The Buffalo Bisons held their annual "What's New at the Ballpark?" event Wednesday in the Pettibones Grille Restaurant at DunnTirePark. Unveiled at the event were new food items and merchandise that will be offered to the public during the upcoming season.

The team is labeling the 2008 season as "The Year of the Bisons Fan," and it will be introducing several new promotions in honor of the fan support they've received over the past 20 years.

"Last year we celebrated the 20 th year of our ballpark, and we got just an unbelievable response from the fans sharing all of the great Bisons memories they have," said Brad Bisbing, the Bisons' public relations director. "Our fans have really set the gold standard in support - eight of the top nine attendance marks in minor league baseball history belong to the Buffalo Bisons in this ballpark. That's truly special, and it's something we wanted to honor this year to say thank you to the Bisons fans."

One of the changes the team will be making in 2008 is the moving of its "fridaynightbash!" pre-game celebrations from the tent area inside the ballpark to just outside the ballpark in front of the Bisons ticket office on Swan Street. The events will feature live music from various local bands and specials on hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausages, 16 oz. beers, soft drinks and bottled water.

"We're celebrating 2008 as 'The Year of the Bisons Fan', and we looked at ways we could pay tribute to our fans," Bisbing added. "One of the events we're known for is the Friday night pre-game parties, and this year they'll be free - so even if you don't have a ticket you can still enjoy some great live music and some great food."

Among the new food items that will be offered at the ballpark this season are a Bisons "B"-shaped pretzel, jalapeno and cheese and pepperoni filled breadsticks, macaroni and cheese wedges and fried dough. The team will also welcome Moe's Southwest Grille as a new concession option. Fans are also being given the opportunity to purchase an "All You Can Eat" pack, which admits you into six Bisons games, and allows you to receive a meal item, a snack item, and a Coca-Cola soda product each time they go to a designated concession stand.

New merchandise items for the 2008 season include a New Era flap hat featuring ear-warming flaps, a Nike jacket and customizable T-shirts that can be produced in two minutes through a new T-shirt machine the team is introducing.

The Bisons will also be introducing a "Prize Patrol" this season, which will roam the ballpark and hand out prizes to random fans. Additional features for the 2008 season include a Fastball Cash Card that fans can use to purchase various items throughout Dunn Tire Park, and additions to bisons.com, the official website of the Buffalo Bisons. The enhanced site will feature an "Inside the Herd" video feature, a weekly podcast, and a blog by Bisons play-by-play announcer Ben Wagner.

The 2008 Bisons season is fast approaching, with the first regular season game scheduled for Thursday, April 3rd vs. the Norfolk Tides in Norfolk. The Bisons open their home schedule with a fridaynightbash! vs. the Toledo Mud Hens on Friday April 11th at 6:05 p.m.