Baseball at Progressive Field
The sights, sounds and tastes of Cleveland’s Ballpark
An introduction and fan's guide to enjoying baseball in Cleveland's Progressive Field
As you pass by the Bob Feller statue and enter the gates of Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians, you know that you are truly in a major league baseball park. The ballpark, which seats just over 41,000, is alive with fans and vendors around one and a half hours before game time. There are three main gates, and fans can enter through any of them holding any ticket.
The park has three sections, the lower bowl, upper deck, and two sections in between, the Mezzanine, which is beyond right field, and the Club Seats, with a great view of home plate from behind first base. The Club Seats are a special reserved section.
Only holders of Club Seat tickets can enter, but the premium price includes unlimited food and soft drinks, and access to a separate restaurant area. Beyond left field, underneath the giant scoreboard, are the Bleachers, reserved bench seating, with some of the best views of the baseball action in the park.
Above the lower bowl down the third base line is the Terrace Club, a members and guests only restaurant and bar area with good views of the field. Across the ballpark are three rows of private loges, with the finest amenities.
Accommodating the three rows has resulted in raising the upper deck quite high, and not allowing much rise to the rows in lower bowl. If you are not tall, you may want to consider a seat cushion for a better view. The seats are very close to the action, which means less foul territory and more foul balls for the fans.
Before the game and between innings, loud music is a constant in the ballpark. During the game, there is the ever-present shouting of the vendors and exhortations by the organist to charrrrrrge.
Food and drink are large parts of the baseball park experience. The food selections are diverse, with Mexican food, sushi, pizza and, of course, hot dogs. Cleveland’s favorite topping is Stadium or Ballpark Mustard. This spicy brown mustard is not found elsewhere than Cleveland, and is used to top the franks, bratwurst, and the Script I (for Indians) pretzel. Ketchup is provided, but most save it for the french fries.
Soft drinks and wine are available, and beer is the choice of many adults. Beer Night was back in the 1970’s, a long time ago, and moderation is recommended and enforced by management and security.
Progressive Field opened in 1994 (as Jacobs Field) and its operation coincides with the new glory days for Indians baseball. The park is filled with displays on the 1995 and 1997 World Series teams and other playoff teams of that era. Although the Indians have not won the World Series since 1948 (as of this writing) the fans remain loyal, but wary.
The names of players who have had their numbers retired are prominently featured on pillars above the Mezzanine, along with the number 455, for the number of consecutive sellouts by the fans. The Mezzanine is sometimes called Pronkville in honor of the nickname of Travis Hafner, who has occasionally reached the seats in that distant section. .
New for 2007 is Heritage Park, an area inside the park behind the centerfield fence. The area contains monuments and plaques commemorating the achievements of the players and teams of the over 100-year history of the Indians.
Jacobs Field is completely non-smoking. Umbrellas are allowed, but can only be used in the seating section during a stoppage of play. Food can be brought in from outside, but no bottles, cans or hard sided coolers.
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