Review by Samantha Bunten, Stadium Journey Correspondent
Progressive Field Exterior
Progressive Field was built in 1994 and was known as Jacobs Field until 2008, when the naming rights were purchased by Progressive Insurance.
Entering at the “C” gate (located just behind centerfield) the first stop is Heritage Park, located beyond center field. This is a small, outdoor Indians Hall of Fame where monuments have been erected to great Indians players of the past. Immediately next door is Batter’s Eye Bar, a full bar within the confines of the stadium where one can enjoy the bar’s thriving singles’ scene while sitting on bar stools that overlook the field.
Continuing down the concourse, there are a myriad of concession stands to choose from as you make your way around the base of the stadium. General concessions are available nearly every step of the way, with stands hawking specialty items peppered throughout. Several team shops are available for souvenirs, the largest being located in the center of the concourse.
FANFARE Score: 26
Food & Beverage: 3
Progressive Field carries a standard selection of all the traditional fare you would expect to find at a ballpark, plus a few items not found at every sports venue. In addition to hot dogs, burgers, fries, peanuts, and crackerjack, you can also expect to find frozen custard, pizza, a limited menu Subway restaurant, and brownies, muffins, and candy. The quality of the food is about what one would expect – you’ll be fine with it as long as you remember you’re eating stadium food.
Sit-down dining is available during games at The Terrace Club, a full service bar and restaurant with windows overlooking the playing field. There are two seating times during each game. Reservations are required.
The beverage selection is exactly what you would expect at a ballpark: Pepsi brand soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, and a modest selection of domestic beers on tap at most concession stands. Batter’s Eye Bar, located beyond centerfield, is a full bar with its own seating area that allows guests to enjoy the game at one of the bar’s tables overlooking centerfield while enjoying a drink or two.
Batter's Eye Bar
Atmosphere: 4
Progressive Field is an excellent place to see a ballgame for anyone who simply enjoys the ballpark experience. While it does not have the historic, iconic draw of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park, it is a beautiful facility built to mimic the feel of a traditional ballpark yet boasting all the conveniences of a modern sports venue.
There are very few bad seats, and the standing room areas are some of the best in any MLB park. The stadium is clean, the staff is friendly, and it is an inviting place to watch a game for casual fans and die hard Indians rooters alike.
Progressive Field From Center Field
Neighborhood: 4
Progressive Field is located in a safe, lively part of downtown Cleveland. Most of the neighborhood establishments cater directly to the sports crowd, as the nearby bars and restaurants grew up around the stadium at a frenetic pace starting just after it was opened in 1994.
The area is safe, heavily trafficked, and well-lit. Crime has never been a problem, and there are always plenty of people around long before a ball game, and long afterward as well. Bars and restaurants are within walking distance of the ballpark and are generally crowded and full of energy until closing time after a game.
The Thirsty Parrot is located directly across the street from Progressive Field, making it a popular spot for a pre-game meal and a post-game drink. The bar is populated almost entirely by baseball fans going to or from a ball game, and in fact keeps its hours accordingly: they are open early before Indians’ games and late afterward. The Thirsty Parrot is typically home to an energetic, fun-loving crowd that just wants to talk baseball while knocking back a few on the outdoor deck that faces Progressive Field.
The Thirsty Parrot has a full bar and an extensive beer selection, though you won’t find any exotic brews here; just a large selection of domestics (regular and light), and a few standard-issue imports like Heineken, Corona, and Dos Equis XX. Beers are under $5, and mixed drinks are generally modestly priced.
The Thirsty Parrot serves mostly typical bar food that is fairly basic but generally well-prepared. Wings, Burgers, Chicken sandwiches and Fish sandwiches are all available as entrees, as are appetizers including shrimp cocktail, spinach and artichoke dip, and mini corn dogs. Every entrée or appetizer on the menu costs just $6. Sides like French fries or a soft pretzel basket are $3, and all kids’ meals are $3 as well.
The Thirsty Parrot
Just a few steps further from Progressive Field than The Thirsty Parrot is Pickwick and Frolic, a bar/restaurant/entertainment venue located in Cleveland’s up-and-coming, trendy West 4th Street area. Pickwick and Frolic has a little something for everyone – comedy shows, a nightly cabaret performance, a martini bar, a champagne bar, and a full lunch and dinner menu. This is the place to go for a post game meal if you’re looking for something better than bar food but not too formal or expensive.
Pickwick and Frolic carries a standard selection of domestic beers, imports ranging from Stella Artois to Labatt Blue to Peroni, and a selection of microbrews hailing from anywhere from Brooklyn to Belgium. Beer prices are generally under $6. A full bar menu is also available, as well as 11 specialty martinis and a diverse selection of bubby at the Champagne bar, which can be ordered in tasting flights, by the glass, or by the bottle.
The menu is reasonably priced and has something for everyone. Appetizers range from bar foods like fries, chips and salsa, and calamari to more upscale options like crab cakes and flat bread with a selection of tapenades and hummus. Salads, flatbread pizzas and sandwiches round out the selection of smaller menu items. Larger entrees include cedar plank salmon, rotisserie chicken, New York Strip Steak, Angus and Chorizo Meatloaf, and other fish, pasta, chicken, and beef dishes.
Fans: 3
There was a time when the Indians had the best fans in baseball, selling out a record 455 consecutive home games in the mid-late 1990s. Progressive Field no longer draws such large crowds consistently, mostly due to the lack of success of the team in recent years, but the park is usually at least half full and still has its share of enthusiastic rooters.
The fans are, for the most part, into the game and very knowledgeable about baseball in general. For the most part they are well-behaved and generally friendly to opposing fans, though there is some friendly ribbing of the fans of division rivals.
Bob Feller Statue
Access: 5
Parking in the area is a breeze. There are a large number of lots around the stadium which have plenty of available spaces and are relatively easy to enter and exit. If you’re willing to endure a bit of a walk, you can park for $5, and even the lots immediately around Progressive Field usually cost no more than $10. Garages are safe, well-lit, and don’t see many accidents. The only problem comes when the Indians and the Cavs (whose arena is directly next to Progressive Field) play at the same time. Still, even though this makes the area a bit more crowded, there is still plenty of parking to accommodate the fans from both venues.
The restrooms at Progressive Field are some of the cleanest in any professional sports venue. The stalls aren’t frightening to enter, and the restrooms are cleaned throughout the game and always well stocked with soap, toilet paper, and paper towels. The number of restrooms is sufficient and while the lines are long at restrooms near any of the ballparks four entrance gates, the rest of the facilities are generally not crowded before, during, or after the game.
Return on Investment: 4
The Indians’ organization has done a good job of giving fans their money’s worth at Progressive Field. Admission and concessions are appropriately priced, the ticket prices having been adjusted to take into account the struggling Cleveland economy and the struggles of the Indians’ franchise. All-you-can-eat packages are available, as are group discounts. While sometimes the Indians performance may be disappointing, I have never left Progressive Field without feeling that I got my money’s worth from the ballpark experience there.
Extra Points: 3
Progressive Field deserves a little extra credit for the way it treats its fans. Promotional giveaways are frequent and usually promise an item worth having, the staff – from seat attendants to concession workers – is friendly and helpful, and the facilities offer a little something for everyone – from Batter’s Eye Bar, which has a thriving singles’ scene – to the many entertainment possibilities on the concourse designed for the enjoyment of youngsters attending their first ball game. For those who like a bit of nostalgia mixed into their ballpark experience, there is even a barber shop quartet (in traditional attire, no less), that can sometimes be found performing around the ballpark at various locations before the start of the game.
Final Thoughts:
Progressive Field is a great place to take in a ballgame for baseball nuts and casual fans alike, and makes for a great baseball experience whether it is your first or 101st trip to the park.
