Cleveland Indians Deserve a Sold Out Stadium Tonight
Tonight, the Cleveland Indians will host the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic loser-goes-home Wild Card game. The game features a secondary drama that is unfolding as well. And that’s the question of whether or not Progressive Field will be sold out, or even close to sold out.
The city of Cleveland once had a population that was approaching one million citizens and ranked sixth in population among American cities. Today, it ranks 51st. It once had a thriving economy as a port city located on Lake Erie with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Erie Canal. Cleveland also, at one time not too long ago, supported its baseball team.
Cleveland Does Have Its Problems
It may be hard to believe now, but as recently as 2001, attendance at Cleveland Indians games was over three million a season. In fact, the Indians drew three million or more fans to their games for six consecutive years from 1996 to 2001. This year, only two teams in MLB drew fewer fans to their games than Cleveland (Oakland and Tampa Bay). An average of fewer than 20,000 fans attended a game at Progressive Field on any given night in 2016.
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Oh, and did I mention that the Cleveland Indians are the champions of the highly contested American League Central Division? And that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drew a half million visitors this year. And that tonight, in the most important game of the season (as of this writing), the game is still not a sellout.
Like many of America’s Rust Belt cities, Cleveland has its problems. I get that. It ranks number one in the nation in property damage, and according to Newgeography.com, 72 hours after a house becomes vacant, vandals strip appliances, windows, and fixtures (scrap metal recycling is a booming business in Cleveland). Stripping the pipes renders the property a total loss.
But the Cleveland Indians Deserve More
However, it’s not like the Indians are trying to rip their citizens off. In fact, Cleveland has the ninth lowest ticket price of all major league cities ($25.71). How about the cost of a hot dog? No problem there either – the Indians sell them for three bucks, the fourth lowest in the majors.
So, maybe it’s just that Cleveland is ruled by a King these days. And it’s not the kind they have in England. It’s the LeBron James Franchise, and after he takes his cut, there’s nothing left for anyone else.
That’s being facetious of course, but come on, Cleveland. You’ve got a pretty good ball club here and despite what happens tonight, they deserve your attention and attendance. You’ve got a young and very athletic team, which despite ongoing injuries to Michael Brantley and the disappearance of former Cy Young winner Corey Kluber for the first half of the season, has survived, surprised, and thrived in a tough division.
Progressive Field should be rockin’ tonight for the Cleveland Indians and it’ll be a downright shame if it isn’t.
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