Jacobs Field
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| Jacobs Field The Jake | |
| Missing image Jacobs_field3.jpg Jacobs Field | |
| Facility Statistics | |
| Location | 2401 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 42865 |
| Broke Ground | January 1992 |
| Opened | April 4, 1994 |
| Surface | Kentucky Blue Grass |
| Owner | Cuyahoga County |
| Construction Cost | $175 million USD |
| Architect | HOK Sport |
| Tenants | |
| Cleveland Indians | 1994-present |
| Seating Capacity | |
| 1994 | 43,345 |
| Dimensions | |
| Left Field | 325 ft / 99 m |
| Left-Center | 370 ft / 113 m |
| Center Field | 405 ft / 123.5 m |
| Right-Center | 375 ft / 114 m |
| Right Field | 325 ft / 99 m |
| Backstop | |
Jacobs Field is a baseball stadium located in the middle of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex, along with Gund Arena, it was built as a replacement for Cleveland Stadium.
Jacobs Field is home to the Cleveland Indians of the American League.
History
Jacobs Field is one of the contributing factors to the revitalization of downtown Cleveland. Opening in 1994, it replaced Cleveland Stadium, which the Indians shared with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and which for the Tribe had become the archetype of the adjective "cavernous".
In May 1990, city voters approved a 15-year sin tax on alcohol and cigarette sales in order to finance the new sports complex. In June of 1992, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown at the site of the new Jacobs Field before construction of the building began.
Finally, on April 4, 1994, the Cleveland Indians played their first baseball game at Jacobs Field against the Seattle Mariners.
In 1995, Jacobs Field hosted its first World Series, where the Cleveland Indians lost to the Atlanta Braves. In 1997, Jacobs Field was the site of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the host of the 1997 World Series where the Cleveland Indians lost to the Florida Marlins.
The Indians' move to "The Jake" coincided with the coming of age of an outstanding young team, and the Indians soon became the hottest ticket in Cleveland. The ballpark set a major league record between 1995 and early 2001 by selling out 455 straight games. Demand for tickets was so great that they once sold out all 81 home games before opening day. The Indians retired the number 455 in honor of this outstanding record.