Progressive Field, Home of the Indians

Official Review by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Co-Founder

In 1901, the American League was founded with 8 charter members. The team in Cleveland was originally called the Bluebirds, which was later shortened to the "Blues" and finally they became the Indians in 1914.

The team's original stadium, League Park was located only 4 miles from their current home, Progressive Field. The remains of the original ticket office and a portion of the right field wall still stand today, and are a must-see for any ballpark chaser making the trip to Cleveland.

Progressive Field was built in 1994. Amazingly, when the Marlins move into their new ballpark in 2012, Progressive Field will be older than 18 stadiums in Major League Baseball. It was a crown jewel when it first opened as Jacobs Field. The place sold out 455 consecutive games from 1995-2001, causing the team to list 455 among their retired numbers, in honor of their great fans.

Today, the park has a fantastic downtown location, but there are many elements that seem outdated when compared to the many newer and more modern facilities.

Food & Beverage    4

One important decision when visiting a new ballpark is whether to eat in the stadium, or in the surrounding neighborhood. In the case of Progressive Field, there are several good options in the stadium, but my preference is to eat my fill along 4th Street (more on that below).

Inside the stadium, the most unique item is the chicken & waffle sandwich, which you can get in a combo meal for $12.75. If you think this is a weird combo, believe me, it's delicious and is really a perfect ballpark treat. You could also just grab a couple of waffles ($5) from the same stand. For other sweet treats, try a deep fried Twinkie or deep fried cookie dough ($5 each).

If you're like me, sausage or hot dog is the way to go at most ballparks. Here you can grab a Glatt Kosher hot dog ($5), brat ($4.75), or a standard hot dog ($4.25). I was disappointed to see that sauerkraut will cost an additional $1.25. Many stadiums allow you to have it for free, or even keep it with the condiment stand.

A large pizza will cost you $27, but it's big enough to feed the whole family or group you've come with. By the slice it will cost you $3.50, or you can save a quarter by going for the 2/$6.75. If you're feeling especially boring, there's a Subway where you can get a 6-inch sub for $6.

As you walk the concourse, there's quite a large selection of that quintessential ballpark drink; beer. Macro-brews will cost you $9.25 for a large, or $7.25 for a small. If you want something local, then you can find Great Lakes beers on draft, which is my recommendation ($7.75). Other premium drafts include Guinness, Smithwick's, and Harp for the same price.

Out towards rightfield, you'll find the bustling concession called "Your Dad's Beer." Here they have cans of beer including Blatz, Busch, Gennessee, Iron City, PBR, Schaefer, and Stroh's ($4.50 for a 12-ounce). They also have other tasty little snacks like pork rinds, pickles, and beer nuts. This is a great retro kind of snack bar.

Soft drinks are provided by Pepsi in two sizes ($4.75 and $5.75).

Atmosphere    4

The Indians have played in 5 World Series during their history, and two of those (1995 & 1997) have been played at Progressive Field. Unfortunately, they haven't won a World Series since 1948, making for a Cubs-like feeling of miserable anticipation within the walls of Progressive Field.

John Adams, a fixture in centerfield since 1973, helps to make the atmosphere unique as he bangs on his bass drum to try and rally the team and the fans. I've spent some time talking with John on previous visits, and while it is clear that he is a serious fan, you may not realize that he is also a very serious musician. You may easily find him jamming at a local jazz club. In any case, he's an absolute irreplaceable part of the Indians experience, and sitting near the top of the centerfield bleachers should be part of any Indians fan's to do list.

The legroom is adequate in the lower section with cupholders throughout. In the upper deck, the rows are raised nicely so there is no threat of a huge noggin in front of you obstructing your view in any way.

One negative of the stadium is the concourse itself. You are able to walk all the way around, but for the most part you are unable to see the field, and spend your time indoors. The only exceptions are in the outfield, which are crowded with spectators who want to be able to stand and take in the view from the outfield wall.

Neighborhood    5

Cleveland is not exactly what you would consider a "tourist destination," but the fact is that this may be the best baseball neighborhood between Chicago and Boston. The strip of bars and restaurants on 4th Street between Prospect and Euclid Avenues is stellar.

I've tried several, and can certainly recommend Harry Buffalo, Michael Symon's Lola, and Flannery's Irish Pub. If you're a foodie like me, then the absolute can't miss establishment is the Greenhouse Tavern. They focus on products where proximity matters, and put out delicious and interesting food like foie gras steamed clams, roasted pigs head, and pig tongue dolmas. There are less adventurous, but equally delicious options as well, including an amazing drink menu and wine list. You would be wise to make reservations ahead of time.

Although it is closer to Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame may be a good place to spend a few hours if you're a big music fan. Check the schedules closely and you may be able to catch a Browns game and Indians game in the same weekend in September.

Next door is Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cavaliers play, as well as the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters and Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators. Just down the street is the Wolstein Center, home of Cleveland State Vikings basketball. You should almost always be able to find a sporting event in this area regardless of the time of year.

Fans    4

Indians fans are a hearty crew who have experienced their share of lean times. The unexpected success in 2011 of the Indians have certainly helped to boost attendance and add some magic back to Progressive Field. I sat between a father taking his son to his first game, and a couple of long time season ticket holders. What a great way to experience a game! Through the eyes of a 6 year old seeing his first ballpark, and two raucous hardened fans, that bleed for their team.

As I walked around the ballpark, I was impressed with the conduct of the fans, who seemed more courteous than many I have experienced when it came to staying seated during play. The concourses were crowded between innings, giving further evidence to how focused the crowd was on the game itself.

Access    4

Progressive Field is located near the intersection of I-90 and I-77, so whether you're headed east, south, or west, you can easily find and leave the stadium. Parking is available ranging from $6 to $25 depending on how far you are willing to walk. This is a very walkable city, so if you want to save some money, then head away from the stadium a bit to find a lot that meets your economic preference.

Restrooms were fine, but I did notice some substantial lines for the women's bathroom by mid-game. Spending quite a bit of the game walking the concourse, I would recommend moving to the next bathroom if you do experience a line.

Return on Investment    5

Tickets start at $9.50 for upper deck seats behind home plate. It's a long ways up, but it isn't a bad view of the field. Off to the bleachers and those will only cost you $11.75. Even seats near the dugout will only cost you $60. The bottom line is that you are finding a good value no matter where you go. There's even an all-you-can-eat package in the upper deck for $32.

The food is reasonably priced, and as long as you're willing to walk a bit, so is the parking. Overall, you're going to feel like you got your money's worth when you leave Progressive Field.

Extras    3

An extra point for having the ability to squeeze in a trip to the historic remains of League Park, where Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run, and Cy Young once took the mound. Make sure you give yourself an extra half hour to make the short trip.

I'm also a huge fan of the devotion of The Drummer, John Adams. He's one of a kind, and an iconic fan in American sports.

I would also include Heritage Park in the list of extra points. Located in rightfield, this is a collection of plaques dedicated to some of the best players in the history of the Cleveland Indians. The names will astound you. Cy Young, Larry Doby, Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Lou Boudreau, Early Wynn, Nap Lajoie, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and Tris Speaker all are paid tribute here.

Final Thoughts

Some of the shine is off of Progressive Field to be sure, and while it may not be the best baseball experience out there, you can be sure that a trip to Cleveland will be a wonderful baseball experience.