Jacobs Field
Encyclopedia
Progressive Field is a ballpark
located in downtown
Cleveland
, Ohio
, and is the home of the Cleveland Indians
of Major League Baseball
and the American League
. Along with Quicken Loans Arena
, it is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex
. It was ranked as Major League Baseball
's best ballpark in a 2008 Sports Illustrated
fan opinion poll.
From its inaugural season in 1994, the ballpark was named Jacobs Field for team owners Richard and David Jacobs, until 2008, when it was changed to Progressive Field due to the sale of naming rights to the Progressive Insurance Company
. Fans informally refer to it as The Jake (based on the park's original name) as well as The Pro or The Prog (short for Progressive). The ballpark contains 2,064 club seats and 126 luxury suites.
, and they shared with the NFL
's Cleveland Browns
. However, by the mid-1980s, Cleveland Municipal Stadium was showing its age. Players and fans complained the aging stadium was "too big and too old." The 75,000-seat stadium had seen the Indians set numerous attendance records, but during the Indians' dark years, even crowds of 40,000 looked sparse. Additionally, it lacked the amenities of other ballparks, such as luxury boxes.
In May 1990, Cuyahoga County
voters approved a 15-year sin tax
on alcohol
and cigarette
sales to finance the new Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex
. In June 1992, Indians legend Mel Harder
, who pitched the opening game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1932, along with current-era stars Charles Nagy
and Sandy Alomar, Jr.
, executed the ceremonial first pitch at the site of the new ballpark before construction began.
The ballpark opened as Jacobs Field, named for former team owner Richard Jacobs, who paid for the naming rights through the end of 2006.
On April 4, 1994, the Indians played their first game at the new stadium. By only a few months, it became the first new major-league facility to be built in Cleveland itself since Municipal Stadium's opening in 1932. President
Bill Clinton
threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners
4-3 in 11 innings.
In , it hosted its first World Series
, in which the Cleveland Indians lost to the Atlanta Braves
. Two years later, it was the site of the 1997 MLB All-Star Game
, in which the American League defeated the National League 3-1, thanks to a two-run home run by Indians catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr., the game's MVP. Also in 1997, it hosted the 1997 World Series
, which the Cleveland Indians lost to the Florida Marlins
.
On October 5, 2007, in the eighth inning of a playoff game against the New York Yankees
, a swarm of insects (believed to be midge
s from Lake Erie
) enveloped the playing field, distracting relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain
. Chamberlain walked Grady Sizemore
, who later scored the tying run on a wild pitch. The incident became known as the "Bug Game". In 2009, seagulls began to reside in the outfield during games at the stadium, even interrupting a game-winning ground ball play in a game against the Kansas City Royals
. Stadium groundskeepers are currently searching for a solution to the problem, most recently shooting off fireworks after each half-inning in an attempt to scare the birds away.
In August 2008, the Indians extended their lease agreement for the stadium from 2013 to 2023. The agreement with the Gateway Economic Development Corp. also gives the team four five-year renewal options after 2023.
to the park had been bought by Progressive Corporation
, an insurance
company headquartered in nearby Mayfield Village
. Removal of the iconic Jacobs Field sign on the front of the building began the morning of January 18, 2008, and the replacement sign was installed on March 25, 2008. Progressive agreed to pay $
57.6 million for the naming rights for 16 years.The ballpark was originally slated to be renamed the alliterative name Progressive Park. However, it was later realized that this name belonged to a picnic facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa
, so the stadium is now called Progressive Field.
on three separate occasions. The Indians "retired" the number 455 in honor of the sellout record. The Boston Red Sox
later surpassed this record, when Fenway Park
recorded 456 straight sellouts on September 9, 2008. The day after a sold-out opening day for 2011 (Saturday, April 2), the Indians set a new record: 9,853 - for lowest attendance. The very next day, April 3, 2011, that record was broken by an all-time low head-count of only 8,726 fans.
s, cost approximately $175 million to build, of which $91 million, or 52 percent, came from Indians owner Richard Jacobs. The remaining $84 million, or 48 percent, was from the sin tax. The Gateway ballpark and arena were the first sports facilities in the United States to be constructed simultaneously at the same location.
The ballpark was designed by HOK Sport (now known as Populous), a division of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
. HOK designed it as a retro-modern ballpark, similar to their just-completed Oriole Park at Camden Yards
in Baltimore, with asymmetrical fences of varying heights, a smaller upper deck, and stepped tiers. The ballpark was situated in a way that would showcase Cleveland's downtown skyline.
Structural engineering
was performed by local firm Osborn Engineering
, which helped design Cleveland Municipal Stadium, along with "old" Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park
. Griffith, IN-based Triad Design Associates performed the interior architecture
, while local minority firm Whitley/Whitley Inc. did the interior architectural design. Dallas-based Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon and Williams, Inc. performed the acoustic and video engineering. The installation of seating was completed in October 1993.
-shaped vertical light towers, which stand 200 feet (61 m) above street level (218 feet (66.4 m) above the playing field). The distinctive light towers were incorporated into the original Jacobs Field logo as well as the 1997 All-Star Game logo.
The playing field has also several unique features, including asymmetrical fences of varying heights. The 19-feet-high wall in left field drops to nine feet in center field, and maintains that height around to right field. The bullpens are raised above the playing field, which allows fans to see who is warming up. Indians' bullpen is located in center field (next to section 101), while the visitors bullpen is in right field (next to section 113).
The ballpark also has a glass-enclosed multilevel restaurant named the Terrace Club located along the left field foul line on the suite level. In addition to a valid game ticket, fans need a pass to enter to the Terrace Club. It is also available on non-game days for special events, such as business meetings, weddings, and anniversaries. The Bud Light Party Deck is located just into right field foul territory (between the visitors bullpen and section 117). There is a child-oriented playarea named KidsLand located on the mezzanine level. An Indians team shop is located behind Section 165, which sells hats, clothes, and other assorted merchandise. It has a make-your-own-mascot store. The Indians' mascot, "Slider", is one of only three
Major League Baseball team mascots to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame
.
Prior to the start of the 1997 season, two sections of seating were added onto the ends of the bleacher
section, increasing the capacity by about 1,000 to its current 45,000.
In , South Dakota
-based Daktronics
installed what was at the time the largest video display in the world at a sports venue. The video board measures 36 feet (11 m) high by 149 feet (45.4 m) wide. Also in 2004, a center field dining area located behind the seating, formerly occupied by auxiliary bleachers, was replaced with a bar area called the Batter's Eye Bar.
Originally, there was a picnic area is located behind the center field fence. However, in , the Cleveland Indians converted the space into Heritage Park. It honors the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame, the 100 greatest Cleveland Indians players, memorable Indians moments, and a memorial plaque for Ray Chapman
that was originally installed at League Park
. It is shielded by plantings, so it does not interfere with the batter's eye
.
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
located in downtown
Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland is the central business district of the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Reinvestment in the area in the mid-1990s spurred a rebirth that continues to this day, with over $2 billion in residential and commercial developments slated for the area over the next few years...
Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and is the home of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. Along with Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
, it is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex
Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex
The Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex is a multipurpose campus located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It comprises two sports facilities, a transitional space known as Gateway Plaza, and two parking garages...
. It was ranked as Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's best ballpark in a 2008 Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
fan opinion poll.
From its inaugural season in 1994, the ballpark was named Jacobs Field for team owners Richard and David Jacobs, until 2008, when it was changed to Progressive Field due to the sale of naming rights to the Progressive Insurance Company
Progressive Corporation
The Progressive Corporation , known as the Progressive Casualty Insurance Company through its subsidiaries, provides personal automobile insurance, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and related services in the United States....
. Fans informally refer to it as The Jake (based on the park's original name) as well as The Pro or The Prog (short for Progressive). The ballpark contains 2,064 club seats and 126 luxury suites.
History
The Cleveland Indians previously played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, which was their full-time home since the 1947 season1947 Major League Baseball season
-Statistical leaders:-Events:On April 15, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first modern day black player to play in the major leagues....
, and they shared with the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. However, by the mid-1980s, Cleveland Municipal Stadium was showing its age. Players and fans complained the aging stadium was "too big and too old." The 75,000-seat stadium had seen the Indians set numerous attendance records, but during the Indians' dark years, even crowds of 40,000 looked sparse. Additionally, it lacked the amenities of other ballparks, such as luxury boxes.
In May 1990, Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
voters approved a 15-year sin tax
Sin tax
A sin tax is a kind of sumptuary tax: a tax specifically levied on certain generally socially proscribed goods and services. These goods are usually alcohol and tobacco, but also include candies, soft drinks, fat foods and coffee, while services range from prostitution to...
on alcohol
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
and cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
sales to finance the new Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex
Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex
The Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex is a multipurpose campus located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It comprises two sports facilities, a transitional space known as Gateway Plaza, and two parking garages...
. In June 1992, Indians legend Mel Harder
Mel Harder
Melvin Leroy Harder , nicknamed "Chief", was an American, right-handed, starting pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball, who played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He spent 36 seasons overall with the Indians, as a player from 1928 to 1947 and as one of the game's most highly...
, who pitched the opening game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1932, along with current-era stars Charles Nagy
Charles Nagy
Charles Harrison Nagy is an American former Major League Baseball All-Star right-handed pitcher who played for 14 seasons in the major leagues from to , mostly with the Cleveland Indians, and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Early life and amateur career:Nagy...
and Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Jr., or in the Spanish-language naming system Santos Alomar Velázquez , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the San Diego Padres , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets...
, executed the ceremonial first pitch at the site of the new ballpark before construction began.
On April 4, 1994, the Indians played their first game at the new stadium. By only a few months, it became the first new major-league facility to be built in Cleveland itself since Municipal Stadium's opening in 1932. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
4-3 in 11 innings.
In , it hosted its first World Series
1995 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta ace Greg Maddux pitched a two-hit complete game victory in his first World Series appearance ....
, in which the Cleveland Indians lost to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Two years later, it was the site of the 1997 MLB All-Star Game
1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 68th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 8, 1997 at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of the...
, in which the American League defeated the National League 3-1, thanks to a two-run home run by Indians catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr., the game's MVP. Also in 1997, it hosted the 1997 World Series
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
, which the Cleveland Indians lost to the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
On October 5, 2007, in the eighth inning of a playoff game against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, a swarm of insects (believed to be midge
Midge
A midge is a very small, two-winged flying insect. "Midge" may also refer to:-Real:* Midge Costanza , American politician* Mildred Gillars , aka "Midge", American broadcaster of Nazi propaganda during World War II...
s from Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
) enveloped the playing field, distracting relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain
Joba Chamberlain
Justin Louis "Joba" Chamberlain is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.-Early life:Chamberlain was born and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chamberlain's parents, Harlan Chamberlain and Jackie Standley, were never married and split up when Joba was 18 months old...
. Chamberlain walked Grady Sizemore
Grady Sizemore
Gradius "Grady" Sizemore III is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, who later scored the tying run on a wild pitch. The incident became known as the "Bug Game". In 2009, seagulls began to reside in the outfield during games at the stadium, even interrupting a game-winning ground ball play in a game against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Stadium groundskeepers are currently searching for a solution to the problem, most recently shooting off fireworks after each half-inning in an attempt to scare the birds away.
In August 2008, the Indians extended their lease agreement for the stadium from 2013 to 2023. The agreement with the Gateway Economic Development Corp. also gives the team four five-year renewal options after 2023.
Renaming
On January 11, 2008, it was announced that naming rightsNaming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
to the park had been bought by Progressive Corporation
Progressive Corporation
The Progressive Corporation , known as the Progressive Casualty Insurance Company through its subsidiaries, provides personal automobile insurance, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and related services in the United States....
, an insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
company headquartered in nearby Mayfield Village
Mayfield, Ohio
Mayfield is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,460 at the 2010 census. The village is officially named Mayfield, but is typically referred to as Mayfield Village...
. Removal of the iconic Jacobs Field sign on the front of the building began the morning of January 18, 2008, and the replacement sign was installed on March 25, 2008. Progressive agreed to pay $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
57.6 million for the naming rights for 16 years.The ballpark was originally slated to be renamed the alliterative name Progressive Park. However, it was later realized that this name belonged to a picnic facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, so the stadium is now called Progressive Field.
Attendance record
Jacobs Field set a major league record between June 12, 1995 and April 4, 2001 by selling out 455 straight games. Demand for tickets was so great that all 81 home games were sold out before opening dayOpening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
on three separate occasions. The Indians "retired" the number 455 in honor of the sellout record. The Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
later surpassed this record, when Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
recorded 456 straight sellouts on September 9, 2008. The day after a sold-out opening day for 2011 (Saturday, April 2), the Indians set a new record: 9,853 - for lowest attendance. The very next day, April 3, 2011, that record was broken by an all-time low head-count of only 8,726 fans.
Construction and design
The ballpark, which was referred to simply as "Cleveland Indians Baseball Park" on blueprintBlueprint
A blueprint is a type of paper-based reproduction usually of a technical drawing, documenting an architecture or an engineering design. More generally, the term "blueprint" has come to be used to refer to any detailed plan....
s, cost approximately $175 million to build, of which $91 million, or 52 percent, came from Indians owner Richard Jacobs. The remaining $84 million, or 48 percent, was from the sin tax. The Gateway ballpark and arena were the first sports facilities in the United States to be constructed simultaneously at the same location.
The ballpark was designed by HOK Sport (now known as Populous), a division of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
HOK is a global architecture, interiors, engineering, planning and consulting firm. HOK is the largest U.S.-based architecture-engineering firm and the "No. 1 role model for sustainable and high-performance design." HOK also is the second-largest interior design firm...
. HOK designed it as a retro-modern ballpark, similar to their just-completed Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
in Baltimore, with asymmetrical fences of varying heights, a smaller upper deck, and stepped tiers. The ballpark was situated in a way that would showcase Cleveland's downtown skyline.
Structural engineering
Structural engineering
Structural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right....
was performed by local firm Osborn Engineering
Osborn Engineering
Osborn Engineering, is an architectural and engineering firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1892, it is noted mostly for designing sports stadiums...
, which helped design Cleveland Municipal Stadium, along with "old" Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. Griffith, IN-based Triad Design Associates performed the interior architecture
Interior architecture
Interior Architecture is truly a marriage of three distinct design disciplines: interior design, architecture, and industrial design...
, while local minority firm Whitley/Whitley Inc. did the interior architectural design. Dallas-based Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon and Williams, Inc. performed the acoustic and video engineering. The installation of seating was completed in October 1993.
Features
The ballpark has numerous unique structural features. It is illuminated by 19 toothbrushToothbrush
The toothbrush is an oral hygiene instrument used to clean the teeth and gums that consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles mounted on a handle, which facilitates the cleansing of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Toothpaste, which often contains fluoride, is commonly used in conjunction...
-shaped vertical light towers, which stand 200 feet (61 m) above street level (218 feet (66.4 m) above the playing field). The distinctive light towers were incorporated into the original Jacobs Field logo as well as the 1997 All-Star Game logo.
The playing field has also several unique features, including asymmetrical fences of varying heights. The 19-feet-high wall in left field drops to nine feet in center field, and maintains that height around to right field. The bullpens are raised above the playing field, which allows fans to see who is warming up. Indians' bullpen is located in center field (next to section 101), while the visitors bullpen is in right field (next to section 113).
The ballpark also has a glass-enclosed multilevel restaurant named the Terrace Club located along the left field foul line on the suite level. In addition to a valid game ticket, fans need a pass to enter to the Terrace Club. It is also available on non-game days for special events, such as business meetings, weddings, and anniversaries. The Bud Light Party Deck is located just into right field foul territory (between the visitors bullpen and section 117). There is a child-oriented playarea named KidsLand located on the mezzanine level. An Indians team shop is located behind Section 165, which sells hats, clothes, and other assorted merchandise. It has a make-your-own-mascot store. The Indians' mascot, "Slider", is one of only three
Major League Baseball team mascots to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame
Mascot Hall of Fame
The Mascot Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for United States sports mascots. It was founded by David Raymond, who was the original Phillie Phanatic from 1978 to 1993. It is an online-only hall, with an induction ceremony taking place each year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
.
Prior to the start of the 1997 season, two sections of seating were added onto the ends of the bleacher
Bleacher
Bleachers is an American term used to describe the raised, tiered rows of seats found at sports fields or at other spectator events...
section, increasing the capacity by about 1,000 to its current 45,000.
In , South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
-based Daktronics
Daktronics
Daktronics is an American company based in Brookings, South Dakota that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video board, scoreboards, digital billboards and related products. The company is best known for its electronic LED displays...
installed what was at the time the largest video display in the world at a sports venue. The video board measures 36 feet (11 m) high by 149 feet (45.4 m) wide. Also in 2004, a center field dining area located behind the seating, formerly occupied by auxiliary bleachers, was replaced with a bar area called the Batter's Eye Bar.
Originally, there was a picnic area is located behind the center field fence. However, in , the Cleveland Indians converted the space into Heritage Park. It honors the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame, the 100 greatest Cleveland Indians players, memorable Indians moments, and a memorial plaque for Ray Chapman
Ray Chapman
Raymond Johnson Chapman was an American baseball player, spending his entire career as a shortstop for Cleveland....
that was originally installed at League Park
League Park
League Park was a baseball park located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was situated at the northeast corner of Lexington Avenue and E. 66th Street in the Hough neighborhood. It was home to the National League Cleveland Spiders, the American League Cleveland Indians, and the Cleveland...
. It is shielded by plantings, so it does not interfere with the batter's eye
Batter's eye
The batter's eye or batter's eye screen is a solid-colored, usually dark area beyond the center field wall of a baseball stadium, that is the visual backdrop directly in the line of sight of a baseball batter, while facing the pitcher and awaiting a pitch. This dark surface allows the batter to see...
.
Ballpark firsts
| Statistic | Person(s) | Date |
| First ceremonial first pitch Ceremonial first pitch The ceremonial first ball is a longstanding ritual of American baseball in which a guest of honor throws a ball to mark the end of pregame festivities and the start of the game. Originally, the guest threw a ball from his/her place in the grandstand to the pitcher or catcher of the home team... |
President Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... to Sandy Alomar, Jr. Sandy Alomar, Jr. Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Jr., or in the Spanish-language naming system Santos Alomar Velázquez , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the San Diego Padres , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets... |
April 4, |
| First hit Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
Eric Anthony Eric Anthony Eric Todd Anthony is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 34th round of the 1986 MLB amateur draft, Anthony would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Houston Astros on July 28, 1989, and appear in his final game on September 27, 1997... (Seattle Mariners Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... ), home run |
April 4, 1994 |
| First Indians hit | Sandy Alomar, Jr. Sandy Alomar, Jr. Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Jr., or in the Spanish-language naming system Santos Alomar Velázquez , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the San Diego Padres , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets... , single to right field |
April 4, 1994 |
| First double Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
Manny Ramirez Manny Ramírez Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28... |
April 4, 1994 |
| First triple Triple (baseball) In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
Ken Griffey, Jr. Ken Griffey, Jr. George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter... (Seattle Mariners Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... ) |
April 7, 1994 |
| First home run Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... |
Eric Anthony Eric Anthony Eric Todd Anthony is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 34th round of the 1986 MLB amateur draft, Anthony would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Houston Astros on July 28, 1989, and appear in his final game on September 27, 1997... (Seattle Mariners Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... ) |
April 4, 1994 |
| First Indians home run | Eddie Murray Eddie Murray Eddie Clarence Murray , nicknamed "Steady Eddie", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game... |
April 7, 1994 |
| First Indians run | Candy Maldonado Candy Maldonado Candido Maldonado Guadarrama is a former Major League Baseball outfielder from to for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers. Chris Berman, a fellow ESPN analyst, called him the "Candyman"... , scored on a Manny Ramírez Manny Ramírez Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28... two-run double in the 8th inning |
April 4, 1994 |
| First grand slam Grand slam (baseball) In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves... |
Paul Sorrento Paul Sorrento Paul Anthony Sorrento is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 1999, Sorrento played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed... |
May 9, |
| First inside-the-park home run Inside-the-park home run In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:... |
David Bell David Bell (baseball) David Michael Bell is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently the manager of the Triple-A Louisville Bats... |
April 15, |
| First winning pitcher | Eric Plunk Eric Plunk Eric Vaughn Plunk , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1986-1999.Plunk was involved in two trades for Rickey Henderson... |
April 4, 1994 |
| First save | Hipólito Pichardo Hipólito Pichardo Hipólito Antonio Pichardo Balbina is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three teams between and . He batted and threw right-handed.... (Kansas City Royals Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium... ) |
April 15, 1994 |
| First triple play Triple Play A triple play is a baseball play in which three outs are made as a result of continuous action without any intervening errors between outs.Triple play may also refer to:... |
Casey Blake-Asdrúbal Cabrera Asdrúbal Cabrera Asdrúbal José Cabrera is a switch-hitting infielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.After coming up through the Seattle Mariners organization, he was acquired by the Indians on June 30, 2006, in exchange for Eduardo Perez... -Víctor Martínez (5-4-3) |
August 27, |
| First unassisted triple play Unassisted triple play In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three putouts by himself in one continuous play, without any teammates touching the ball . In Major League Baseball , it is one of the rarest of individual feats, along with hitting four home runs in one game and the... |
Asdrúbal Cabrera Asdrúbal Cabrera Asdrúbal José Cabrera is a switch-hitting infielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.After coming up through the Seattle Mariners organization, he was acquired by the Indians on June 30, 2006, in exchange for Eduardo Perez... |
May 12, |
| First no-hitter No-hitter A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"... |
Ervin Santana Ervin Santana Ervin Ramon Santana is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Name:... (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles... ) |
July 27, * |