The Indians are "confident renovations at Progressive Field will be completed in time for the April 10 home opener," despite the fact that most of the infield "remains buried from an unrelenting winter," according to the Tom Withers of the AP. Indians Strategy & Business Analytics Dir Jeff Wilen said, "We'll be in good shape if the weather holds like this over the next couple weeks." The ballpark, built in '94, has been "remodeled this offseason with new tiered bullpens, open terraces, an expanded kids clubhouse and a two-story bar in the right-field corner." Following the "coldest recorded February in Cleveland history, there's plenty of work still to be done." Wilen said that 60 inches of underground frost in the plaza area has "delayed work, preventing utility lines from being laid and concrete from being poured." Among the "most interesting features of the makeover are the bullpens, which will be stacked beyond the center-field wall." A small number of seats are "located in front of the bullpens, giving fans a never-seen-before view of the game." It is just one of "several enhancements the Indians, who ranked 29th in attendance last season, are making to entice younger fans" (AP, 3/12). The Indians yesterday announced that the ballpark's new bar "will be called 'The Corner,'" with the indoor-outdoor bar having "nearly 40 beers on tap and a fire pit on the rooftop deck" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 3/12).
