History
Bison Stadium opened in April 1924 on a cramped residential block, which made it a hitter's park. It was renamed for owner Frank Offermann in 1935, also hosted NFL football in the 1920s and the Negro league Clowns in the 1950s.
The city condemned the stadium in 1960 and the Bisons moved to War Memorial Stadium. After demolition in 1961 a junior high school went up on the land; it is now an arts high school, marked by a 2012 historical plaque.
Why it matters: It was Buffalo's baseball home for nearly four decades and a stage for Negro league and future major league stars.
Timeline
- April 30, 1924Opening game[1]
The Bisons played Baltimore in the first game at Bison Stadium.
- 1935Renamed Offermann Stadium[1]
The park was renamed for Bisons owner Frank J. Offermann.
- September 17, 1960Last game[1]
The Bisons lost a playoff game to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the final game.
- August 11, 2012
A plaque recognizing the site's baseball history was unveiled at the school.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (school building)[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Buffalo Bisons | International League · 1924–1960 |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Bisons / Rangers | NFL · 1924–1929 · tenant |
| Indianapolis Clowns | Negro American League · 1951–1955 · secondary |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Bison Stadium (1924–1934) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1515 Michigan Ave., at E. Ferry St., Buffalo, New York[1,2] |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball, Football, Boxing & wrestling |
| Level | Minor League, NFL, Negro Leagues |
| Opened | April 30, 1924[1] |
| Last used for sports | September 17, 1960[1] |
| Demolished | 1961[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 15,012[1] |
| Construction cost | $265,000 (1924)[1] |
| Closure | The city condemned the stadium and the Bisons moved to War Memorial Stadium. |
Documented details
Connected venues
Sources
- Offermann Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, closed, construction cost, coordinates, current land use, demolished, opened, teams
- Historical plaque marks site of former stadium, WBFO / Buffalo Toronto Public Media. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: events, location
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia's infobox lists NFL use 1924-1929; its text says 1924-1927 and 1929.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.