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Progressive Field labeled most family-friendly park in the country

By Robby Sabo

Sep 28, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians fans before the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians fans before the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Where the Cleveland Indians call home is where families can visit without incident.

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Much like Dorothy uttered “we’re not in Kansas anymore” to her famed pup Toto, the hardcore New Yorker thinks along those lines when going to a game at very unfamiliar Progressive Field.

Games at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field (Shea Stadium before it) have seen its fair share of rough-housing. In New York verbal assaults fly, feelings mean little, and little kids learn an entirely new vocabulary by the time the three-hours pass from opening pitch to last out.

A magazine called “ABC Travel Guides for Kids” has recently named Progressive Field the most family-friendly park in the country, and the organization couldn’t be happier.

During recent times, team president Mark Shapiro and the rest of the franchise has had an eye on turning their venue into a friendlier atmosphere. After a very successful decade of the 1990’s, the team took a large dip in attendance and enthusiasm over the better part of the last decade.

So, they decided to start catering to the families and build a positive home-field reputation.

While the Arizona Diamonbacks have their pool, and most other newly-formed stadiums have their bars and restaurants, the Indians have an entire area dedicated to kids and families.

In 2012 they build what they call their “Kid’s Clubhouse.” This is an area where kids can gather during the game for games, crafts and other various activities.

Via MLB.com:

“I can’t wait to see the two-story Kids Clubhouse,” Indians team president Mark Shapiro said earlier this winter. “I think it’s going to one of the most unique ones of its kind in all of professional sports.”

Other reasons they were voted as most family-friendly include allowing families to bring in bottled water and other juice drinks if brought in a soft-sided cooler; many family-oriented food options sold; and they host KeyBank Kids Fun Days before each Sunday home game where kids are allowed to run the bases.

Yes it is true: the New Yorker would only get lost inside of Progressive Field.

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