Crews were busy yesterday "putting the final touches" on the $26M renovation of Progressive Field, according to Kevin Kleps of CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS. The updates include "an overhauled, much more open Gate C, a two-story bar in right field that offers terrific views of the field and city (The Corner), an expanded Kids Clubhouse that features interactive games in and outside the two-story area, a five-neighborhood concept with local food offerings in the Gate C concourse and redesigned bullpens in center field that are among the most unique in the game." Indians President Mark Shapiro said that the ballpark "looks revitalized." He credited contractor Gilbane Building Co. and concessionaire Delaware North, which "partnered with the Indians to privately finance the work, for their efforts during one of the region’s most brutal winters" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 4/6). Indians Chair & CEO Paul Dolan said, "The park is in good shape
physically, but it's 21 years old. The world has changed in the last 20
years, and we have to conform to how it is now." Dolan added that the
club conducted "three years of research" prior to the renovations. In Cleveland, Terry Pluto
noted "about 6,000 seats have been removed, and others will be
added," dropping capacity from 42,404 to 37,630. The Indians this year also are "celebrating more of their history." The club also "will have statues" of former MLBer Jim Thome and Baseball HOFer Larry Doby. There will be plaques around Progressive Field "honoring the top 100 moments in ballpark
history."
INDIAN SUMMER: Dolan said that "expectations of a good season has the Indians 'thinking that they'll start to see some improvement' at the gate." He said advanced ticket sales are "ahead of last year's pace." Pluto noted the club at this time last year "had about 8,000 in season ticket sales." Preseason sales are reportedly "up about" 15%. The franchise said that its average season-ticket price "is the second-lowest" in MLB. Dolan said of dynamic pricing for single-game tickets, "I understand that some fans don't like
it. It does give fans a chance to buy cheap seats for some games -- and
it gives fair market value for other games." Meanwhile, Pluto noted the Indians' ratings for radio and TV "have soared the last two seasons," as they ranked fifth in TV ratings last season among MLB's 30 teams. Additionally, Dolan said of the team's mascot, "We don't emphasize Chief Wahoo. It's not all over all the uniforms. It's not all over the stadium. But it is part of our heritage and we have no plans for a change." Also, Pluto cited sales figures from the club in '14 as showing -- through "buying habits" -- that consumers prefer the home white "Indians" script on jerseys; the Block C navy road cap; 1B Nick Swisher's jersey; and LF Michael Brantley's T-shirt (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/4).
HAIL TO THE CHIEF: In Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote of Shapiro, "For a president, he has the most challenging job in major league baseball." The Indians "were 29th in attendance" last season. There are "only 13,000 or so downtown residents and only 160,000 people working downtown," making it "almost close to impossible to increase attendance above the 1.446 million" they are getting even with a pretty good team. Shapiro said that the organization has "adjusted its revenue model." Cafardo noted one of the "most positive things is soaring TV ratings," and "for the time being there seems no sentiment with ownership for relocation" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/5).
REWARDING PRODUCTION: The PLAIN DEALER's Pluto wrote under the header, "Cleveland Indians Ownership, Front Office Deserve Credit For Wisely Signing Young Players." Indians P Corey Kluber's five-year, $38.5M guaranteed deal is the "largest ever given to a pitcher not eligible for arbitration," and can "last as long as seven seasons and be worth" up to $77M. The Indians "were smart to set a new market for pre-arbitration eligible pitchers because it makes a statement to the rest of the team that they will reward a player who produces early in his career." But the "bottom line is the Indians just guaranteed" Kluber and P Carlos Carrasco about $60M. This comes "after they guaranteed" 2B Jason Kipnis, Brantley and LF Jonny Gomes more than $90M last season. Team ownership is not "suddenly turning into Mike Ilitch with the Detroit Tigers, who seems to have no limits for his team's budget." They still will "probably be ranked around 25th in payroll this season," but it will "probably go up in the next few years when the salaries increase with the recent extensions" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/6).
