CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – After formally extending their lease last year, the Cleveland Guardians have big plans for the future of Progressive Field.
Thursday afternoon the team unveiled renderings and a new timeline for reimagining the ballpark that opened and helped to revitalize the south side of downtown in 1994.
The total cost of the project, including capital repairs, comes in at $435 million while the cost of the changes unveiled Thursday is $202.5 million.
“We have called Progressive Field Home since 1994 and we are excited to continue to do so for decades to come thanks to the lease extension we announced earlier this year with the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and the state of Ohio,” Guardians owner and CEO Paul Dolan said. “Progressive Field has been a great home to our fans and has had some amazing memories.”
The overhaul of the ballpark was originally supposed to begin this offseason but was delayed until the conclusion of the 2023 season while the team finalized plans and opened the bidding process.
The schematic design process is close to completion and design details will be completed during the 2023 season before construction begins in the fall.
The project will focus on six specific areas – a revamped upper deck, the terrace club, a new dugout club, clubhouses and service level, the team executive office building plus the construction of a new four-story building in right field bordering East 9th Street between the ramp and stairs.
The upper deck will be modified to include to include a beer garden down the left field line, the removal of the shipping container-like platforms in right field which will be replaced with a group outing and gathering space as well as new concession areas and two view box bars that will flank home plate.
The Terrace Club will become an open-air gathering and seating space and include a private club for ticketed fans as well as an “authentic-to-Cleveland Beer Hall food and beverage experience” open to all fans.
The dugout suites will be reimagined into a new dugout club. Seating will be open air but the club will feature an exclusive lounge behind home plate as well as seven private lounges.
Both clubhouses will be completely renovated for the first time since the park opened. The Guardians clubhouse will be expanded to include enhanced strength and conditioning and training areas, improved kitchen facilities as well as more robust technological support for players, coaches and staff.
“We really emphasized each of those areas as we sought to redesign the clubhouse areas,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “These renovations will mark the first time since the ballpark opened in 1994 that the clubhouses will see a major upgrade.
“Through these renovations, we will significantly improve our ability to support player preparation, performance and recovery through expanded and enhanced strength and conditioning and athletic training areas, improve kitchen facilities, more robust technological support for our players and staff in addition to other improvements throughout these clubhouse areas.”
Although the team contemplated a change to accommodate the expansion of the home clubhouse, the Guardians dugout will remain on the third base side and the visitors on the first base side.
All of the seats in the ballpark will be replaced over the next two offseasons.
Behind right field bordering East 9th Street, a four-story building will be built between the ramp and stairs to allow for a new kitchen and commissary for the Guardians concessionaire as well as storage facilities for the park. The rooftop will be connected to the upper deck concourse and serve as a new group gathering space.
The Guardians executive office building is also getting a makeover. The decorative curved canopy atop the building will be removed to make way for the addition of a fifth floor.
Major League Baseball prohibits any in-park sports betting lounges, kiosks or betting windows of any kind, so a sportsbook will not be constructed within the ballpark unless MLB changes their policies. All betting within the park will be done by fans through the team partner's betting app.
The capital repairs portion of the project, which is funded through the capital repairs terms in the lease with Gateway, includes system upgrades and replacement, ballpark infrastructure and maintenance as well as replacement of the seats throughout the entire ballpark.
Renovations for Progressive Field were approved as part of a new 15-year lease agreement extension with the club that was finalized in January, keeping the team in Cleveland through at least the 2036 season with two five-year options that could run through 2046.
Under terms of the agreement, the city and county will contribute a combined $17 million annually, the state of Ohio will contribute $2 million annually and the Guardians will contribute $10 million annually to fund the project over the next 15 years.
