#26: Progressive Field

Progressive Field

2401 Ontario Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Capacity:  38,000

Indoors/outdoors:  Outdoors

Selected Game Attended:  Orioles at Indians; April 16, 2011

There is a popular saying along the east coast that if you dislike the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change.  While this saying is certainly a tad tongue-in-cheek folks that grew up in this area know exactly what this saying means – the weather here changes and we experience all four seasons.  The closest thing I’ve ever seen to this saying being quite literal was the day I spent in Cleveland at Progressive Field, stadium #26 on the list.  For you, the reader, I went through my phone and dug up a few of the pictures I took that day.  God as my witness, the following three pictures were taken, in succession, in about an hour’s time.

The weather being the most noteworthy thing about my experience at Progressive Field (still colloquially called “the Jake”) is both good and bad.  While there is nothing that is astonishingly awful about the Indians’ home it is very unremarkable, which I think is a bad thing.  Baseball historians will note that Progressive Field was the first stadium built after Camden Yards, and they did their best to replicate the “retro” feel first introduced in Baltimore.  While I can certainly give them an “A” for trying, Progressive Field does not feel nearly as “retro” or “authentic” as its predecessor.  Maybe I am spoiled after spending half of a lifetime watching games in Camden Yards but my first thought when entering Progressive Field was “meh.”  

The park does a decent job of establishing the “quirks” needed to be considered retro (almost every older park in baseball history had its fair share).  From the “toothbrush”lighting to the asymmetrical outfield walls there are plenty of things here that are visually pleasing.  Also, as views are oh-so important, Progressive Field does offer a great view of both of Cleveland’s buildings.  I also give them credit for a very big scoreboard in left field.  While the score board itself offers excellent views of replays and game stats, it’s almost TOO big and noticeable for my liking.  Because the rest of the outfield doesn’t really have a lot to look at, the scoreboard becomes almost a distraction, if that makes any sense.

The final noteworthy aspect of the park’s outfield is the goofball in the centerfield bleachers (called the “Reservation”) incessantly pounding on a drum trying to rhythmically replicate a Native American war drum.  I cannot begin to explain to you how annoying this is, especially when you’re watching your team play the Indians on the road.  I had heard the drum on TV countless times, and I always remarked how much I disliked it, but when you are there live it becomes too much.  It would be one thing if he banged the drum after a big Indians’ score, or a home run or something, but this guy literally bangs the drum every time the Indians have a runner in scoring position.  To say it is slightly obnoxious would be an insult to slightly obnoxious things (like a paper cut).  All that said, I would imagine the home fans love it, and, since it bugged me, I would guess that it has, at times, served to at least slightly psyche out a mental-midget pitcher, but I feel like I was listening to the drum banging in my head far after I left the park.

As I mentioned there isn’t a ton to say about Progressive Field, and I search for words to write to fill my quota (I don’t really have a quota).  The concourses are plain, the food was just meh, there are a few bars in the area for game-day attendees to throw back a few before heading in and, overall, you won’t be too disappointed or too mind-blown by your Progressive Field experience.  I would suggest, based on my introduction, that if you want to see a game there to save you trip for the heart of summer if you can.  Otherwise, you will probably need to pack a poncho.

So, Progressive Field, #26 on the list.  The most unremarkable park in all of baseball.  For better or worse, it’s there, drum beats and all.