-of-new-amenities-around-sahlen-field-international-league/article_7937eccb-f8e7-5bde-87ac-abf0055dd243.html | access-date=May 30, 2022}}</ref>

Following the 2019 season, protective crowd netting was installed throughout the venue at a cost of $475,000 to meet Major League Baseball safety standards.<ref>{{cite web | title=Home of the Buffalo Bisons set to be spruced up | website=Buffalo News | date=April 5, 2022 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/home-of-the-buffalo-bisons-set-to-be-spruced-up/article_550129c0-b526-11ec-8b8a-777d3a221a8e.html | access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref>