Major League Baseball

Indians turning ballpark into winter playhouse

Published Sep. 23, 2010 11:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Play snowball!

The Cleveland Indians will turn Progressive Field into an offseason winter wonderland.

The team announced plans Thursday to bring in up to 150 tons of snow each day for fans to frolic in while counting down the days until spring. The ''Snow Days'' will run from Nov. 26 to Jan. 2 and feature ice skating, tubing and a walking trail with holiday lights.

''What a neat idea,'' Indians closer Chris Perez said. ''I may have to come back to town to see something like that.''

Perez, born and raised in Florida, lives in Tampa and said that while he has no desire to play baseball in the snow, he thinks the Indians' idea is perfect for holiday fun.

''If I lived in the area, I think I'd be down there a lot,'' Perez said. ''It's a cool thing, especially for the kids through the holiday season. I think it is great that the team is putting to use a ballpark for the community.''

For a change, the Indians will welcome cold temperatures and snowfall - unlike 2007, when they had their first series of the season postponed and the next three-game set moved to Milwaukee by a blizzard that dumped more than 20 inches of snow on the field.

''This first-of-its-kind event will give downtown Cleveland another marquee attraction this winter that will be sure to create memories for families, friends and co-workers,'' said Bob DiBiasio, Indians vice president of public relations.

General admission will be $5, and it will cost $20 for two hours on the ''Batterhorn,'' a 10-lane snow tubing hill to be built on top of the left-field bleachers.