Editing Progressive Field (section)

==History==
The Cleveland Indians previously played home games at [[Cleveland Stadium]], which they shared with the [[Cleveland Browns]] of the [[National Football League]]. The Indians first played at the stadium, which seated around 78,000 people for baseball, for the 1932 and 1933 seasons, but returned to smaller [[League Park]] for most games in 1934. From 1937 to 1946, they played weekend and holiday games at Cleveland Stadium, and eventually night games and other dates where larger crowds were expected, moving to the stadium full-time in 1947. Cleveland Stadium was the largest stadium in the [[American League]] during its tenure as a baseball facility and was the largest stadium in [[Major League Baseball]] for all but a few seasons.<ref name="CMS">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Cleveland Municipal Stadium|url=http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=CMS5|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Cleveland History|publisher=Western Reserve Historical Society|date=November 25, 2002|access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> It had been a symbol of the Indians' glory years of the 1940s and 1950s, attracting some of the largest crowds in baseball history. However, during the team's lean years from the 1960s through the early 1990s, even crowds of 40,000 people were swallowed up in the cavernous environment. As a result, the Indians began pressing for a new stadium.
[[File:Progressive Field sign, Carnegie and Ontario (2).png|thumb|left|250px|Progressive Field as viewed from the corner of Carnegie Avenue and Ontario Street in 2022]]
Plans for a new stadium first began in 1984 when [[Cuyahoga County, Ohio|Cuyahoga County]] voters defeated a property tax for building a 100% publicly funded domed stadium, which would have been shared by the Indians and Browns. Later that year, committee leaders met to re-evaluate these plans, and a location was later agreed upon. The eventual site of the stadium, the location of the Central Market, was acquired in December 1985. In April 1986, designs for the new stadium were agreed upon and about a year later, demolition at the site started.<ref name="Progressive Field PDF"/> Cuyahoga County voters approved a 15-year [[sin tax]] on alcohol and cigarette sales in May 1990 to finance the new [[Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex]], which included the ballpark, [[Gund Arena]] (now Rocket Arena) for the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]], and two parking garages.<ref name="1990 tax">{{cite news |title=1990 Sin Tax|url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20120227/SUB1/302279977|work=Crains Cleveland Business|date=February 27, 2012|access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> Construction started in January 1992, and by May of that year, the concrete construction had been poured. In June 1992, [[Mel Harder]], who pitched the opening game at Cleveland Stadium in 1932,<ref name="Mel Harder">{{cite web |title=Mel Harder|url=http://www.clevelandseniors.com/people/melharder.htm|publisher=Bob Becker|access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> and contemporary stars [[Charles Nagy]] and [[Sandy Alomar Jr.]], executed the ceremonial first pitch at the site of the new ballpark before construction began. The installation of seating was completed in October 1993. The ballpark, which was referred to as "Cleveland Indians Baseball Park" and "Indians Park" on blueprints, cost approximately $175 million to build, of which $91 million was provided by Indians owner Richard Jacobs. The remaining $84 million was raised by the sin tax.<ref name="Construction PDF"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cameron Fields |first=cleveland com |date=2021-08-05 |title=How Progressive (Jacobs) Field was built: A timeline |url=https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2021/08/how-progressive-jacobs-field-was-built-a-timeline.html |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref> 

An open house was held April 1, 1994, and the following day, an exhibition game was held against the [[1994 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ballpark gets rave reviews |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Daily Kent Stater |page=9}}</ref> The first official game was held April 4. U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the Indians defeated the [[1994 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]] 4–3 in 11 innings in front of a crowd of 41,459 people.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cleveland Indians' 5 most memorable home openers at Progressive Field (poll) |url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/04/cleveland_indians_5_memorable.html |date=April 7, 2013 |author=Peticca, Mike |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]] |access-date=November 1, 2016}}</ref> The ballpark was the first new major sporting facility to open in Cleveland since [[Cleveland Arena]] opened in 1937. During that inaugural and strike-shortened [[1994 Cleveland Indians season|1994 season]], the Indians finished 35–16 at home, which included an 18-game home winning streak.<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 Cleveland Indians Schedule and Results |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1994-schedule-scores.shtml |work=Baseball-Reference.com |year=2016 |access-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Progressive Field PDF"/>

The ballpark hosted playoff games for the first time in [[1995 Major League Baseball season|1995]] as the Indians ended a 41-year playoff drought. The first playoff game was on October 3, a 5–4 win in 11 innings over the [[1995 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] in Game 1 of the [[1995 American League Division Series#Boston vs. Cleveland|American League Division Series]]. Jacobs Field also played host to Games 3, 4, and 5 of the [[1995 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] against the [[1995 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]] and Games 3, 4, and 5 of the [[1995 World Series]] against the [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]]. Two years later, Jacobs Field hosted its first [[1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] and the first All Star Game in Cleveland since 1981. Later that year, the Indians hosted Games 3, 4, and 5 of the [[1997 World Series]] against the [[1997 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]]. It was the tenth time in Major League history the All-Star Game and games of the World Series were played in the same facility in the same season, and the first time since 1977. The longest home run in ballpark history was hit by [[Jim Thome]] on July 3, 1999, measured at {{Convert|511|ft|m|0}} to center field.<ref>{{cite web |title=All-Star Game |work=Baseball Almanac |year=2015 |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgmenu.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815082531/http://baseball-almanac.com/asgmenu.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 15, 2000 |access-date=November 1, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Progressive Field PDF"/>

During the eighth inning of Game 2 of the [[2007 American League Division Series]] against the [[2007 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] on October 5, a swarm of insects believed to be midges from [[Lake Erie]], enveloped the playing field, severely distracting Yankees relief pitcher [[Joba Chamberlain]], which caused him to walk outfielder [[Grady Sizemore]], who later scored the tying run on a wild pitch. The incident became known as the "[[Bug Game]]"; however, this was not the first time the insects plagued Jacobs Field.<ref name="bug game">{{cite news|title=Bugs Disrupt Yankees-Indians in Late Innings|agency=Associated Press|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21157338/|work=[[NBC Sports]]|date=October 5, 2007|access-date=July 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514175110/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21157338/|archive-date=May 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Cleveland Guardians (51728479956).jpg|thumb|right|Progressive Field sign outside of the stadium]]
In 2007, the Indians became the first American League team to install solar panels on their stadium.<ref name="wind turbine">{{cite news |title=Indians Install Wind Turbine at Progressive Field|url=http://www.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=238434|work=[[WKYC]]|location=Cleveland|date=March 28, 2012|access-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> They also spent $1.1 million to convert a picnic area behind the center field fence into "Heritage Park", which features 27 plaques honoring the [[Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame]] and 38 bricks, representing the team's most memorable moments. There is also a memorial plaque commemorating [[Ray Chapman]] which was originally installed at [[League Park]]. This area is shielded by plantings so it does not interfere with the [[batter's eye]].<ref name="Heritage Park ribbon">{{cite web |title=Tribe Cuts Ribbon on Heritage Park|first=David|last=Briggs|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070329&content_id=1865167&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|date=March 29, 2007|access-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> The Indians installed a corkscrew-shaped wind turbine from [[Cleveland State University]] above the southeast corner of the ballpark in late March 2012, the first major league team to do so. The corkscrew–shaped wind turbine was successful in generating more electricity than individual turbines and was originally scheduled to be tested for two years, but had to be removed in late March 2013 because of cracks that had developed in the off-season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Progressive Field wind turbine is removed, was Cleveland State University demo project |url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/04/cleveland_state_universitys_wi.html |author=Farkas, Karen |date=April 1, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]] |access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref>

===2014–15 renovations===
The team announced the first phase of renovation plans for the ballpark, by then known as Progressive Field, in late 2014, which were completed prior to the start of the [[2015 Cleveland Indians season|2015 season]]. The area on either side of the right field gate, previously known as "Gate C", was reconfigured, with a pedestrian bridge and concession buildings removed to open the views of the surrounding neighborhood. The statue of [[Jim Thome]] was moved to the area, while the statue of [[Bob Feller]] was moved to a new location in the area, and a new statue of [[Larry Doby]] was added. A two-story bar named "The Corner" was built, providing better views of the field as the Batter's Eye Bar was often overcrowded. The bullpens, which had previously been separate, were relocated to the right center field area, allowing fans closer views of players warming up. To allow more light in the right field concourse, the mezzanine deck was reduced by several rows to open the area. The Kid's Clubhouse was made two stories, and adults are now able to view the game from the clubhouse. Seating in the upper deck behind right field and down the first base line was removed and replaced with terraces, available for use by large groups. Additional changes included installation of new concession areas and options, many of which are from Cleveland-area eateries.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bob Feller statue moves to temporary Progressive Field location |url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2014/10/bob_feller_statue_moves_to_tem.html |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]]|location=Cleveland|date=October 7, 2014 |author=Harnocz, Amanda |access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Progressive Field renovations continue to take shape |url=http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/cleveland-indians-progressive-field-renovations-031215 |work=[[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]]|author=Reedy, Joe|date=March 12, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref>

Prior to the start of the [[2016 Cleveland Indians season|2016 season]], the next phase of renovations was completed, which included the addition of a new club area behind home plate for season ticket holders, the installation of a new scoreboard system and additional scoreboards, new standing room areas in the left field area, and additional concession areas, again using local-based eateries.<ref>{{cite news |title=Progressive Field renovations on track for Opening Day|url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2016/01/cleveland_indians_renovations.html|newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]]|location=Cleveland|date=January 28, 2016 |access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref>

The ballpark became the 11th MLB facility to have [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] field lights installed, which was done prior to the start of the 2017 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tribe's outlook is even brighter: Club is adding LED field lights for 2017 |url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170129/NEWS/170129814/tribes-outlook-is-even-brighter-club-is-adding-led-field-lights-for |date=January 29, 2017 |work=Crain's Cleveland Business |author=Kleps, Kevin |access-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref> [[Wi-Fi]] was also installed throughout the ballpark prior to the start of the 2017 season. As a result of these renovations, Progressive Field was awarded the [[2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], marking the second time the All-Star game was played at this venue.

===2023–2025 renovations===
[[File:David Fry Walk-Off Home Run (54103040111).jpg|thumb|Pictured in 2024]]
In 2022, an agreement was made to renovate the stadium for $200 million, with most of the cost falling on taxpayers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Guardians unveil 'Progressive Field Reimagined' projects and timeline |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/mlb/cleveland-guardians/2023/01/13/guardians-announce-progressive-field-renovation-projects-and-timeline/69796872007/ |newspaper=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Renovations began after the [[2023 Major League Baseball season]], and are expected to take until after the [[2025 Major League Baseball season|2025 season]] to complete.<ref name="reno2023" />