CLEVELAND — A new baseball season is upon us, and a new season brings new goodies to the ballpark!
With just over a week to go before the home opener, the Guardians revealed some of the new things that will be coming to Progressive Field in 2023, from food to gear to betting windows. The team already teased some perks earlier this month with its special "Ballpark Pass," where fans can get standing room only tickets for every home game for just $49 a month (the promotion has already sold out for April).
Let's start with the tasty treats, as several local eateries will be expanding their footprint at the stadium this season. In particular, Fat Head's Brewery will be taking over the Beer Garden in section 164 and adding new meals to its neighborhood stand in section 111, such as pepper jack cheese bites with ranch dressing.
Brew Kettle is also adding smoked chicken wings to its neighborhood stand, Cutwater Spirits will offer cocktails in section 150, and Masthead Brewing Co. is introducing a draft beer cart in section 117. In addition, already established vendors are bringing in new food options, including:
- Melt buffalo chicken mac and cheese bowls at Melt Bar and Grilled
- Pimento cheese and bacon burgers at Build a Burger
- Hot honey chicken tenders at Fat Rooster
- Crab Rangoon nachos at Loaded Nachos
- Mac and cheese briskets at Throwin' Smoke BBQ
- "Wild Thing" vegan hot dogs at Happy Dog, featuring vegetable chili, shredded cheddar, diced onions, and Flamin' Hot Cheetos
- Noodle bowls at Down The Line Bowls, featuring Asian sauce, red pepper, carrots, Napa cabbage, and optional ginger chicken
PHOTOS: Cleveland Guardians unveil what's new at Progressive Field for 2023
When it comes to paying for your food, half of Progressive Field's concession stands will be fully cashless this year, with signs indicating where these locations will be. The majority of vendors coming directory to seats will also only accept credit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Sports gambling is also now legal in Ohio, and the Guards are taking advantage by allowing fans to place bets both at ticket windows on East 9th Street and the new BetFanatics Sportsbook in the former New Era store outside the right field gate. bet365 has also established itself as the team's exclusive mobile betting partner.
Along with the already announced promotional schedule, every Friday game starting in late May will be "Free Shirt Friday," with the first 12,500 fans passing through the gates getting complementary t-shirts. Undergraduate college students will also be able to buy $10 tickets for all games except the home opener, and there will also be special ticket packages allowing select fans to get special caps, bobbleheads, and more:
- April 23: Saint Ignatius High School Cap (sold out)
- May 5: Youngstown State University cap
- May 6: Kent State University cap
- June 6: Peanuts "Lucy" bobblehead
- June 8: Educator's Night corduroy cap
- June 9: Pride cap, Baldwin Wallace University cap
- June 10: University of Findlay cap
- June 24: Ohio University cap
- July 7: Tiffin University cap
- Aug. 5: John Carroll University cap
- Aug. 17: Healthcare Night scrub top
- Aug. 22: Peanuts "Linus" Bobblehead
- Sept. 15: Hispanic Heritage Night flag
- Sept. 18: Baldwin Wallace University cap
The Guardians will welcome the Seattle Mariners to Progressive Field April 7 at 4:10 p.m. for the 2023 home opener.