CLEVELAND — Twenty-five years after it first opened, Indians fans in Cleveland and everywhere else know how special Progressive Field is. Now, others are taking notice as well.
A new study published by the website Stadium Journey (which reviews sports venues all over the world) recently named Progressive Field as the best ballpark out of 30 in Major League Baseball. The organization publishes the rankings every year using its FANFARE ratings scale, rating the following factors from 1 to 5 (5 being the best):
- Food & Beverage
- Atmosphere
- Neighborhood
- Fans
- Access
- Return on Investment
- Extras
Progressive Field received a perfect 5 in all categories except access, giving it an impressive overall score of 4.86. The stadium overtook Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, for the top spot.
Built as Jacobs Field in 1994 before the name was changed 14 years later, Stadium Journey notes how Progressive Field was "built in the era of baseball stadiums being built as cathedrals," such as Baltimore's Camden Yards and Denver's Coors Field. While the park "aged quickly," the publication lauded the Tribe organization for recently renovating the venue to "make what was once looking a bit drab completely new again." This includes new concession stands and the Indians Hall of Fame in center field.
Ohio's only other MLB stadium, Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, came in 21st with a score of 3.86. Oakland's aging RingCentral Coliseum was dead last at just 3.14.
