Did you know there is a Major League Baseball team that retired a number associated not with a player, but with their stadium? If your guess was the Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Cleveland Indians prior to the 2022 season) and the number 455, you’re correct. This number commemorates the remarkable stretch of 455 consecutive sellout games the team achieved at Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field) from 1995 to 2001.
Prior to this era of success, sellouts were rare. The Guardians played their home games at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, a massive venue along Lake Erie, for over six decades. Unfortunately, sparse crowds were a common sight, as the team often struggled on the field. In 1985, brothers David and Richard Jacobs purchased the franchise with the goal of not only building a winning team but also constructing a new, modern ballpark.
The Gateway Economic and Development Committee was formed to spearhead the development of a sports complex for both the Guardians and the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA). In May 1990, voters approved funding for the project. Construction of the new ballpark began in 1992 as part of an urban renewal initiative that also included the Cavaliers’ new arena, parking facilities, and landscaped plazas. The ballpark’s architecture was designed to harmonize with downtown Cleveland’s aesthetic, featuring an exposed steel structure reminiscent of the region’s industrial bridges, smokestacks, and high-rise office buildings.
Originally named Jacobs Field, the ballpark opened on April 4, 1994, with the Guardians facing the Seattle Mariners. At its peak, the stadium could accommodate over 43,000 fans; however, its current capacity is approximately 35,000. Renamed Progressive Field in 2008 after Progressive Insurance secured the naming rights, the ballpark remains a cornerstone of Cleveland’s downtown.
Progressive Field features multiple entry points, but the most popular is Gate C, located in center field. Redesigned after the 2014 season, this entrance connects the stadium with downtown Cleveland and includes Heritage Park, which honors the Guardians’ history. The park features a Hall of Fame and statues of Cleveland legends Bob Feller and Jim Thome. Other notable features include the 19-foot-high left-field wall, known as the “Mini Green Monster,” and a massive HD video scoreboard installed in 2016.
The ballpark underwent significant renovations between 2014 and 2016, aimed at enhancing the fan experience. Updates included an open main concourse stretching from home plate to left field, tiered bullpens in right-center field, and new group seating areas in place of the upper deck in right-center field. A two-story corner bar featuring 40 draft beers and the Market Pavilion, offering locally inspired food options, were also added.
In 2022, the Guardians announced plans for another comprehensive renovation of Progressive Field, estimated at $200 million. This project, which began following the 2022 season and is expected to conclude by 2025, includes updates such as an open concourse in the upper deck, expanded left-field seating, modifications to the right-field upper deck, upgraded seating behind home plate, and improvements to the clubhouse and administrative areas. All existing green seats will be replaced with blue ones, though the overall seating capacity will remain around 35,000.
For its first 13 years, the ballpark was affectionately known as “The Jake.” Since then, Progressive Field has hosted numerous historic events, including the 1997 and 2019 MLB All-Star Games and the World Series in 1995, 1997, and 2016. The stadium remains a testament to the city’s passion for baseball, symbolized by the Guardians’ unprecedented streak of 455 consecutive sellouts—a legacy proudly honored with the retirement of that special number.
Progressive Field Pictures
