PROGRESSIVE FIELD

Inside Progressive Field– Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews

Stadium Name: Progressive Field

Team: Cleveland Indians

League: MLB – American League Central

Years Visited: 2010 & 2015

Opposing Team: Cincinnati Reds & Chicago White Sox

Date Opened: 1994

Date Closed: NA

Overall Rating: (1-10) 8

Beer Price Rank (2016): 29th highest in the MLB

Ticket Price Rank (2016): 22nd highest in the MLB

Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 10 out of 33

Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 18 out of 33

Notable Award: In 2008, Sports Illustrated named Progressive Field the Best stadium in the MLB

Review:

This field is one of the new era baseball fields. In the early 90’s, new stadiums were popping up in the majors. Teams were getting away from the multi use stadiums that were largely built in the 60’s and 70’s and moving forward to give baseball teams their own unique homes. Soon after Camden Yards was built, Jacobs Field or the Jake, as it was known before naming rights, was born.

The forever struggling city of Cleveland needed an uplift. For years the Indians would share Municipal Stadium with the NFL Browns. The stadium was falling apart and desperately needed help. Finally in the early 90’s a plan to redesign downtown Cleveland came about and part of the plan was a new arena and baseball field. The new era of baseball fields came with a more old school design with nooks and crannies making each field unique. The old “concrete donuts” multi use stadiums lacked any architecture and special feel to it, but these new stadiums all brought great character to the majors.

The first time I went to Progressive Field was in 2010 during a small long weekend road trip. The city of Cleveland, a tad dull on a Friday night, did bring in some fans for the night baseball game vs the inter-league Reds. Not as jammed pack as the stadium once was in the 90’s with the attendance record breaking days, but a fan base was seen there.

I liked the grand entrance out in left field to bring you into the park. I liked the home plate entrance that was very architecturally done well to welcome you to the Jake. The concourse was well designed and very easy to flow. Gift shops and beer stands were easy to get to. Much detail was done all the way down to the Indian’s symbols on the seats.

I went back years later for a day game on a wonderful Sunday afternoon in July. The sun was shining and the park was packed. Although the city of Cleveland gets a bad rap, the baseball stadium is one of the best in the the MLB. If your team is in town, check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and take in a Indians game, and don’t go to a Cavs game because Lebron Sucks.

According to Statista, the Indians are #22 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 29th highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in the Cleveland area, take in a game. Arty tip: Go to Stubhub for a better deal on tickets and grab some beers, its one of the cheapest in the majors.