Today we'll learn more about the deal between the Cleveland Indians and Progressive. How do you feel about "the Jake" getting a new name? Do you think you'll have trouble getting used to it?
It would be great if Progressive would name it "The Jake" at Progressive Field or just Indian's Park. Thank goodness Dick's Sporting Goods didn't buy the rights. Can you imagine Dick's Field? I'm glad a local company bought the rights.
Thats just stupid. Why cant Cleveland leave a good thing be. Are they gonna change Browns Statium next or even Tower City. Leave things alone and quit pissing people off. It will still be call The Jake and always will
Progressive Park sounds better than Progressive Field. It really is no big deal. We already went through a change with the Q, for a while people still called it the Gund, but now it is solely refered to as the Q.
Just goes to show that with enough money you too can put your name on a building. Cleveland's up for sale, people and one day we'll wake up and won't be known as Cleveland any longer.
I suppose I will get used to it but in conversation with someone where do you say you are going? To the Pro? To the P? Actually it just doesn't fit for a ballpark name. Have nothing against change but the Jake is well, the Jake!!
I am upset that the named is changing. I will still always call it Jacobs Field. It was one of the few ballparks left that didn't have a corporation name. If we the fans are the ones buying the tickets we should have been the ones to decide the name.
p.s. I guess it is better than Pepto Bismol Park....
Wasn't Progessive just in the news not too long ago with laying their employees off? Did they need the extra money for this? I think this is ridiculous.
I am seriously disappointed in this. It seems like there is nothing pure in professional sports anymore, everything has a price on it. Jacobs Field was named after a person, and the organization has become shallow enough to sell that to Progressive Insurance. Apparently more money is far more important than tradition and honor.
Another example of greed. Instead of honoring the man who made baseball great in Cleveland again their going to sell off his name. Why don't the Yankees, Red Sox or Cubs do this? Because they have tradition.
I don't like the name change.I'm still not used to the Q.How can we expect people from out of town to know what we are talking about when we keep changing names? It will always be the Jake to me!
It's a real pity we have to change the name of Jacob's field, to bad Progressive couldn't just leave the name. So instead of going to the Jake, we will be going to the Prog?
I hate it. How can major cities keep a permanent name for a hundred years (Shea, Yankee, Wrigley, Fenway)? Changing the name takes away tradition, sentiments, and the pure love of the game.
Too bad the name has to be changed. So instead of going to the Jake, we will be going to the Prog ? Can't wait to go, and buy a cup with progressive insurance on it, I guess I will treasure the one's I have now with the Jake on them.
The Indians and whoever pays to sponsor the field can call it whatever they want, I'll always call it Jacob's Field the same way Gund Arena will always be Gund Arena to me. Just because someone is willing to pay to have their name in lights and the Indians are willing to accept that money doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it or give it a second thought.
I am so sick of the constant name changes downtown. Why can't they just leave them alone. The current names just fine. Does Progressive really need any more advertisement? I think not. Enough already, It is too hard to get used to all the name changes around the city as far as I am concerned.
Why can't it just be the Cleveland Indian's stadium. Does it always have to be about money. If Green Bay can do it without having to put a company's name first then why can't others. Why can't Progressive sponsor them without having their name on everything. Go Lambeau Field - a former and great player's name name.
Why can't it just be the Cleveland Indian's stadium. Does it always have to be about money. If Green Bay can do it without having to put a company's name first then why can't others. Why can't Progressive sponsor them without having their name on everything. Go Lambeau Field - a former and great player's name name.
Wel,, I still call the "Q" Gund Arena. Baseball is more about marketing then the game these days, so I'm not surprised the name of Jacobs Field is changing. It would have been refreshing for the Dolans to go for something other than the money, but I think that's what they're all about. Sad.
This is a little crazy. I mean, how many insurance companies do we need naming our stadiums. First it was Gund Arena changed to the Quicked Loans Arena or 'The Q", that in itself is silly and now we have the Jake, a real fan fave, changed to Progressive Stadium. Probably soon to be called, the P. Who knows. This is one part of professional sports I do not like, changing the name just because of the company. SafeCo Field, Comerica Park, Invesco Field, Tropicana Field, etc. Why can't they be what they have been. I understand that Mr. Gund and Mr. Jacobs probably felt that the sale was a good idea and it is, don't get me wrong, it's business, but c'mon, Progressive Stadium. Never gonna stick, people have and always will call it, the Jake. I still call it Gund Arena because that is what we have know for a long time. And I will continue and if anyone wants to argue about that, then they need to become true to their city's sports team and understand that tradition is sometimes the second best thing, behind your teams almost making it big (which happens in Cleveland). I know, they should name each one the same name, Almost Had It Ball Park, There's Always Next Year Stadium (Browns') and We'll Get It Arena. At least that fits the Cleveland motif.
We payed for its construction with the sin tax. So why do the Indians get to profit form selling its naming rights. When these sports teams (with their own money) build their very own stadiums, then and only then should they recieve money for selling them. Any money made should go to the city of Cleveland, or at the very least kicked back to the people that own the P.S.L.s. I want a buisness like this, where the city builds my building, buys my contracts, and then I sell naming rights to it, heck I wouldn't even have to acually do any work.
Jacobs to Progressive? Just another example of corporate greed and the love of money. What motivates you turns you into it's slave. Bob DiBiasio's comment regarding history was a farce. Changing the name does two things, first Jacobs becomes another forgotten name and it's history becomes exactly that. And second, pads the Dolans pockets. Nothing good is accomplished for the fans or the team.
While the name will be different, I think it's not too cumbersome and Progressive Field or "The Prog" will become just as common-place as Jacobs Field or "The Jake".
Ok, if we are going to report this, let report the facts as well. Progressive Insurance just laid off hundreds of people that have been dedicated employees for many years because they stated they needed to cut costs, yet they can afford to spend over 2 million dollars a year to change the name of the Jake?!?! What kind of crap is that?
I think this is terrible. Jacobs Field has been the name of this place we've all come to know and love for 14 years. There have been so many magical moments there, and now, it's "Progressive Field"? That's ridiculous.
I think it's aweful. Everyone around the country knows the field as "The Jake". Now what will it be called? Why couldn't they have let it be "Jacob's Field at Progressive Stadium" or something like that. It will be very hard to get used to. The only reason "The Q" was accepted so easily is because it's easier to say than "The Gund".
I am so tired of stadiums being renamed for giant corporations. Same thing with the college bowl games--the "chik fil a bowl", etc. It's like everything is just an advertisement/logo for huge companies anymore. They can call Jacobs Field whatever they want, but it's always going to be the Jake to me.
I have nothing against Progressive or Peter B Lewis, but I HATE this trend towards renaming all these fields, arenas, stadiums, etc, after corporate sponsors. These names have no soul. How many people, 40 years from now, are going to relate stories of their first ball game at "Progressive Field"? Think about it....Fennway Park, Yankee Stadium, Solider Field, Progressive Field? How about Soulless Corporate Park?
JACOBS FIELD IS JACOBS FIELD, ALWAYS WILL BE. JUST BECAUSE OF MONEY WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE NAME, BULL!!! WHY CAN PROGRESSIVE JUST SLAP THEIR LOGO UNDER OR BESIDE THE JACOBS FIELD SIGN. LONG LIVE "THE jAKE"
Look, you can name the field Grandma's Rear End if that brings in more money to spend on keeping our great players here. Clevelanders will contine to refer to the park as Jacob's field and truthfully Clevelanders are the only people who probably care. To tell you the truth, who's to say the rename won't help us "progress" past the ALCS? GO TRIBE!
I think that both Jacobs Field and formerly Gund Arena should pick a name and stick with it. No more of this changing names after so long. It makes things too complicated and there is no need for it. No other city is changing names of their sports places.
I think it's great! A local company that has nationwide recognition should be a good sponsor. Progressive Field has a good ring to it and as far as nicknames only time will tell. Hey the old Gund is now the "Q" so the Jake could be the Pro or what ever cutesy name that comes along. It's still the same team, Go Tribe!
I think it's great? Nobody knows who Jacobs is anyway. With 8000 Progressive employees in Cleveland, we should take pride in our hometown companies. goodbye to the Jake-- Hello to the Prog!
It would be hard to get used to anything besides the Jake, but this one is too much. What do we call it now? The "Prog," the "P," do we now have the "P" and the "Q?" How long before all those jokes start??
Plus, now I'll be constantly reminded of the crack pot (albeit a successful crack pot) that owns that company. Great.
just another example of the insurance companies greed...instead of investing millions of dollars on having their name on a sports facility, they should be lowering their customer's rates...but still the consumers will pay and pay, and when the time comes that the insurance is needed, repairs on auto will be made with inferior aftermarket parts used parts that were once 'somebody else's' headache
Progressive has enough money to put their name on a baseball field, but they don't have enough money to keep employed the 430 plus people they just let go before the holidays? They have their priorities screwed up.
I don't like it. People everywhere know "The Jake". It's too bad Dolan's are joining the ranks of all the other team owners and letting themselves be sold to the highest bidder. If they need the help, let Progressive help support them. But do we have to join the "name-change-go-round" like so many stadiums accross the U.S.?I can see the condiment race now - Mustard, Ketchup and Onion will crash during the race and the Progressive Relish will rush on field with an insurance adjusters clipboard in hand.
I work for Prog and am accustomed to the name 'The Jake' as much as you all are. Bottom line is that the INDIANS initiated the search for a new namesake. Prog didn't initiate it. What a slap in the face it would be to Prog if GEICO swooped in and bought the naming rights - you'd all be scoffing at that.
SOMEONE was going to purchase the rights to rename, the Indians put it up for sale. Prog is one of the largest employers in Cleveland and a teriffic place to work (even with the layoffs everyone keeps mentioning here).
For as long as I can remember Indian's baseball it has been at The Jake. I think a name change is changing tradition. No matter what they call it, fans will call it the Jake. Money is too high on people's minds. There are too many athletic arenas being changed to a name sponsored by a man with money. Progressive Park is more refreshing than Progressive Field, but it sounds like it should be for a new team. I don't like the idea at all.
Well, I work for Progressive Insurance. So its actually kind of neat. I love the Indians!! And to know that the company I work for gets to re-name Jacobs Field makes me feel good. However, it WILL take some getting used to, and may not be the same. Especially since I own a lot of things that have the name jacobs field on them.
The only people in favor of this are progressive employees, everyone else thinks it sucks. I'll never call it anything but Jacob's Field. The only thing this selling out will prompt me to do is never, ever use progressive to insure anything I own.
mr. jacob gave cleaveland more than any corporation did when it comes to sports. i think your just slapping him in the face. that field will always be the jake to me
Progressive is a horrible insurance company that treats there policy holders very bad. i don't think anybody wants to see there name up there, even there employee's !
People are talking as though the Indians have always been at the Jake. Are they just not old enough to remember going to games at the old Browns Stadium? Remember...? The one that was there before the Browns went to Maryland...? Times change. The Indians were looking for a buyer to the naming rights. Progressive is a great local company which was going to spend it's marketing budget somewhere. Why not pour a chunk of it into the Indians? There is a whole generation of baseball fans who will grow up loving watching the Tribe at 'the Prog' or whatever the new nickname becomes. And they will be just as passionate about the change when a new company buys the rights. Go Tribe!
Progressive Park doesn't sound that bad. I agree though laying off people and then putting big time marketing dollars into something looks real bad. It could have been the Dollar General Field or Enterprise Field. Let's face it, initially did Jacobs Field sound good-no. I think it should be called the Indians Field and let Progressive market all over the inside of the building. Who cares anyway. After 1997 loss, I have not spent $1 dollar on going to professional sports. Sure, I watch Indians, Browns, Cavs at home, but hey it's all the about the money and you know where mine is, in my pocket where it will stay. It's millionaires playing monopoly with your money anyway. Don't show up and it will be called Foreclosure Field.
I don't believe how a company can lay off people, don't give their employees raises or bonuses for the past year, but they can afford to name the Jake? I think it's rediculous! It would have been nice to keep it the Jake! GO TRIBE!
People - naming rights to ballparks happens every day. One person even said that the Cubs don't do thjis because they have tradition. Are you kidding me? the Cubs were the first! "Wrigley Field" happens to be named after the company that makes the gum.
RELAX! This is really no big deal. Also - you can't talk about layoffs and naming rights in the same sentence. 400 people for a company that employs like 10,000 in the area is not even newsworthy. Let's stop pissing on one of the few companies that stayed here and invests here. After all, they could have gone to Chicago like the other insurance companies, or some other area like the rest of the corporations around here. this ought to be celebrated.
And by the way - nobody cared when the owner named the field after himself. How selfish was that. But we got over it.
LOVE THE NAME "PROGRESSIVE FIELD" GO TRIBE!!!! What a great opportunity for a wonderful company to expand their visibility in Cleveland. Go Progressive, Go Tribe!!
BOOOOOOOOOOO The new name stinks, I think that they need to change it back to Jacob's field.
Hopefully the fans will have the last say in this very bad decsion.
Progressive Field sounds so corporate. Did the indians just sell out?! that being said. I LOVE the Indians and can't wait the for opening day, only 80 more days.
Where do you think that the money is coming from to help pay for the giant salaries of the players? For the last comment, Prog did give raises and bonuses last year. Get your facts strait. They even gave end of year bonuses to those who lost thier jobs.
The naming rights were going to be sold, no matter what. Let's stop complaining (now, THAT will surprise people!) and embrace it. Progressive Field sounds pretty good, it's a local company that hasn't moved to Mexico and the Indians are rocking. I know change is hard, but it will all work out. Go Tribe!!
Its Just not right! Its nce to see a large company put back in to its community,, uh but wait! is it really? The money goes to the indians to help offset a 70 million dollar bail out of the gateway project. The indians have already raised ticket prices before the n end of 2007 and Aramark is raising concession prices. Soon the only people going to the Jake will be business men who use it as a deal maker. Next Mr. Lewis wil fight to change the name to support his peyote pipe passing pals. The business of major league sports have ruined major league sports.
Didnt realize that Cleveland had so many whiners. Get back to work! Progressive is a good northeastern Ohio company. Good for them. Cant wait to go to a game at "The Prog"
Personally I think it's dumb. Progressive is EVERYWHERE. I am sick of seeing it around each corner. I dont know why they have to have their name plastered everywhere. There was NOTHING wrong with "The Jake" or "Jacobs Field" Like Progressive does not have enough advertising now? I am just sick of Cleveland always doing the wrong thing. The name is DUMB!!!!
I AM SO MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD THEY DO THAT WHAT KIND OF NAME IS THAT!!!! I LOVE SAYING THE JAKE AND I WILL NEVER SAY PROGRESSIVE FIELD!!!
I can't believe anyone actually still cares about professional sports anymore. Bunch of overpriced criminals - owners and players. You buy their shoes, their jerseys - you bought this name change too, not Progressive. Stop your whining and keep paying for their tickets and anything else they sell - right through your noses ... I'll keep laughing at you. If you're buying, believe me, their selling. You want to do something about it, stop buying ...
Yawn. Who cares what it's called. Sports is the opium of the masses. Wake up people. Your country is going down the tubes. That's more important than a name change. America gets dumber and dumber.
Progressive's 10,000 northeast Ohio employees and $13 billion dollars of annual revenue pumps major tax dollars into our city and state. This should get more money coming to northeast Ohio. This is a win-win-win. Can't wait to see all of us in October. Go Progressive! Go Tribe!
I'm not surprised that we finally gave into the corporate name, but I am disappointed. Tradition and loyalty mean nothing anymore compared to the almighty dollar. Sadly I think the only benefit the fans will get is the opportunity to buy all the new merchandise which bears the new name and logo. I hope ownership will now concentrate on putting a quality team on the field or they will have to re-sell the name in a few years to recoup their money due to low attendance.
What really concerns me about this deal, and I wonder the CEO of Progressive considered this, is the fact that they just cut almost 500 jobs, of course affecting the Cleveland area again. Do you think that 3.6 million they are using to have naming rights could have been put back into the company to keep jobs? Once again Northeast Ohio proves to everyone that sports means more to this area then jobs and education.
How about..."ProGo field"...where the Pro's go to have fun!
Let's to to the "Pro"
ProGo Park...professional, proud, progressive!
The least of my worries are what people call the park. Let's just turn whatever it is into something positive for Cleveland instead of downing it and making the rest of the world think it is okay to make fun of Cleveland. Postive thinking and a little creativity will go a long way! Let us make it our own and love it!
You're all the same goons that would complain if this was sold to a Japanese or Korean company. Progressive is an absolutely integral part of the LOCAL economy. When YOU create 1/100th of the jobs Progressive does, then complain, rather, buy the rights yourself. Layoffs don't always happen due to lack of money either- Processes get efficient, departments aren't profitable, they're running a business folks, not a charity. Why would they leave the name the same???? Advertising is part of doing business..is that hard to understand? This is the BEST possible outcome.
If the Jacobs brothers (Corp) wanted to keep the naming rights (Jacob's Field), they would have stepped up and PAID for the next 15 years. Obviously, they were not interested. It IS called Capitalism everyone. Regardless, a local company backing our local team. Congratulations Progressive!
This whole trend of naming and renaming ballparks, stadiums, etc. just irks me!! Whatever happened to the days of leaving something its original name? I think I was born a few decades too late, and I was born in the late 1960's!!!
WOW! All I can say after reading most of the comments posted here is "I'm scared of some of you folks" Just spit out whatever ill-informed gibberish that comes to mind, after all no one knows who you are anyway. I'll never call it..., selling out... , layoffs..., too many signs... and on and on. Lighten up, life is to short to get upset over something this trivial. Just ask yourself " Will this really have any impact on my life?" then take a deep breath and think Go Tribe! Enjoy the Cleveland Indians and if you think Progressive Field will stick in your craw just tell anyone that asks you where you are going during the season "To an Indians game!"
Heres to the people thinking that Cleveland can be bought. first of all it is a 3.6 million a year deal for 16 years. You hear cleveland people complain about too much crime too much this not enough that. If cleveland is able to partner up with new people and orginization, it will give the city the ability to grow, and provide what it needs for its people. Which is most important, than a NAME. this is coming from a person who will dearly miss the name the Jake, but am all for change.
It will always be "The Jake"! Just like Quicken Loans Arena will always be "The Gund"! My family still refers to "The Gund" that way and I am sure we will always refer to "The Jake" as ......The Jake!!
you people are complaining like "Jacobs Field" was a sponsored name! Hello - it was!!! Jacob's paid for the naming right of the field and chose not to extend it! Just a new sponsor of the name...not really a big deal
Who cares what the name of the place is. Isn't it about the game being played there and not the name of the place? Let's worry about bringing home a world series trophy rather then worry about the name!
its easy to look at it from a personal point of view. What if you owned a corporation and you were interested in growth and retention? And what if you were the man in charge for the city of cleveland? would you not want to make more money for your city to give it the resources it needs?
Well, you can look at it this way. When the "Busch" series in NASCAR becomes the Nationwide Series and you watch the Ohio State Buckeyes play LSU and it's sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, now we have the Progressive Field. Does this not tell anyone that our country is basically run by insurance companies. Take a look around people.
Progressive provides thousands of jobs for the greater Cleveland area and is one of the few major corporations who is committed to improving the city's economy and spurring growth. I think it is a great business decision. The company itself doesn't represent anything political. It's just great baseball and great business! Go Tribe! Go Pro Field!
whoever posted this makes a GREAT point!!!!!THANK YOU!!!:::
I work for Prog and am accustomed to the name 'The Jake' as much as you all are. Bottom line is that the INDIANS initiated the search for a new namesake. Prog didn't initiate it. What a slap in the face it would be to Prog if GEICO swooped in and bought the naming rights - you'd all be scoffing at that.
SOMEONE was going to purchase the rights to rename, the Indians put it up for sale. Prog is one of the largest employers in Cleveland and a teriffic place to work (even with the layoffs everyone keeps mentioning here).
I can't get over all the people everywhere talking about Progressive, their layoffs, and their budget, like they have a clue. Would you rather they fail, move out of town and lay off 10K local employees? You think the city would be better then? Didn't think so.
Seriously, Progressive is better off after the layoffs, as are many other companies that lay employees off to better themselves. Progressive has a $300 million+ marketing budget, and can spend it however they want. Anyone with any business knowledge knows that budgets are set and vital to the business' success.
Another thing I can't get over is how every article incorrectly identifies Peter Lewis as the owner or "run by". Reporters these days are all about getting the story first, checking so-called facts last (if ever). They should be ashamed of the product they deliver.
Kudos to the Tribe and Progressive for creating a strong relationship that will be profitable for both corporations.
I think it sucks. That company made billions of dollars exploiting the insurance business. They started by offering only minimum limits to clients so that if you were hit by one of their folks, YOUR insurance paid the difference as underinsured motorists coverage and often times it was much more money than the $12,500 Progressive doled out. BLAH to Progressive Field!!!! Of course, this comment won't make it since the blog author is moderating.
Progressive laid off almost 400 employees to reduce budget and made many others leave their current positions for lower job titles. It's funny how they don't have the money to keep and pay their employees but they have money for this.
255 Comments:
It would be great if Progressive would name it "The Jake" at Progressive Field or just Indian's Park. Thank goodness Dick's Sporting Goods didn't buy the rights. Can you imagine Dick's Field? I'm glad a local company bought the rights.
Thats just stupid. Why cant Cleveland leave a good thing be. Are they gonna change Browns Statium next or even Tower City. Leave things alone and quit pissing people off. It will still be call The Jake and always will
Progressive Park sounds better than Progressive Field. It really is no big deal. We already went through a change with the Q, for a while people still called it the Gund, but now it is solely refered to as the Q.
It will always be Jacobs filed to me....what are we going to call it for short The "P"?? Larry Dolan you better put the money back in the team...
Just goes to show that with enough money you too can put your name on a building. Cleveland's up for sale, people and one day we'll wake up and won't be known as Cleveland any longer.
I suppose I will get used to it but in conversation with someone where do you say you are going? To the Pro? To the P? Actually it just doesn't fit for a ballpark name. Have nothing against change but the Jake is well, the Jake!!
I am upset that the named is changing. I will still always call it Jacobs Field. It was one of the few ballparks left that didn't have a corporation name. If we the fans are the ones buying the tickets we should have been the ones to decide the name.
p.s. I guess it is better than Pepto Bismol Park....
Wasn't Progessive just in the news not too long ago with laying their employees off? Did they need the extra money for this? I think this is ridiculous.
Does this mean we can abolish the "SIN" tax that helped pay for it?
I am seriously disappointed in this. It seems like there is nothing pure in professional sports anymore, everything has a price on it. Jacobs Field was named after a person, and the organization has become shallow enough to sell that to Progressive Insurance. Apparently more money is far more important than tradition and honor.
Another example of greed. Instead of honoring the man who made baseball great in Cleveland again their going to sell off his name. Why don't the Yankees, Red Sox or Cubs do this? Because they have tradition.
I'm not a fan of sports teams selling naming rights to stadiums in general, the names just never end up being as good. Catch a game at "The Prog"?
Bad timing too, what with Progressive just laying off hundreds of people. Wait, we can call it "The House That Layoffs Built"!
Money Talks.
I don't like the name change.I'm still not used to the Q.How can we expect people from out of town to know what we are talking about when we keep changing names? It will always be the Jake to me!
I don't like it. It will always be "The Jake" to me.
The name only means the ticket prices will be like insurance prices, they'll go up!!
It's a real pity we have to change the name of Jacob's field, to bad Progressive couldn't just leave the name. So instead of going to the Jake, we will be going to the Prog?
I hate it. How can major cities keep a permanent name for a hundred years (Shea, Yankee, Wrigley, Fenway)?
Changing the name takes away tradition, sentiments, and the pure love of the game.
Too bad the name has to be changed. So instead of going to the Jake, we will be going to the Prog ? Can't wait to go, and buy a cup with progressive insurance on it, I guess I will treasure the one's I have now with the Jake on them.
The public is paying for this facility ,the public should have the naming rights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is and always will be "The Jake" to me.
Progressive did not pay for the field and should not be used in the name, how long until the Browns stadium has a new name?
The Indians and whoever pays to sponsor the field can call it whatever they want, I'll always call it Jacob's Field the same way Gund Arena will always be Gund Arena to me. Just because someone is willing to pay to have their name in lights and the Indians are willing to accept that money doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it or give it a second thought.
do not like it and this will last 15 years????? ugh!
I am so sick of the constant name changes downtown. Why can't they just leave them alone. The current names just fine. Does Progressive really need any more advertisement? I think not. Enough already, It is too hard to get used to all the name changes around the city as far as I am concerned.
Why can't it just be the Cleveland Indian's stadium. Does it always have to be about money. If Green Bay can do it without having to put a company's name first then why can't others. Why can't Progressive sponsor them without having their name on everything. Go Lambeau Field - a former and great player's name name.
Why can't it just be the Cleveland Indian's stadium. Does it always have to be about money. If Green Bay can do it without having to put a company's name first then why can't others. Why can't Progressive sponsor them without having their name on everything. Go Lambeau Field - a former and great player's name name.
That will explain why Progressive had to lay off so many people. They had to pay for re-namine the Jake somehow...
Wel,, I still call the "Q" Gund Arena. Baseball is more about marketing then the game these days, so I'm not surprised the name of Jacobs Field is changing. It would have been refreshing for the Dolans to go for something other than the money, but I think that's what they're all about. Sad.
This is a little crazy. I mean, how many insurance companies do we need naming our stadiums. First it was Gund Arena changed to the Quicked Loans Arena or 'The Q", that in itself is silly and now we have the Jake, a real fan fave, changed to Progressive Stadium. Probably soon to be called, the P. Who knows. This is one part of professional sports I do not like, changing the name just because of the company. SafeCo Field, Comerica Park, Invesco Field, Tropicana Field, etc. Why can't they be what they have been. I understand that Mr. Gund and Mr. Jacobs probably felt that the sale was a good idea and it is, don't get me wrong, it's business, but c'mon, Progressive Stadium. Never gonna stick, people have and always will call it, the Jake. I still call it Gund Arena because that is what we have know for a long time. And I will continue and if anyone wants to argue about that, then they need to become true to their city's sports team and understand that tradition is sometimes the second best thing, behind your teams almost making it big (which happens in Cleveland). I know, they should name each one the same name, Almost Had It Ball Park, There's Always Next Year Stadium (Browns') and We'll Get It Arena. At least that fits the Cleveland motif.
We payed for its construction with the sin tax. So why do the Indians get to profit form selling its naming rights. When these sports teams (with their own money) build their very own stadiums, then and only then should they recieve money for selling them. Any money made should go to the city of Cleveland, or at the very least kicked back to the people that own the P.S.L.s. I want a buisness like this, where the city builds my building, buys my contracts, and then I sell naming rights to it, heck I wouldn't even have to acually do any work.
Jacobs to Progressive? Just another example of corporate greed and the love of money. What motivates you turns you into it's slave. Bob DiBiasio's comment regarding history was a farce. Changing the name does two things, first Jacobs becomes another forgotten name and it's history becomes exactly that. And second, pads the Dolans pockets. Nothing good is accomplished for the fans or the team.
While the name will be different, I think it's not too cumbersome and Progressive Field or "The Prog" will become just as common-place as Jacobs Field or "The Jake".
Great, now Mr." let's legalize pot"Lewis has naming rights. Is he going to put a symbol of a pot leaf at the end of progressive field sign ?
Ok, if we are going to report this, let report the facts as well. Progressive Insurance just laid off hundreds of people that have been dedicated employees for many years because they stated they needed to cut costs, yet they can afford to spend over 2 million dollars a year to change the name of the Jake?!?! What kind of crap is that?
I think this is terrible. Jacobs Field has been the name of this place we've all come to know and love for 14 years. There have been so many magical moments there, and now, it's "Progressive Field"? That's ridiculous.
Eh, let them call it what they want. It will still be Jacob's Field in people's minds for years to come.
I think it should be Progressive Park.
I think it's aweful. Everyone around the country knows the field as "The Jake". Now what will it be called? Why couldn't they have let it be "Jacob's Field at Progressive Stadium" or something like that. It will be very hard to get used to. The only reason "The Q" was accepted so easily is because it's easier to say than "The Gund".
I am so tired of stadiums being renamed for giant corporations. Same thing with the college bowl games--the "chik fil a bowl", etc. It's like everything is just an advertisement/logo for huge companies anymore.
They can call Jacobs Field whatever they want, but it's always going to be the Jake to me.
I have nothing against Progressive or Peter B Lewis, but I HATE this trend towards renaming all these fields, arenas, stadiums, etc, after corporate sponsors. These names have no soul. How many people, 40 years from now, are going to relate stories of their first ball game at "Progressive Field"? Think about it....Fennway Park, Yankee Stadium, Solider Field, Progressive Field? How about Soulless Corporate Park?
I am all for it if it means the team can increase payroll and bring a championship to Cleveland.
How can Progressive buy the naming rights when they just laid prople off? Why didn't they use this money to retain the people?
It's just not going to be the same! There is something special about the "JAKE"!
I think it's great for a company that has been a major business in Cleveland for so long to get the rights to the best MLB team. Go Tribe!
I think it's a dumb name - Just like Quicken Loans Arena - The names are just horrible - Can the marketing dept not come up with something better!
JACOBS FIELD IS JACOBS FIELD, ALWAYS WILL BE. JUST BECAUSE OF MONEY WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE NAME, BULL!!! WHY CAN PROGRESSIVE JUST SLAP THEIR LOGO UNDER OR BESIDE THE JACOBS FIELD SIGN. LONG LIVE "THE jAKE"
Look, you can name the field Grandma's Rear End if that brings in more money to spend on keeping our great players here. Clevelanders will contine to refer to the park as Jacob's field and truthfully Clevelanders are the only people who probably care. To tell you the truth, who's to say the rename won't help us "progress" past the ALCS? GO TRIBE!
I think that both Jacobs Field and formerly Gund Arena should pick a name and stick with it. No more of this changing names after so long. It makes things too complicated and there is no need for it. No other city is changing names of their sports places.
Cheryl from Parma
I think it's great! A local company that has nationwide recognition should be a good sponsor. Progressive Field has a good ring to it and as far as nicknames only time will tell. Hey the old Gund is now the "Q" so the Jake could be the Pro or what ever cutesy name that comes along. It's still the same team, Go Tribe!
I think it's great? Nobody knows who Jacobs is anyway. With 8000 Progressive employees in Cleveland, we should take pride in our hometown companies. goodbye to the Jake-- Hello to the Prog!
It would be hard to get used to anything besides the Jake, but this one is too much. What do we call it now? The "Prog," the "P," do we now have the "P" and the "Q?" How long before all those jokes start??
Plus, now I'll be constantly reminded of the crack pot (albeit a successful crack pot) that owns that company. Great.
just another example of the insurance companies greed...instead of investing millions of dollars on having their name on a sports facility, they should be lowering their customer's rates...but still the consumers will pay and pay, and when the time comes that the insurance is needed, repairs on auto will be made with inferior aftermarket parts used parts that were once 'somebody else's' headache
Progressive has enough money to put their name on a baseball field, but they don't have enough money to keep employed the 430 plus people they just let go before the holidays? They have their priorities screwed up.
Progressive Field? ...sucks
I don't like it. People everywhere know "The Jake". It's too bad Dolan's are joining the ranks of all the other team owners and letting themselves be sold to the highest bidder. If they need the help, let Progressive help support them. But do we have to join the "name-change-go-round" like so many stadiums accross the U.S.?I can see the condiment race now - Mustard, Ketchup and Onion will crash during the race and the Progressive Relish will rush on field with an insurance adjusters clipboard in hand.
I work for Prog and am accustomed to the name 'The Jake' as much as you all are. Bottom line is that the INDIANS initiated the search for a new namesake. Prog didn't initiate it. What a slap in the face it would be to Prog if GEICO swooped in and bought the naming rights - you'd all be scoffing at that.
SOMEONE was going to purchase the rights to rename, the Indians put it up for sale. Prog is one of the largest employers in Cleveland and a teriffic place to work (even with the layoffs everyone keeps mentioning here).
I think it's a WONDERFUL marketing move!
I love "The Prog!"
Great stuff.
Congrats to Progressive -- I'm very glad an company outside of northeast Ohio didn't buy the rights.
I hope the Indians use the money to buy a Championship.
For as long as I can remember Indian's baseball it has been at The Jake. I think a name change is changing tradition. No matter what they call it, fans will call it the Jake. Money is too high on people's minds. There are too many athletic arenas being changed to a name sponsored by a man with money. Progressive Park is more refreshing than Progressive Field, but it sounds like it should be for a new team. I don't like the idea at all.
Well, I work for Progressive Insurance. So its actually kind of neat. I love the Indians!! And to know that the company I work for gets to re-name Jacobs Field makes me feel good. However, it WILL take some getting used to, and may not be the same. Especially since I own a lot of things that have the name jacobs field on them.
The only people in favor of this are progressive employees, everyone else thinks it sucks. I'll never call it anything but Jacob's Field. The only thing this selling out will prompt me to do is never, ever use progressive to insure anything I own.
mr. jacob gave cleaveland more than any corporation did when it comes to sports. i think your just slapping him in the face. that field will always be the jake to me
Knowing Peter Lewis' liking for some certain herbs, here are some upcoming promotions at the Jake, um, I mean Progressive Field:
Munchie Mondays
Tokin' Tuesday
Wacked-out Wednesday
THC Thursday
Fireworks & fatties Fridays
Roll-your-own Saturdays
Bong Sundays!
Of course, Doritos should become the "official" muchie of the Cleveland Indians. Will there be a "Free lighter" night?
Does this mean smoking will be allowed at Progressive Field or only in Progressive's loge?
BTW, I will always call it "The Jake" and won't buy insurance from Progressive due to Peter Lewis' lifestyle so this is marketing $$$ lost on me.
TTFN!
Progressive is a horrible insurance
company that treats there policy
holders very bad. i don't think
anybody wants to see there name
up there, even there employee's !
People are talking as though the Indians have always been at the Jake. Are they just not old enough to remember going to games at the old Browns Stadium? Remember...? The one that was there before the Browns went to Maryland...? Times change. The Indians were looking for a buyer to the naming rights. Progressive is a great local company which was going to spend it's marketing budget somewhere. Why not pour a chunk of it into the Indians? There is a whole generation of baseball fans who will grow up loving watching the Tribe at 'the Prog' or whatever the new nickname becomes. And they will be just as passionate about the change when a new company buys the rights.
Go Tribe!
Hey,
Progressive Park doesn't sound that bad. I agree though laying off people and then putting big time marketing dollars into something looks real bad. It could have been the Dollar General Field or Enterprise Field. Let's face it, initially did Jacobs Field sound good-no. I think it should be called the Indians Field and let Progressive market all over the inside of the building. Who cares anyway. After 1997 loss, I have not spent $1 dollar on going to professional sports. Sure, I watch Indians, Browns, Cavs at home, but hey it's all the about the money and you know where mine is, in my pocket where it will stay. It's millionaires playing monopoly with your money anyway. Don't show up and it will be called Foreclosure Field.
I don't believe how a company can lay off people, don't give their employees raises or bonuses for the past year, but they can afford to name the Jake? I think it's rediculous! It would have been nice to keep it the Jake! GO TRIBE!
Uhmmm, the term Jacobs in Jacobs Field is/was a corporation name.
Well, if I PERSONALLY spent millions every year on a stadium, I'd want my name and picture on the place too.
People - naming rights to ballparks happens every day. One person even said that the Cubs don't do thjis because they have tradition. Are you kidding me? the Cubs were the first! "Wrigley Field" happens to be named after the company that makes the gum.
RELAX! This is really no big deal. Also - you can't talk about layoffs and naming rights in the same sentence. 400 people for a company that employs like 10,000 in the area is not even newsworthy. Let's stop pissing on one of the few companies that stayed here and invests here. After all, they could have gone to Chicago like the other insurance companies, or some other area like the rest of the corporations around here. this ought to be celebrated.
And by the way - nobody cared when the owner named the field after himself. How selfish was that. But we got over it.
LOVE THE NAME "PROGRESSIVE FIELD" GO TRIBE!!!! What a great opportunity for a wonderful company to expand their visibility in Cleveland. Go Progressive, Go Tribe!!
BOOOOOOOOOOO The new name stinks, I think that they need to change it back to Jacob's field.
Hopefully the fans will have the last say in this very bad decsion.
Progressive Field sounds so corporate. Did the indians just sell out?!
that being said. I LOVE the Indians and can't wait the for opening day, only 80 more days.
Happy Friday!!
In case you haven't heard.... Peter B. Lewis stepped down as CEO some time ago.
Hate the name change.
Where do you think that the money is coming from to help pay for the giant salaries of the players? For the last comment, Prog did give raises and bonuses last year. Get your facts strait. They even gave end of year bonuses to those who lost thier jobs.
The naming rights were going to be sold, no matter what. Let's stop complaining (now, THAT will surprise people!) and embrace it.
Progressive Field sounds pretty good, it's a local company that hasn't moved to Mexico and the Indians are rocking. I know change is hard, but it will all work out. Go Tribe!!
Its Just not right! Its nce to see a large company put back in to its community,, uh but wait! is it really? The money goes to the indians to help offset a 70 million dollar bail out of the gateway project. The indians have already raised ticket prices before the n end of 2007 and Aramark is raising concession prices. Soon the only people going to the Jake will be business men who use it as a deal maker. Next Mr. Lewis wil fight to change the name to support his peyote pipe passing pals. The business of major league sports have ruined major league sports.
Why Not just add to the existing name? Jacobs Field at Progressive Park has a good ring to it.
Didnt realize that Cleveland had so many whiners. Get back to work! Progressive is a good northeastern Ohio company. Good for them. Cant wait to go to a game at "The Prog"
as a progressive employee, i'm very excited. and furthermore, we did get raises and bonuses this year to those of you who claim otherwise.
better a local company than anyone else. allstate field in cleveland, makes no sense.
why not progressive park? it's a copyrighted location in iowa so it couldn't be used. Read the press release on the indians website.
Personally I think it's dumb. Progressive is EVERYWHERE. I am sick of seeing it around each corner. I dont know why they have to have their name plastered everywhere. There was NOTHING wrong with "The Jake" or "Jacobs Field" Like Progressive does not have enough advertising now?
I am just sick of Cleveland always doing the wrong thing. The name is DUMB!!!!
I AM SO MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD THEY DO THAT WHAT KIND OF NAME IS THAT!!!! I LOVE SAYING THE JAKE AND I WILL NEVER SAY PROGRESSIVE FIELD!!!
I can't believe anyone actually still cares about professional sports anymore. Bunch of overpriced criminals - owners and players. You buy their shoes, their jerseys - you bought this name change too, not Progressive. Stop your whining and keep paying for their tickets and anything else they sell - right through your noses ... I'll keep laughing at you. If you're buying, believe me, their selling. You want to do something about it, stop buying ...
Yawn. Who cares what it's called. Sports is the opium of the masses. Wake up people. Your country is going down the tubes. That's more important than a name change. America gets dumber and dumber.
Progressive's 10,000 northeast Ohio employees and $13 billion dollars of annual revenue pumps major tax dollars into our city and state. This should get more money coming to northeast Ohio. This is a win-win-win. Can't wait to see all of us in October. Go Progressive! Go Tribe!
I'm not surprised that we finally gave into the corporate name, but I am disappointed. Tradition and loyalty mean nothing anymore compared to the almighty dollar. Sadly I think the only benefit the fans will get is the opportunity to buy all the new merchandise which bears the new name and logo. I hope ownership will now concentrate on putting a quality team on the field or they will have to re-sell the name in a few years to recoup their money due to low attendance.
What really concerns me about this deal, and I wonder the CEO of Progressive considered this, is the fact that they just cut almost 500 jobs, of course affecting the Cleveland area again. Do you think that 3.6 million they are using to have naming rights could have been put back into the company to keep jobs? Once again Northeast Ohio proves to everyone that sports means more to this area then jobs and education.
How about..."ProGo field"...where the Pro's go to have fun!
Let's to to the "Pro"
ProGo Park...professional, proud, progressive!
The least of my worries are what people call the park. Let's just turn whatever it is into something positive for Cleveland instead of downing it and making the rest of the world think it is okay to make fun of Cleveland. Postive thinking and a little creativity will go a long way! Let us make it our own and love it!
You're all the same goons that would complain if this was sold to a Japanese or Korean company. Progressive is an absolutely integral part of the LOCAL economy. When YOU create 1/100th of the jobs Progressive does, then complain, rather, buy the rights yourself. Layoffs don't always happen due to lack of money either- Processes get efficient, departments aren't profitable, they're running a business folks, not a charity. Why would they leave the name the same???? Advertising is part of doing business..is that hard to understand? This is the BEST possible outcome.
If the Jacobs brothers (Corp) wanted to keep the naming rights (Jacob's Field), they would have stepped up and PAID for the next 15 years. Obviously, they were not interested. It IS called Capitalism everyone. Regardless, a local company backing our local team. Congratulations Progressive!
This whole trend of naming and renaming ballparks, stadiums, etc. just irks me!! Whatever happened to the days of leaving something its original name?
I think I was born a few decades too late, and I was born in the late 1960's!!!
WOW! All I can say after reading most of the comments posted here is "I'm scared of some of you folks" Just spit out whatever ill-informed gibberish that comes to mind, after all no one knows who you are anyway. I'll never call it..., selling out... , layoffs..., too many signs... and on and on. Lighten up, life is to short to get upset over something this trivial. Just ask yourself " Will this really have any impact on my life?" then take a deep breath and think Go Tribe! Enjoy the Cleveland Indians and if you think Progressive Field will stick in your craw just tell anyone that asks you where you are going during the season "To an Indians game!"
What difference does it make as to the name of the field. The important think is that the Cleveland Indians put a winning team on the field.
Heres to the people thinking that Cleveland can be bought. first of all it is a 3.6 million a year deal for 16 years. You hear cleveland people complain about too much crime too much this not enough that. If cleveland is able to partner up with new people and orginization, it will give the city the ability to grow, and provide what it needs for its people. Which is most important, than a NAME. this is coming from a person who will dearly miss the name the Jake, but am all for change.
THAT IS THE WORSE NAME I HAVE EVER HEARD FOR A FIELD. I THINK THAT THEY SHOUD OF LEFT IT ALONE
It will always be "The Jake"! Just like Quicken Loans Arena will always be "The Gund"!
My family still refers to "The Gund" that way and I am sure we will always refer to "The Jake" as ......The Jake!!
you people are complaining like "Jacobs Field" was a sponsored name! Hello - it was!!! Jacob's paid for the naming right of the field and chose not to extend it! Just a new sponsor of the name...not really a big deal
Who cares what the name of the place is. Isn't it about the game being played there and not the name of the place? Let's worry about bringing home a world series trophy rather then worry about the name!
its easy to look at it from a personal point of view. What if you owned a corporation and you were interested in growth and retention? And what if you were the man in charge for the city of cleveland? would you not want to make more money for your city to give it the resources it needs?
SHOULD HAVE LEFT WELL ENOUGH ALONE. IT WILL ALWAYS BE JACOBS FIELD TO ME OR THE JAKE.
MONEY TALKS, BS WALKS
It is plain stupid and all just about money.
Well, you can look at it this way. When the "Busch" series in NASCAR becomes the Nationwide Series and you watch the Ohio State Buckeyes play LSU and it's sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, now we have the Progressive Field. Does this not tell anyone that our country is basically run by insurance companies. Take a look around people.
Progressive provides thousands of jobs for the greater Cleveland area and is one of the few major corporations who is committed to improving the city's economy and spurring growth. I think it is a great business decision. The company itself doesn't represent anything political. It's just great baseball and great business! Go Tribe! Go Pro Field!
whoever posted this makes a GREAT point!!!!!THANK YOU!!!:::
I work for Prog and am accustomed to the name 'The Jake' as much as you all are. Bottom line is that the INDIANS initiated the search for a new namesake. Prog didn't initiate it. What a slap in the face it would be to Prog if GEICO swooped in and bought the naming rights - you'd all be scoffing at that.
SOMEONE was going to purchase the rights to rename, the Indians put it up for sale. Prog is one of the largest employers in Cleveland and a teriffic place to work (even with the layoffs everyone keeps mentioning here).
I think it's a WONDERFUL marketing move!
I can't get over all the people everywhere talking about Progressive, their layoffs, and their budget, like they have a clue. Would you rather they fail, move out of town and lay off 10K local employees? You think the city would be better then? Didn't think so.
Seriously, Progressive is better off after the layoffs, as are many other companies that lay employees off to better themselves. Progressive has a $300 million+ marketing budget, and can spend it however they want. Anyone with any business knowledge knows that budgets are set and vital to the business' success.
Another thing I can't get over is how every article incorrectly identifies Peter Lewis as the owner or "run by". Reporters these days are all about getting the story first, checking so-called facts last (if ever). They should be ashamed of the product they deliver.
Kudos to the Tribe and Progressive for creating a strong relationship that will be profitable for both corporations.
Who Cares!
http://bits.westhost.com/scripts/WonderfulLife/images/wl_100185.jpg
Check out this link!!! A picture says a thousand words! I think is should be called "Potters Field"
"If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less." -Unknown
I think it sucks. That company made billions of dollars exploiting the insurance business. They started by offering only minimum limits to clients so that if you were hit by one of their folks, YOUR insurance paid the difference as underinsured motorists coverage and often times it was much more money than the $12,500 Progressive doled out. BLAH to Progressive Field!!!! Of course, this comment won't make it since the blog author is moderating.
Progressive laid off almost 400 employees to reduce budget and made many others leave their current positions for lower job titles. It's funny how they don't have the money to keep and pay their employees but they have money for this.