The Indians' “long-held desire to put their luxury seating areas to new and better use has taken a clearer shape," as the team last month "cleared out 10 suites for their new Premium Club area” at Progressive Field, according to Joel Hammond of CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS. The Premium Club features 120 seats and will be “more exclusive than its current club area, which sits directly above the Premium Club in the second deck on the first-base side.” It features the “ability to see the field throughout, from the bar at one end to two serving stations along the back walls to half-circle tables positioned just inside retractable glass.” The current club area's climate-controlled lounge is “set back from the seating area, meaning fans sitting inside at the bar or standing at a serving station can't see the field and watch the game." All tickets in the 5,000-square-foot Premium Club “sell for $150 apiece," with gourmet food, beer and wine included. One hundred of the seats “will be high-back leather chairs that will be sold as season tickets,” while others will “consist of wooden seats akin to those found at old venues such as the former Cleveland Municipal Stadium.” The project is “among a group of enhancements team president Mark Shapiro described in September as ‘mid-term’ projects, financed completely by the team, as part of its development of a longer-term master plan for the 18-year-old ballpark.” The Indians did not disclose the cost of the project, but sources said that "it'd be a multi-million-dollar project.” Shapiro has said that the master plan “will come within the next 15 months” and will address such issues as Progressive Field's “capacity, circulation of its fans, and, if the Premium Club works, its inclusion in the park's premium product mix” (CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, 11/26 issue).
