Explore Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians
Welcome to Progressive Field, home to the franchise with more than a century’s worth of history. It’s nestled in the middle of the rock and roll capital of the world, just a stone’s throw away from the famous "A Christmas Story" house.
Cleveland Guardians
Established: 1901
Division Name: American League Central
Ballpark: Progressive Field (opened 1994; known as Jacobs Field from ’94-2008)
This team knew it needed to get out of Cleveland Stadium (or Municipal Stadium). It was a deteriorating facility that first opened in 1931 and was home to both the Indians and the NFL Browns. By the time it reached the ‘90s, the conditions were much more than subpar. There were holes in the walls. There were mice running through the hallways. There was hardly any space for players in clubhouses.
It was time for a new home.
On April 4, 1994, the Cleveland Indians played their first regular-season game at Jacobs Field, or “The Jake,” as fans referred to it. The park was christened with a President Bill Clinton ceremonial first pitch and an 11-inning, walk-off victory over the Seattle Mariners. The next season, Cleveland began a stretch of 455 straight sellouts that finally came to an end on April 4, 2001.
In 2008, Progressive Corporation purchased the naming rights to the ballpark and “The Jake” became Progressive Field.
It’s a park that’s seen two All-Star Games, Cy Young winners, playoff games interrupted by midges, Hall of Fame players, legendary managers and three World Series.
Progressive Field
Progressive Field location (via Google Maps)
Guardians schedule
Guardians roster
2401 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44115
Capacity: 34,830
Dimensions:
Left field: 325 feet with a 19-foot wall
Center field: 410 feet with a nine-foot wall
Right field: 325 feet with a nine-foot wall
Park factors (2024)
100 = league average
Runs: 104 | Homers: 106 | Hits: 101
Heritage Park
The Guardians have a rich 100-plus year history and since Opening Day 2007, it’s been on full display in center field. Fans can visit Heritage Park for free at any point before or during games. There you will find plaques of the 48 members of the Cleveland Hall of Fame, a statue of Frank Robinson and other exhibits that honor the greatest players to ever don a Cleveland uniform. If you take a few steps outside of Heritage Park, away from the field, you can also find the bronze marker stamped in the concourse walkway, forever commemorating the spot where Jim Thome’s monster, 511-foot blast landed.
John Adams' drum
If you ever visited a Cleveland baseball game from the years 1973 through 2019, you would’ve heard the heartbeat of this organization out in the bleachers. For 48 seasons, a fan named John Adams brought his large bass drum to Indians games to smack when the Cleveland offense needed a rally or when the crowd had fallen silent. But in 2021, Adams was too sick to attend Opening Day. He never went to another game after the COVID-19 pandemic and he passed away in January 2023.
Just before he died, the Guardians inducted Adams into their Distinguished Hall of Fame. The team made a bronze drum that’s located in Heritage Park. In 2024, the left-field bleachers were officially named after Adams.
Renovations
A two-year project, beginning in the 2023-24 offseason, was to bring new life to MLB’s 10th-oldest ballpark. The upper deck was reconstructed to remove the shipping containers that had been there and create an open-air gathering area. The Terrace District (in left field) is a rooftop patio with an easy-to-access bar and food and beverage stand with improved sightlines of the city. The Terrace Hall (opening in 2025) will be a social beer hall with a Cleveland vibe and a wide selection of craft brews.
The Pennant District (in right field) is a group outing area, capable of hosting one large group (up to 1,200 people) or being divided into three smaller spaces for more intimate events. It features panoramic views of the ballpark and downtown, a buffet with non-alcoholic beverages included and high-top tables and seating.
There will be two new premium clubs opening in 2025. The North Coast Social Loges & Club will replace the Terrace Club and will now be a semi-private open-air loge overlooking left field. The Carnegie Club & Lounges will be a members-only area behind home plate that will feature a premium bar, an elevated menu and convenient grab-and-go beverages.
And goodbye green seats. Progressive Field converted roughly half of the hunter green seats in the ballpark to new blue ones for the ’24 season. The rest are expected to be changed by ’25.
All-Star history
Two All-Star Games were held at Jacobs/Progressive Field. Both of them resulted in a hometown MVP.
A young Shane Bieber in his sophomore season, attempting to be known for more than sharing a last name with a famous singer, had his breakout moment in the 2019 All-Star Game. In the American League’s 4-3 victory over the National League, Bieber, who was a last-minute addition to the roster as a replacement for another pitcher, struck out the side in a scoreless inning to earn the All-Star Game MVP honors.
His catching coach was all too familiar with the feeling.
In 1997, Jacobs Field hosted its other Midsummer Classic. Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. entered the game as a defensive replacement in the sixth and got his first plate appearance in the seventh. He certainly didn’t waste the opportunity. With the game tied and a runner on second, Alomar launched the deciding two-run homer over the 19-foot wall in left field to give the AL a 3-1 victory over the NL. He was clearly the only choice for the All-Star Game MVP.
Concessions
Every ballpark has its “thing.” And for Progressive Field, it just so happens to be Froot Loops and hot dogs.
Happy Dog, a stand located near section 159, is a local Cleveland establishment that created the famous “Slider Dog” for Guardians fans to enjoy at games. It’s a grilled all beef hot dog topped with Froot Loops, pimento mac and cheese and bacon.
If you’re not feeling that adventurous, you could grab tacos in right field from Barrio or a burrito bowl down the third-base line from Ohio City Burrito. Spicy chicken sandwiches are behind the left-field bleachers at Fat Rooster. And Dante’s Inferno by section 149 offers hand-crafted pizzas.
Mascot
Slider, the big, fuchsia, yellow-spotted, mythical creature, has represented Cleveland’s team since July 29, 1990. He was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2008.
Local Attractions
Is there a bigger attraction than the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Get lost in music’s history for hours in the multi-level museum that has interactive exhibits, instruments and one-of-a-kind artifacts from every decade of music. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time on the Rock Hall’s website.
Take a quick trip down the road to a small Tremont neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio, to visit the house from the movie, A Christmas Story. See the famous leg lamp positioned in the window or take time to go into the museum across the street. Tours of the house are offered at a price on the house’s website.
Catch a Cavaliers game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse or a Browns game at Huntington Bank Field. Or if you’re into theater, head downtown to Playhouse Square -- the second-largest theater district in the country behind New York City.
Food and drink
Just two blocks away from Progressive Field is Cleveland’s popular East Fourth Street. Not only does it provide an inviting, lively vibe with lights strung over the alleyway, it’s home to some of the best dining options in the city. You can find Mexican food, Vietnamese options, a concert venue with a dining experience in the House of Blues, a sports bar with a bowling alley at The Corner Alley or a restaurant like Mabel’s BBQ owned by Michael Symon, a celebrity chef.