Progressive Field
Cleveland, OH

One word can describe Progressive Field, beautiful. Fans deserved something beautiful after years of having to attend games at the huge Cleveland Municipal Stadium. With a lousy team and poor attendance, Richard and David Jacobs bought the Cleveland Indians in 1985, hoping to improve the team and to try to get a new ballpark built. The attempt to build a new ballpark began in 1984, but eight years passed before construction began. The City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County established the Gateway Economic Development Committee to build a new ballpark. In May 1990, voters approved a bond to build a sports complex including Progressive Field. Located in downtown Cleveland, construction of the ballpark began in January 1992. Progressive Field was built as part of a an urban renewal project that also includes Quicken Loans Arena (NBA), parking garages and landscaped plazas. Progressive Field was built so it would blend in with downtown Cleveland; from its exposed steel design, that matches many bridges on the North coast and the vertical light towers, that match the smoke stacks of Cleveland's industrial zone and the high-rise office buildings in downtown Cleveland. For 13 seasons the ballpark was named Jacobs Field. In 2008 the naming rights were sold to Progressive Insurance for $3.6 million/year for 16 years, thus getting its current name, Progressive Field.

The Cleveland Indians home opened on April 4, 1994 when 43,863 fans filled the ballpark to watch the Indians battle the Seattle Mariners. Three tiers of stands extend from the left field foul pole to homeplate and around into right/center field. Excellent views of downtown Cleveland can be seen from many of these seats. A small section of lower level seats stretch to right-center field. In left field, a section of bleachers seats are located above a 19 foot high wall, nicknamed the mini Green Monster. Above these seats is a 120 foot by 200 foot scoreboard. Progressive Field has many amenities including the Davey Tree Backyard Picnic Area beyond centerfield, the Miller Lite Patio Area, an Indians Team Store, Wahoo World where fans can challenge there Major League arm at the Speed Pitch Machine, swing for the fences at the virtual Home Run Derby or use the bats at the Bat Attack cage. Throughout Progressive Field are several electronic entertainment area.  Progressive Field has provided the city with many great memories, including hosting the 1997 All-Star Game and three games of the 1997 World Series. Because of great teams, from 1995 until April 4, 2001, the Indians set a major league record of 455 sellouts of Progressive Field.  The Indians ballpark has been nicknamed "The Jake" since it opened in 1994. With the ballpark being renamed in 2008, it will be interesting to see if fans still refer to Progressive Field as "The Jake." Regardless of its name, the ballpark will be one of baseballs pristine ballparks.