An Open Letter to the Buffalo Bisons

Could Buster Bison be warming up the Canadian cross-border shopping crowd soon?

Let me get serious for a moment. The relationship between the NY Mets and their AAA Affiliate Buffalo Bisons has been reportedly strained. On the other side, the Blue Jays are getting tired of all the red eye flights from their affiliate in Las Vegas. Add in the fact that the Pacific Coast League both skews the power numbers of batters and has ruined the confidence of many a pitcher. This has lead to the Jays calling up pitchers directly from AA New Hampshire. This presents a mutually beneficial situation for both the Blue Jays and Bisons organization. With rumors swirling that the Jays and Bisons might actually partner up, I have come up with a few key points that might help seal the deal:

1. Travel time: Toronto and Buffalo are less than 2 hours by car from each other. Any players coming up from or going to the minors would be a hop, skip, and a jump from each respective city- especially when both teams are at home. This would lower travel time and costs for the clubs.

2. Tourism: Since we are so close to each other, any Blue Jays fans could take an easy trip down to Coca Cola Field to check out up and coming prospects or Blue Jays on rehab assignments. This would be a boost to Buffalo, that is still in need of economic development and more Canadian tourism could be just what the doctor ordered. Also, with a stronger link between Buffalo and Toronto, residents of the Queen City might be more inclined to take a trip up to Toronto to see their Major league club and follow their AAA stars when they get called up. The cost of a bus trip to Toronto or to Buffalo for members of each city is fairly inexpensive, so this just sweetens the deal for those who would either can't drive or just don't want to bother.

3. Cross-Promotion, Cross-Promotion, Cross-Promotion: Coca Cola owns the naming rights to Buffalo's home field, Coca Cola provides beverages to the Rogers Centre- no brainer. Also, with a Blue Jays affiliate in Buffalo, you could develop tourism packages that could convince Torontonians to stay awhile and spend more money in the U.S. Area restaurants, hotels, and even malls (Galleria mall anyone?) could get into the action. Baseball/shopping trips? Everybody wins. You could do the same in Toronto offering Bisons fan an opportunity to see the Jays along with some cross border shopping at the Eaton Centre.

4. Because we took some of your Buffalo Bills home games: Giving you a taste of a major league baseball team close to your city is the least we could do right? New York City is much longer haul from Buffalo than Toronto. Besides Dundas Square is almost as good as Times Square right....

Well, that is my case for your fine organization to join ours. I hope you realize the benefit it could be to both our cities.

Thank you,
Steven Pukin
Producer, Sunday Afternoon Baseball