Progressive Field - Cleveland Guardians
- Marc Viquez
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Progressive Field 2401 Ontario St Cleveland, OH 44115
Year Opened: 1994
Capacity: 34,820
Watching a Game at "The Jake"
Progressive Field has been the home of baseball in Cleveland since 1994. It was the second stadium, after Camden Yards in Baltimore, to usher in a standard for ballpark design in Major League Baseball. After more than 30 years, the Cleveland Guardians continue to upkeep the venue and reinvent themselves for today’s baseball enthusiasts.
The building opened as Jacobs Field on April 2, 1994, for $175 million. The stadium replaced the massive Cleveland Stadium that had been regarded as one of the worst baseball stadiums in the league. Cleveland’s new home now had an intimate capacity of 42,865, but improved amenities.
Over the years, the ball club saw record attendance, three World Series pennants, and a slew of All-Stars and future Hall of Famers at “The Jake.” In recent years, renovations totaling $200 million helped modernize the stadium and reduce capacity to 34,820. They include new social areas, food options, lounges, new seating, and decorative art murals. These changes are hoped to provide a whole new game-day atmosphere for its fans.
Food & Beverage 4
Progressive Field is a cashless venue; all purchases for food, drinks, and merchandise must be made using digital payment methods. The stadium offers quite a few items from local favorites to ballpark classics at multiple stand-alone areas and kiosks.
Rally Burger offers double and triple burgers, Throwing Smoke is known for its barbacoa and chicken bowls, Batt’er Box is where you will find pastrami dogs, knishes, and po’ boys, and Happy Dog offers an array of brats, Italian sausages, and all-beef hot dogs.
Several new designated self-checkout areas are expected to reduce wait times. The Arcade Marketplace, located in Section 138, has been revamped into a grab-and-go market featuring items from Perry’s Ice Cream, Miller Bar, Market Garden, and La Cave Du Vin. The Landing, between sections 162 and 164, is also a self-checkout area featuring a wide selection of beverages and hot foods. Guardian’s Classic is on the upper deck and serves typical ballpark fare in self-checkout areas.
The team rolled out new items this season that include the Jackhammer sausage, Good Company Spicy Thai Fries, Sausage City Spicy Chicken, and Aladiib’s Med Dog. There are still old favorites: Kool Ranch chicken sandwich, fried bologna, Dante's Inferno pizza, and Barrio’s Mexican cuisine.
Atmosphere 4
Progressive Field offers a lively, energetic atmosphere on most days during the season. The team puts out a winning product, and the numerous social areas, seating options, and family-friendly spots provide an epicenter for fans of all ages to enjoy a day at the ballpark.
The Guardians replaced seating in several areas to create social spaces for fans. These areas are now known as the Paul Davis Pennant District, the Corner Bar in the Right Field District, the Terrace Garden area in the Left Field District, and the Home Plate Club in the Infield District.
The Terrace Garden might have the best aerial views of the stadium and the surrounding neighborhood. It is an open-air rooftop social space and beer garden on Level 4 and open to all ticketed fans. The Corner Bar is another social spot in the Right Field District that offers around 40 craft and local beers and a rooftop deck.
The Kid’s Clubhouse in Level 3 of the Right Field Concourse is a two-level activity for children that includes toys, games, interactive activities, and a two-story slide that wraps around a giant baseball bat. On Sundays, live music by Slider and the Hot Dogs is on the deck.
Heritage Park in centerfield is home to the Guardians Hall of Fame plaques, in-game bricks that honor the club’s most memorable moments, and statues of Jim Thome and Frank Robinson. The park is also home to the bronze Ray Chapman plaque, who was killed by a pitch in 1920.
Neighborhood 4
Progressive Field is located in Cleveland’s Gateway District, putting fans in the middle of a lively and walkable downtown entertainment area. The streets around the ballpark are packed with fans at numerous bars and restaurants. East 4th Street is a popular destination for accessibility to and from the stadium.
East 4th Street is a walkable, pedestrian-friendly block that includes favorites: Marble's BBQ, Butcher and the Brewer, Barrio, Whistle Taproom & Pizza, and Flannery’s Pub. The Thirsty Parrot is the closest bar to the stadium. The Clevelander is a two-story bar with an outdoor seating area and plenty of games inside to keep the party going.
The Rocket Arena is right behind the left-field wall of Progressive Field, and fans can enjoy either a Cleveland Cavaliers or Cleveland Monsters game if the schedule permits it. About 2 miles west is the West Side Market, an impressive area for food of all sorts and sampling. They have some of the best beef jerky in the country.
If you are in town for the long weekend, check out more baseball action at ForeFront Field (Lake Erie Crushers), Classic Park (Lake County Captains), and the Baseball Heritage Museum and the Guardians former home, League Park. Adjacent to Progressive Field is Rocket Arena, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Monsters.
Fans 4
Guardians fans are loyal and dedicated but have been tested without their club winning a World Series since 1948. The ball club has made the playoffs 10 times this century, including an AL pennant in 2016. Due to the social areas, fans can be seen with jerseys and T-shirts, enjoying a day at the ballpark.
Access 4
Progressive Field is accessible by car, transit, and bike. There are multiple parking garages and lots within a 15- to 20-minute walk, along with on-street parking on certain days. Tower City Stadium is next to the stadium and is served by the Blue, Green, and Red Line of the city's rapid transit system.
There are three entry gates into the stadium, and they open an hour before the first pitch. The concourses are wide and wrap around the stadium. Escalators and elevators are clearly marked, and there are 41 restrooms, plus a sensory and breastfeeding room (located in the Kids’ Zone).
Bags and soft-sided coolers are allowed as long as they don’t exceed 16”x16”x8”. They can include outside snacks; a single 20-ounce bottle of water and a juice box are allowed, but both must be factory sealed. Fans should be on the lookout for Slider, the club’s official mascot.
Return on Investment 4
Depending on the day or opponent, a ticket to a game can cost as low as $19 and as high as $37, based on secondary websites like TickPick. For fans 12 and under, tickets start at $10. Tickets cannot be purchased at Progressive Field; the ballpark operates on a fully digital ticketing system.
Since the ballpark is downtown, there are many options for where to park for the game. The parking garages around the stadium range from $20 to $30 per car, but much lower if you are able to park further away and walk. The price for a 15-minute walk at a garage is $10-$15 on the website SpotHero.
There are two all-inclusive options. The Bottomless Bites package is available in the upper deck near Section 525 and costs $30 in addition to a single-game ticket. It includes unlimited hot dogs, chips, popcorn, peanuts, and fountain drinks. The Champions Club costs $45 when added to select tickets and provides a buffet that offers ballpark favorites and chef stations, along with unlimited soft drinks.
Extras 4
Progressive Field earns extra points for its various social areas, along with its Kids’ Zone that makes attending a game somewhat more festive for all types of fans. The stadium earns a second point for its Heritage Park that honors the history of the ball club, and a third point for its decorative murals in and around the stadium.
The ballpark offers concession areas that feature local favorites and signature items. Barrio is a local taco spot, Sauce in the City serves their take on a hot chicken sandwich, Good Company introduced spicy Thai fries, and Aladdin’s Eatery sells the Med Dog, featuring beef kafta, hummus, and hot sauce.
The Guardians earn a final point for the multiple revamped areas that have condensed concession areas into grab-and-go spots for shorter wait times and easier access.
Final Thoughts
Progressive Field offers everything you need at a major league ballpark, from food selection, affordable tickets, social areas, and a nearby neighborhood worth staying around after the game. The Guardians fanbase is also fun to spend 9 innings with as well during the hot summer months.
