From Tatooine to Sahlen Field; Jabba the Hutt is back in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — For the first time in five years, Jabba the Hutt returned from Tatooine to visit Sahlen Field in downtown Buffalo.

As the Buffalo Bisons prepare for another Star Wars night at the ballpark, they’re bringing back a fan favorite after five years in storage.

“I don’t know if anyone is more excited than me,” Bisons general manager Anthony Sprague said. “It took about a year trying to get it back and it’s been five years since we debuted it, and it was a huge event.”

Each year, the Bisons partner with The North Ridge, a local Star Wars fan group, for one of their biggest promotional events of the year. Thousands of fans fill Sahlen Field for the game, followed by an epic on-field battle and fireworks.

“I’m so excited that we got him back,” said Bobby Whalen Jr. of The North Ridge. “It’s been a long road to get here.”

The Jabba the Hutt puppet is 16 feet long and has been in storage for several years, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this year, the Bisons had the space and staff to once again exhibit Jabba the Hutt, which many fans are excited about.

“When you walk into that lobby and you hear it and you say whoa, it screams down the hall,” Sprague said.

Even though this is typically one of the biggest crowds of the season, some tickets are still available for Saturday’s game.

“It’s really fun, we have a blast, we get to go out and enjoy what we love and share it with people who love it too, so it’s a good time,” Whalen Jr. added.

“It’s fun to see it all come together,” Sprague said. “It’s fun to see people from all eras. Like my son likes to come, you have dads who watched the original movies, and now all the new ones are out, so it’s fun to see everyone come together for an event that we can host.

A portion of the proceeds from the game will be donated to Compass House, a local charity that helps combat youth homelessness. First pitch between the Bisons and the Saints Paul Saints is at 6:05 p.m.