Being so close to Toronto (just over a 5-hour car ride), Cleveland makes a great road city to go and see the Jays play in. Another reason to plan a Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Cleveland is Progressive Field. Opened in 1995, the Guardian’s ball park’s design is a combination of old and new. It features classic ball park elements like a brick façade and modern touches like a large glass rotunda at its main entrance.
Here are some more cool facts about Progressive Field:
- Originally called Jacobs Field after team owners Richard and David Jacobs.
- The Cleveland Guardians stadium is still often referred to as “The Jake”.
- When it was first installed, the stadium’s scoreboard was the largest in the world.
- In 2007, Progressive Field set the record for the most consecutive sellouts in Major League history with 455.
- The 5th inning Hot Dog Derby race has been going since 2005.
- On August 5, 2001 at Progressive Field, Cleveland came back from 12-runs down to defeat the Seattle Mariners.
- On October 5, 2007, Progressive Field was swarmed by gnat-like bugs called midges. They distracted the New York Yankees pitcher which helped Cleveland win Game 2 of the ALDS.
The first 3 things to do when planning your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Cleveland
1. Book your accommodations and flight
By booking your flight and hotel accommodations at the same time you will save money. To do this we suggest using Expedia. There are a few reasons why:
- The Expedia booking platform is simple and easy to use.
- By bundling your flight and hotel purchase on Expedia you can save an average of $600.
- When you sign up and become an Expedia member (it’s free) you will earn rewards points on both flight and accommodation bookings. You can then use these points to reduce the cost of booking flights and hotels for your next Toronto Blue Jays travel package.
- As an Expedia member you will save an additional 10% on select hotel accommodations.
To book your accommodation and flight at the same time go to the Expedia website. On the home page, click on “Packages” which is displayed in the main menu. (Don’t forget to sign in so you can earn your rewards points.)
A few Cleveland hotel suggestions near Progressive Field
There’s nothing like the convenience of being within walking distance of the baseball stadium you’re visiting. Here are a few hotel options to consider, when planning your Blue Jays itinerary for Cleveland, that are all within a few blocks of Progressive Field.
Luxurious Hilton Cleveland Downtown (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor): If you want upscale, this is the hotel for you. It’s just steps away from Cleveland Guardians stadium. The rooms are posh and there’s a rooftop bar that provides a wicked view of the city.
Stylish Kimpton Schofield Hotel (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor): Located just a few blocks from the ballpark, this boutique hotel has nicely appointed rooms, a rooftop lounge, and is close to some of Cleveland’s best restaurants and bars.
The elegant Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade (4/5 on TripAdvisor): Want to stay somewhere historic? This Victorian-era hotel has been painstakingly restored. It’s stunning inside and out and just a few blocks from Progressive Field.
Comfortable Westin Cleveland Downtown (4/5 on TripAdvisor): Clean and comfortable rooms and an on-site restaurant for those quick morning breakfasts.
Budget-friendly Holiday Inn Express Cleveland Downtown (4/5 on TripAdvisor): Your best bet if you’re still living on a “minor-leaguer’s” salary. Comes with a complimentary breakfast.
2. Buy your tickets to the game
Progressive Field has a seating capacity of only 35,041. It’s one of the smaller stadiums in the Major Leagues. Therefore there are only so many tickets available. Don’t leave your ticket buying to the last minute. Purchase your Jays game tickets well in advance of your visit. To do so, visit the Cleveland Guardians website or use a reseller like Stubhub or SeatGeek.
Seating suggestions for your Jays vs. Guardians game at Progressive Field
Trying to decide what tickets to purchase for your game at Progressive Field in Cleveland? Here are a few suggestions:
- Most affordable ticket: Upper Deck outfield and Standing Room Only tickets.
- Most panoramic ticket: Upper Deck leftfield offers a great view of the downtown Cleveland skyline.
- Catch-a-home-run ticket: The “Home Run Porch”, a section of seats in the right field upper deck that are painted red. These seats are just 322 feet from home plate, which is one of the shortest distances in any Major League Park. Bring your glove!
- Avoid the sun ticket: The Infield Terrace, Right Field Terrace, Upper Deck and Club Seats all offer shaded seating.
- See the players up close: Sections 111-116. Located near the Guardian’s dugout on the third base side.
- Splurge: The “Diamond Box” seats. Located directly behind home plate at Progressive Field. Price varies depending on the game. Be prepared to spend between several hundred to over a thousand dollars per ticket.
3. Include a tour of Progressive Field in your Toronto Blue Jays travel package planning
A stadium tour of Progressive Field is your opportunity to go behind the scenes as well as learn about history of the ballpark and the Cleveland Guardians.
The Classic Tour is 60 minutes long and includes visiting such areas as the Cleveland dugout, clubhouse, and batting cages; the press box; the scoreboard control room; grounds crew area; and an executive suite.
There is also a Premium Tour available which gives you access to a few more areas of the Cleveland Guardians ballpark.
If you’re planning an outing for a large group you can organize a Group Tour and have a customized tour created. It can include things like a pre-game meal or a visit from a Guardians player or coach.
Tour tickets can be purchased at: https://www.mlb.com/guardians/tickets/info/tours
Check out the Guardians museum at Progressive Field
With the Cleveland Guardians franchise being over 100 years old, there’s a lot of history to explore. The Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame, located on the Terrace Club level of the stadium, has that covered.
The museum features a wide array of exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia. Displays throughout the museum highlight achievements and moments, such as World Series championships and player milestones.
Notable displays include the Bob Feller exhibit, Jackie Robinson exhibit, Cy Young exhibit, World Series trophies, baseball cards, and interactive attractions including a virtual batting cage and pitching machine.
The museum is open on both game days and non-game days at the Cleveland Guardians stadium. Admission is included with the purchase of a game ticket. It’s a great experience to include in the itinerary of your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Cleveland.
Arrive a few hours before your Jays game at Progressive Field in Cleveland
The gates at Progressive Field typically open 90 minutes before game time.
To get through security, find your seat, and take in any pregame activities, you should plan to arrive at the Cleveland Guardians ballpark an hour before game time.
If there’s a promotional giveaway or if you want to see batting practice, you would be wise to get to the field 90 minutes before the first pitch.
What time is batting practice at Progressive Field?
There is no set time for when batting practice takes place at Progressive Field.
For example, generally for a night game, the Cleveland Guardians will take batting practice in the late afternoon or early evening. For a day game it’s more likely in the morning or midday.
Not all teams take batting practice prior to every game. Sometimes they take it indoors too. The weather can also affect whether batting practice takes place or not.
JAYS FAN INSIDER TIP: If you want to include watching batting practice in your visit to the Cleveland Guardians stadium the best thing to do is to call the ballpark before you head down to see if it’s scheduled.
Best place for autographs at the Guardians ballpark
There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get a player’s autograph when visiting Progressive Field. Your best chance at doing so would be before the game. A couple of spots you should plan to be at are:
- The dugouts: as player enter and exit the dugout they may pause to sign autographs.
- During batting practice: make your way down to the lower bowl seating area of the stadium, down near field level.
Don’t forget epic selfies as part of your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Cleveland
Part of the fun of going to a ballpark for the first time is determining where the best place at the stadium is to get the ultimate selfie. To help you out, here are some iconic locations at Progressive Field for the perfect pic:
- Players Statues: there are statues of Cleveland Guardian greats Bob Feller, Larry Doby, Jim Thome, and Frank Robinson located outside Progressive Field.
- The large outfield scoreboard: at 59-feet tall and 221 feet wide, a picture in front of the “Humongotron” is a must.
- The Upper Deck: take a selfie with the Cleveland skyline as the backdrop.
3 ballpark foods you gotta try at Progressive Field
Parmageddon Sandwich: Loaded with perogies and topped with cheese, onions and vodka kraut. Served with a side of chips and a pickle spear.
The Slider Dog: A fan favourite at Progressive Field. Comes topped with mac and cheese, bacon, and scallions.
The Ohio City Burrito: A robust burrito packed with beef brisket, mac and cheese, and coleslaw.
Shop for a souvenir of your Toronto Blue Jays vacation package to Cleveland
When you’re at Progressive Field make sure you include time to explore the Cleveland Guardians Team Store in your schedule.
Located at 2401 Ontario Street, the store, also known as the Progressive Field Store, carries a wide variety of Cleveland Guardians’ mementos, including:
Game-used and autographed items: baseballs, bats, jerseys, and photos, that are authenticated and certified by Major League Baseball.
Baseball bat mugs: made from real baseball bats. Perfect for holding that cold beverage while watching the game.
Guardians-themed socks: variety of socks with the Guardians team logo and colors to choose from.
3 restaurant recommends near the Cleveland Guardians stadium
Hungry for some food before or after your Guardians game at Progressive Field? Here are a few food spots, close to the stadium to include in your Blue Jays road trip to Cleveland:
Barrio: a popular Mexican restaurant. Known for its creative tacos, which include ingredients like tater tots, Korean beef, and fried chicken.
Butcher and the Brewer: a gastro pub that offers elevated pub grub and a nice assortment of craft beers.
Mabel’s BBQ: owned by celebrity chef Michael Symon. Serves a variety of smoked meats, including brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. Enjoy creative sides like smoked beets and pickled onion rings.
Sports bar recommendations close to the ballpark
Get a taste of the local Cleveland sports culture by including a stop at one of the sports bars located near Progressive Field. Here are four options to consider adding to your Blue Jays travel package itinerary.
The Clevelander: Located inside the Cleveland Guardians stadium, but also has an entrance from the street. It’s a popular spot and has a rooftop patio with views of the field.
The Corner Alley: A bowling alley and sports bar located just a few blocks from the ballpark. You’ll never miss the action here; there are over 40 TVs showing all the big games.
The Harry Buffalo: The go to spot for classic American bar food. Large outdoor patio as well.
City Tap: A gastro pub that’s a block from the Cleveland Guardians ballpark. Over 60 beers on tap. Indulge in elevated bar food like truffle fries and fried chicken sandwiches.
Other things to add to your Toronto Blue Jays vacation package to Cleveland
Progressive Field is situated in downtown Cleveland. This means it’s close to many of the city’s other must-visit attractions. Here are a few destinations that may spark your interest:
Pro Football Hall of Fame: inspired by the glory of the gridiron. Exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays celebrating the history of the NFL. Plus, see the busts of all the Hall of Fame inductees.
Tour the Home of the Cleveland Browns: go behind the scenes at FirstEnergy Stadium. Visit areas like the locker rooms, press box, and field.
Tour the Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers: a guided walk about of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Step inside the Cavaliers’ locker room, walk onto the court, and more.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: the name says it all. If you love rock and roll music you’ll love this place. Hundreds of original artifacts including hand-written lyrics from The Beatles. Join a jam session. Watch a concert and more.
Tour a Submarine: Climb aboard the USS Cod, a World War II-era submarine and discover what life was like serving as a crew member during the war.
Go on a Guided Food Tour: Sample the many cuisines and tastes that make up the culinary cornucopia that is Cleveland.
Plus, I would suggest also checking Groupon and Viator for more money-save discounts on things to see and do in Philadelphia.
Enjoy your Toronto Blue Jays travel package to Cleveland!
Photo Credit: MLB