The Indians will call Progressive Field home for at least another decade-plus, and perhaps well beyond.
The team, along with officials from Cuyahoga County, the city of Cleveland and the state of Ohio, announced on Thursday morning a 15-year lease extension at the downtown Cleveland ballpark, which opened in 1994 as Jacobs Field.
The agreement would keep the Indians -- who will adopt the Guardians monicker at season's end -- in Cleveland at least through 2036, with the potential for an additional 10-year extension that could keep the team in the ballpark through 2046.
The plan also includes proposed improvements and upgrades to the facility, which incredibly is already the 11th oldest in MLB after the boon of new ballparks over the past couple decades.
The deal would require "appropriate legislative approval in the coming months," according to a joint press release, and would be funded by the four entities involved, with "no new or increased taxes for residents."
"This project ensures that Progressive Field remains competitive in the future and guarantees that baseball remains in Cleveland until at least 2036," Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson said. "We are one of the a few cities that have three major sports teams all located in a central business district. This shows that sports are important to the economic vitality of our hospitality industry and baseball specifically is critical to Cleveland's future."
Negotiations on the extension were said to have been in the works for weeks. The current lease is set to expire after the 2023 season.
Last month, Gov. Mike DeWine said he was hoping to lobby state lawmakers for funding for renovations to the 27-year-old ballpark, which opened amid great fanfare after decades of playing in the decrepit Cleveland Stadium, which also housed the Browns until their departure for Baltimore. DeWine declined to specify how much the potential upgrades would cost.
Later renamed Progressive Field, the Cuyahoga County-owned ballpark is still considered one of the better game-day experiences in MLB. In a fan survey published by The Athletic last year, the park was ranked No. 8 in the Majors.
Meanwhile the Indians have cut payroll over the past season-plus, prompting concerns among fans that a move could be in the offing.
But DeWine said owner Paul Dolan was "committed to Cleveland," and had no plans of relocating the team.
On Thursday, Dolan expressed gratitude for the new deal and what the upgrades will mean for the team and ballpark.
“Our organization is proud to continue our long-term commitment to Cleveland by ensuring we keep our ballpark competitive," Dolan said. "We want to give our fans, our community, and our players the best ballpark experience possible. We are excited and appreciate the collaborative effort displayed by leadership from the county, city, and state to help make this first step possible and look forward to the next stages in the legislative process to finalize the agreement.”