Indians Fans, 2008
“Coming to Cleveland for a baseball weekend. Looking for a place to stay overnight and some ideas of nearby restaurants.”
Excellent question. There is still plenty of time to see the boys of summer and Progressive Field is a great place to do it. In 2008, Sports Illustrated revealed the results of a ballpark survey showing that, in the nation, Indians fans were the most happy with hometown field.
Three Nearby Places to Stay
HILTON GARDEN INN CLEVELAND DOWNTOWN
1100 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH
877.782.9444 clevelanddowntown.stayhgi.com
50 PACES FROM THE BASES HILTON GARDEN INN PACKAGE
Come and enjoy the action of the Cleveland Indians and stay at the hotel located across the street from “The Prog.” Enjoy overnight accommodations, breakfast for two adults, parking for one vehicle, and two bags of peanuts for the game. This package does not include game tickets. Valid February 1, 2008 – February 05, 2009 from $124/night USD. For reservations log onto: http://clevelanddowntown.stayhgi.com and click on the “Hotel Specials” tab.
RADISSON HOTEL CLEVELAND-GATEWAY
651 Huron Road, Cleveland, OH
800.333.3333 www.radisson.com/clevelandoh_gateway
In the heart of the Gateway Historic Neighborhood District, across from Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field, the Radisson Gateway features 142 guest rooms and 10 meeting rooms.
RENAISSANCE CLEVELAND HOTEL
24 Public Square, Cleveland, OH
800.468.3571 www.renaissancecleveland.com
Luxury hotel located in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. Attached to shopping mall which has covered access (“bridge”) over to Gateway District—Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field.
Three Nearby Restaurants
Progressive Field is right downtown. You can go to the Warehouse District and enjoy a burger and a beer at the Cleveland Chop House & Brewery, stop in at Tower City Center and have a steak at Morton’s the Steakhouse or some tasty Italian fare at Bice Ristorante (and there is an indoor walkway from the Terminal Tower food court to Quicken Loans Arena, steps away from Progressive Field) or even do a little dining and bowling at the upscale Corner Alley on the restaurant-lined East Fourth Street. But, if you just want a casual, pre-game meal with a little libation, here are a few options.
GREAT LAKES BREWING COMPANY
2516 Market Avenue, Cleveland, OH
216.771.4404 www.greatlakesbrewing.com
Enjoy an original Cleveland beer named after a Cleveland event (Holy Moses for surveyor Moses Cleaveland, Eliot Ness for the famous crimefighter who did a stint as our safety director or Blackout Stout for the 2003 power loss), a burger or even some of the famous bread pudding at the Great Lakes Brewing Company and then hop on the brewery’s eco-friendly shuttle bus, “The Fatty Wagon,” to Progresive Field. The Fatty Wagon operates on restaurant vegetable oil and runs continuously from 45 minutes before to 45 minutes after the game. Roundtrip fare is just a dollar.
HOUSE OF BLUES CLEVELAND
308 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH
216.523.blue www.hob.com/cleveland
House of Blues features Southern-inspired cuisine and outsider art. An outdoor patio, restaurant and bar (along with two music stages) make the House of Blues a fun stop on the way to the park.
FLANNERY’S PUB
323 E. Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH
216.781.7782 www.flannerys.com
A Cleveland landmark since 1997, this Irish bar sits just blocks from the Indians’ home field. Get there early because their perfect pint, comfort food, outdoor patio and friendly staff make it a popular pre-game pick.
And when you are at the park, be sure to pop a little mustard on that hotdog because Cleveland is known for its spicy tan mustard, Bertman’s Original Ball Park Mustard. Pickle proprietor Joseph Bertman created the mustard, which was served at the old Municipal Stadium and may even have been served at League Park.
While you’re at the park, be sure to check out what’s new:
Heritage Park – Heritage Park is a new feature located in the centerfield area of Jacob’s Field. It is open before, during and after home games and features a two-tiered monument park honoring members of the Indians Hall of Fame; a tribute to 38 memorable moments in the team’s history and a salute to 100 Indians. The top tier honors members of the team’s hall of fame who are also enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
Solar Panels – In June 2007 the Indians became the first American League team to “Go Solar” by installing 42 GE solar panels in the upper deck of Progressive Field. The solar installation has provided 8.4 kilowatts of clean, renewable electricity to power more than 400 TVs in the ballpark.
The Party Deck – Watch the game and enjoy an all-you-can-eat picnic at the same time. Located in the right field corner of the ballpark, the Party Deck features a blend of traditional ballpark and tabletop seating, private bar, an all-you-can-eat menu served when gates open through one-hour after the scheduled start of the game and most importantly, incredible views of the field. The Party Deck is a free-flowing area perfect for networking and entertaining.
Some of MY Favorite Things
Whether they win or lose, I love a game at Progressive Field. A beautiful ballpark with spectacular views makes for a homerun outing. But, I also enjoy:
The Sugardale Hot Dog Races – At the end of the fifth inning the larger-than-life hotdog mascots race around the ballpark. Although catsup is in it to win it (even if it involves tripping an opponent), mustard and onion have been known to pull out a win.
The Firework Displays - “I think they are some of the best fireworks, well, ANYWHERE!” exclaimed an enthusiastic Positively Cleveland staff member to a group of media, motorcoach operators and event planners about to witness the pyrotechnics display. That was a special Rock N’ Blast weekend with a full gospel choir and a soundtrack that included Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Coldplay and many, many others. But, any Friday night home game has a pretty great show.
Also in the Area . . .
Can’t get enough baseball? Here are some more suggestions.
BASEBALL HERITAGE MUSEUM
Historical Colonial Marketplace, 530 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH
216.978.5068 www.baseballheritagemuseum.org
Experience, the stories, photographs, letters, programs, uniforms and other game used treasured memorabilia that helped shape the history of America’s greatest pastime in this downtown collection.
Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH
216.721.5722 www.wrhs.org
Restored Sign at WRHS (credit: KFCrisafi)
Perched high above Gate D on the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium for 32 years, the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo sign has been missing from the city’s skyline for years. Restored, the lit sign has been in the lobby of the Western Reserve Historical Society since 1995. Originally installed on Cleveland Municipal Stadium in the ‘60s by Brilliant Electric Sign Co., the company later restored one side of the 35-foot sign for $50,000 using original drawings and photos. The sign is now back in its original condition, laced with neon lights and sporting a 1962 pinstriped uniform. The face is restored with acrylic paint lighted from inside with fluorescent lights. Chief Wahoo is a controversial icon and signage in the Western Reserve Historical Society addresses the debate and allows for visitor feedback.
LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS
Classic Park, 35300 Vine Street, Eastlake, OH
440.975.8085 www.captainsbaseball.com
An “A” affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, the Lake County Captains came to Eastlake, Ohio in 2003. That year, fans turned out in record numbers with 458,533 fans witnessing games in Eastlake. Classic Park is less than 30 minutes away from downtown Cleveland.
AKRON AEROS
Canal Park, 300 S. Main Street, Akron, OH
330.253.5151 www.akronaeros.com
The Akron Aeros is a “AA” affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Their stadium, Canal Park, is located in downtown Akron and seats 9,097 fans and is only a 45 minute drive from Cleveland.
TOLEDO MUD HENS
Fifth Third Field, 406 Washington Street, Toledo, OH
419.725.HENS www.mudhens.com
The Toledo Mud Hens are AAA affiliates of the Detroit Tigers. The Mud Hens call Fifth Third Field their home, named the best minor league ballpark by Newsweek in 2002. Back-to-back winners of the Governor’s Cup (2005 and 2006), come cheer on this winning team that’s a little more than an hour away from Cleveland.
–Samantha Fryberger
