Progressive Field - Cleveland Guardians
- Lloyd Brown
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29
Progressive Field 2401 Ontario St Cleveland, OH 44115
Year Opened: 1994
Capacity: 34,820
Cleveland Rocks!
Progressive Field is the home of the Cleveland Guardians, opening in 1994 as Jacobs Field. It is the third home for the Cleveland MLB franchise, following League Park (1901-1946) and Municipal Stadium (1947-1994). The stadium was designed by Populous and was the second retro-style ballpark to open after Camden Yards in Baltimore.
Even though Progressive Field is more than 30 years old, it has been updated to keep up with the new trends in ballparks. It has gone through renovations in 2014, 2016 and is wrapping up a $200 million renovation during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The entire stadium will have new seats installed by the end of the 2026 season.
Food & Beverage 5
Most people would say that Cleveland is not a “foodie” town. However, the food and beverage program at Progressive Field will convince you otherwise. While the stadium favorites are always present, it is well worth your time to check out the concession stands featuring foods that are unique to the many ethnic neighborhoods that make up the Cleveland area.
Drinking establishments are also well represented at the ballpark. The Corner is a two-level bar offering more than 40 beers on tap. Several breweries have stands at Progressive Park, including Great Lakes Brewing Company, the Fat Head Brewery, and the Brew Kettle.
Atmosphere 5
Progressive Field has done a terrific job of uniting the ballpark with its hometown. Sections of the ballpark are known as “districts”, with an Infield District, the Left Field District, and the Right Field District. Restaurants in each District feature dining options that relate to specific neighborhoods in the Cleveland metropolitan area. The lighting towers at the stadium are uniquely shaped to resemble the smokestacks found in Cleveland’s Industrial District. If that’s not enough, the Cleveland skyline is featured over the outfield walls.
The ballpark also does a great job of recognizing the many accomplishments of the Guardians/Indians franchise over the years. Heritage Park features the team’s Baseball Hall of Fame members, including Larry Doby, Bob Feller, Tris Speaker, and Cy Young. There are also statues of Frank Robinson, Larry Doby, Bob Feller, Jim Thom, and Lou Boudreau. There are 27 plaques commemorating other players and team accomplishments found in this area.
Neighborhood 5
The home of the Guardians is located in the Gateway Sports and Entertainment District. Its next-door neighbor is the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. The ballpark is also close to the East 4TH Street dining and entertainment district, as well as the West Side Market.
Two recommended restaurants within a mile of the ballpark are Butcher and the Brewer (pub food and craft beers) and mouthwatering Mabel's BBQ.
Hotels less than two miles from Progressive Field include the Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland and the Hyatt Regency at the Arcade.
Fans 4
The Guardians/Indians franchise has a history of playing in massive stadiums, as its former home at Cleveland Stadium could seat more than 80,000 fans. When Jacobs Field opened in 1994, it had a capacity of more than 40,000. Once it became Progressive Field in 2008, the team moved away from the “bigger is better” thought process to design more fan-friendly options within the park. The capacity of Progressive Field is now 34,820.
Replacing the seating in areas of the park are several establishments designed to meet the social needs of its fans. This includes the Paul Davis Pennant District for group gatherings, 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. Children also receive a special area in the ballpark known as the Kids’ Clubhouse. This is a two-level activity area filled with baseball-themed rides and games.
The ballpark also took some of the seating areas out to move the bullpens above the playing field. This provides fans with a unique opportunity to watch pitchers warm up before and during the games.
Cleveland fans love to participate in two sing-alongs at Guardians games. In the middle of the 8th inning, “Hang on Sloopy” is played, as it is the official State Song for Ohio. When the Guardians win a game, the fans sing “Cleveland Rocks”, the theme song from the Drew Carey TV show.
Fans are also energized by the antics of Cleveland’s mascot, Slider, who roams through the stands throughout the game.
Access 5
Getting to a Guardians game is very easy, as it is located adjacent to the Tower City Station, which is served by the Blue, Green and Red lines of Cleveland’s RTA light rail system. The Gateway East Parking Garage is immediately outside of the ballpark, with plenty of parking spaces. The team partners with the Spot Hero app to lead fans to other parking spots in the vicinity of Progressive Field.
There are three outfield entry gates into the ballpark. These gates are located along Eagle Avenue, providing you with easy access to the main parking garage and Gateway Plaza. The fourth gate is located near the infield portion of the field. Gates open one hour before the first pitch on weekdays and two hours before the first pitch on Friday nights and weekend games. Concourses in the park are wide, and you should not have much problem reaching your seats.
When the call of nature reaches you, there are 41 restrooms in the stadium (19 men’s, 19 women’s, and three family restrooms).
Return on Investment 4
Attending a Guardians game at Progressive Field is relatively inexpensive with a little preplanning. Parking at the Gateway East Parking Garage runs $10-$15. You can usually find cheaper parking near the ballpark by using the Spot Hero app. The light rail system delivers you right to the stadium via the Tower City Station. The fare is $2.50 per trip.
The Guardians use dynamic pricing for their tickets. This means weekend games and games against popular opponents will cost more than weekday games or games against less significant opponents. Ticket prices are also determined by where in the ballpark you choose to sit. Ticket prices range from $28 to $120 based on these factors. The cheapest seats in the house are the Standing Room Only seats in the Right Field District. This area entitles you to one free drink to tide you over for standing throughout the game. Progressive Field partners with StubHub as its preferred third-party ticket vendor. You may find cheaper tickets on the secondary market.
All purchases at Progressive Field are done on a cashless basis. ATM’s in the ballpark will provide charge cards in exchange for cash.
Extras 2
Progressive Field is one of the few facilities in baseball to host both the MLB All-Star Game and a World Series game in the same season. It accomplished this feat in 1997.
The Guardians’ name refers to the Guardians of Traffic, a series of art deco statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland.
Final Thoughts
The Guardians continue to showcase what makes their home one of the best home stadiums in the major leagues. Progressive Field has everything you would want in a perfect setting. Top food and beverage options mix here with a constantly improving stadium that remains one of the best in baseball. Affordability and easy access also create a welcoming environment that makes for one of the best game-day experiences around.
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