Classic Park - Lake County Captains

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14

Classic Park 35300 Vine St Eastlake, OH 44095

Lake County Captains website Classic Park website

Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 6,157

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Baseball Fun East of Cleveland

Classic Park is the home of the Lake County Captains, High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians in the Midwest League. The Captains are only 18 miles from Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, making them one of the closest affiliates to the parent club in Minor League Baseball.

Classic Automotive Group, a Cleveland-area auto dealership, purchased the Classic Park name. The stadium debuted at $22 million in 2003 and features 6,500 seats, a wraparound concourse, lawn seating, 17 luxury suites, and two outdoor party decks. The ballpark also offers a few other features that have made national news, including a trio of mascots and a row of toilet seating.

The Captains arrived in town after playing as the Columbus, Ga, RedStixx in 2003, while members of the South Atlantic League before moving to the Midwest League in 2010. The ball club has captured two MWL championships in 2010 and 2024.

Food & Beverage 3

Classic Park has quite a few options for fans attending the game, from local favorites to an array of alcoholic beverages. They can be purchased at regular stands and kiosks, through the grab-and-go system, and always through electronic payment.

The Galley serves up a wide variety of items, including several hot dog options like the Jumbo Dawg, the 10-Inch Dawg, and the Sloppy Dawg (cheese and bacon). There are more options available that feature the Captain’s brat and the Italian sausage. Cheeseburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, tenders and fries, and fish sandwiches are also available. There is a giant batting helmet stuffed with tortilla chips, cheese, pulled pork, and jalapenos.  

Lake Effect Ice Cream on the 3rd base side offers one, two, and the brain freeze, a five-scoop ice cream served in a batting helmet and topped with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

The alcoholic beverages include domestics and craft beer cans from Budweiser, Modelo, Corona, Yuengling, and local favorites Collision Bend and Schnitz Ale Brewery. Surfside Vodka, Fresca Mixed, White Claw Hard Seltzer, and Long Drink wrap up the non-beer choices at Classic Park.

Atmosphere 3

Classic Park features a nautical theme, evident throughout the concourse with mini-boats, concession stands named Castaway’s Bar and The Galley. The stadium is one mile from Lake Erie, where many ships lie shipwrecked underneath its deep waters. However, there are a few quirks that make it stand out from the average ballpark around the league.

The stadium features wide open concourses, plenty of grass seating from foul pole to foul pole in the outfield, and a row of seats that are toilet bowls. The Roto-Rooter Toilet Row has 8 sets of seats available for purchase and comes with comfortable padding and a prime view of the diamond. The seating has gained fame around the country and is surprisingly comfortable to watch from behind the backstop.

There are more comfortable seats a few rows above, called the rocking chairs, that sit two people. The area includes a wooden-deck platform that makes the fan feel as if they are on their back porch, enjoying the game underneath the patio lights.

The rest of the seating bowl stretches from foul pole to foul pole and includes cup holders. A large covered outfield seating section is located behind the left field wall. The video board features a few glitches and was originally installed in an indoor facility in Japan. The stadium’s scoreboard is original from when the stadium opened in 2003.

The Cargo Hold is a larger retail shop that includes various selections of team gear. The Captains introduced a bold new logo with colorful jerseys in 2025, modeled after Cleveland’s “caveman” uniforms of 1974-1977. There is even a powder blue pullover that feels more like a Milwaukee Brewers away set from 1982.

Neighborhood 4

Historic Downtown Willoughby is less than 2 miles from the ballpark and offers a wide array of bars and restaurants. Ballantine is a gastropub with live DJ music on Friday and Saturday nights. Sol serves vibrant fusion food in a spacious restaurant dating back to the 1930s. The Garage Bar is a playground for adults featuring arcade games and drinks. The Yard on 3rd is open late with local food trucks, bench seating, and yard games for entertainment.

There are plenty of small places for domestic, imports, and craft beers, including Mullarkey’s Irish Pub, The 1899 Pub, and the Tricky Tortoise Brewing Company, which is housed in an old trolley repair car depot that dates back to the late 19th century. The space offers live music, food, and trivia nights.

The parking is free on the street, and weekend nights are buzzing with more traffic and people. Check hours of operation during the weekdays, as a few restaurants and bars close much earlier than expected. 

Fans 2

The fans are very tame and involved with the game. Nothing is discerning or alarming about their behavior to think they do not enjoy themselves. Would I have liked to see a little more energy? Perhaps, but they are enjoying being out at the ballpark with friends and family. That is all that should matter most of the time at minor league ballparks. Isn’t that what the promotions are for?

Access 4

Classic Park is located two miles north of I-90 with plenty of signs directing you off the interstate. A straight road takes you to friendly people who direct you to your car. If you park across the street, a pedestrian bridge takes you over for convenience. 

Return on Investment 3

The cost of a ticket is $16, $22.50, and $28 for most games. Parking on the first base side of the ballpark is $10. The price of a domestic beer is $8, and a basic hot dog is $4.50. A team jersey is just under $100 and is not your cheaply made brand. The team charges $10 for parking on the first base side of the stadium and across the street in the larger lot.

Extras 3

The team employs three mascots: Skipper, Horatio, and the Baseball Bug, who originally debuted for the Cleveland Indians in 1980 and returned after a long hiatus in 2023. However, none of the mascots were present during the game when we visited. 

The Roto-Rooter Toilet Row is fun and a unique way to enjoy a baseball game. How many ballparks have row seats quite like this?

The team jerseys are not your regular run-of-the-mill team jerseys that you will find at most minor league gift shops. The wording, numbers, and patches are sewn on and appear to be the exact ones worn by the players on the field.

Final Thoughts

Classic Park is a ballpark design that was popular in the early 20th century. It offers a wide-open concourse, a massive lawn area of seating, and easy access to concessions and team merchandise. However, with today’s baseball fans, there is the opportunity to create more excitement at the ballpark. There are signs already, and hopefully more in the future.

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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com