Features
The ballpark has numerous unique structural features. The field is situated on 12-acre (4.9 ha) of Kentucky Bluegrass. It is illuminated by 19 white toothbrush-shaped vertical light towers; three behind the scoreboard, six behind first base, six behind third base and four in right field, which stand 200 feet (61 m) above street level and 218 feet (66 m) above the playing field. The distinctive light towers were incorporated into the original Jacobs Field logo and the 1997 MLB All-Star Game logo. The park features distinctive dimensions; left and right field are both 325 feet (99 m) from homeplate, but left field has a 19-foot (6 m) high wall, known as the "Little Green Monster". The center and right field walls are 9 feet (3 m) high. The park features traditional hunter green seats angled at 8-12 degrees on three tiers around the park except for center field which has no seats and left field which features bleachers. The bullpens are raised above the playing field, which allows fans to see players warming up. The Indians' bullpen is located in center field next to section 101, while the visitors' bullpen is in right field next to section 113. Unlike most ballparks, the Indians' dugout is along the third base line and the visitors' dugout is located along the first base line. The ballpark contains 115 luxury boxes, the second most in Major League Baseball.
The ballpark features several eateries from which spectators can watch the game. A glass-enclosed multilevel restaurant named the "Terrace Club" is located along the left field foul line on the suite level. Spectators need a valid game ticket and a pass to enter to the Terrace Club. On non-game days it is used for private and corporate events, such as business meetings, parties and weddings. The "Budweiser Patio" is a buffet eatery, that is mostly used for corporate or private parties, located just behind the right field foul pole between the visitors bullpen and section 117. A new children's play area named "Kids Clubhouse", located on the mezzanine level, opened in May 2012. It includes arts and craft areas, a climbing wall, a mini field where children can practice sliding and fielding, and a batting cage. There are large windows where adults can watch the game from the Kids Clubhouse.
Prior to the start of the 1996 season, two sections with 480 seats were added onto the ends of the bleacher section. In 2004, South Dakota-based company Daktronics installed the then-largest video display at a sports venue in the world, measuring 36 feet (11 m) high by 149 feet (45 m) wide. A new "out of town" scoreboard was also added along the left field wall to give spectators an update on games around the league. The Cleveland Indians installed a corkscrew-shaped wind turbine atop Progressive Field prior to opening day in 2012, the first major league team to do so. The Indians were the first American League team to install solar panels in 2007. In 2007, the Indians spent $1.1 million to convert a picnic area behind the center field fence into "Heritage Park", which features 27 plaques honoring the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame and 38 bricks, representing the team's most memorable moments. There is also a memorial plaque commemorating Ray Chapman that was originally installed at League Park. The area is shielded by plantings so it does not interfere with the batter's eye.
Read more about this topic: Progressive Field
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