From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other stadiums known as War Memorial Stadium, see War Memorial Stadium.

War Memorial Stadium is the name of a stadium that formerly stood in Buffalo, New York. The stadium was on a rectangular block near the downtown area. Its main entrance was at Jefferson Avenue to the east (behind left field) and Best Street to the south (behind right field). Its other boundaries were Dodge Street to the north (behind third base) and Masten Park to the west (behind first base) with Masten Avenue farther west.

The stadium hosted the Buffalo Bills of the NFL from 1960-1972, the unrelated Buffalo Bills of the AAFC from 1946-1949 and the Buffalo Bisons of the International League during the 1960s and again from 1979-1988. Prior to this, the Bisons played at Offermann Stadium and Olympic Park, which was located at the corner of Richmond Avenue and Summer Avenue.

War Memorial Stadium was originally constructed as a WPA project in 1937. It was originally named Roesch Memorial Stadium, though the name was changed to Grover Cleveland Stadium later in 1937 and then to Civic Stadium in 1938. The name was changed to War Memorial Stadium in 1960.^[1] The stadium originally sat 35,000, but many expansions took place over the years, raising the capacity to over 46,500.

In its later years it was poorly maintained. A writer once remarked that it looked like whatever war it was a memorial to, had been fought within its confines. This look contributed to the oft-used nickname Buffalo residents gave to the stadium; The Rockpile. Ironically, that worn-down look worked perfectly for the 1984 film The Natural. All of the baseball scenes in that movie were filmed here except for the one scene set at Chicago's Wrigley Field, which was actually filmed at Buffalo's All-High Stadium.

War Memorial Stadium was demolished shortly after the Bisons moved downtown to Dunn Tire Park. A high school athletic field (Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion - c. 1997) remains at the old site. The northeast and southeast entrance to the old stadium was preserved. A small baseball diamond is located on the southwest corner of the field.

• Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

• War Memorial Stadium (2005 Site) Views - Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues
• Photographs of War Memorial Stadium - Rochester Area Ballparks
• A photo slide show of War Memorial Stadium
• A Visual Tour of the Ol' Rockpile

Coordinates: 42°54′18.79″N, 78°51′16.80″W