Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, United States | 4X4 Excursions

Jacobs Field (informally called "The Jake") is a baseball stadium located in the middle of downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex, along with Quicken Loans Arena, it was built as a replacement for Cleveland Stadium.

Jacobs Field is home to the Cleveland Indians of the American League, and bears the name of former team owner Richard Jacobs. As part of the sale of the team in 2000, the naming rights were scheduled to expire at the end of 2006. The name remains while the team looks to sell naming rights.

History

Jacobs Field is one of the contributing factors to the revitalization of downtown Cleveland. Opening in 1994, it replaced Cleveland Municipal 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, Cuyahoga County voters approved a 15-year sin tax on alcohol and cigarette sales in order to finance the new sports complex. In June 1992, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown at the site of the new Jacobs Field before construction of the building began. Finally, on 4 April, 1994, the Indians played their first game at the new stadium. The President at that time, Bill Clinton threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in 11 innings.

In 1995, Jacobs Field hosted its first World Series, where the Cleveland Indians lost to the Atlanta Braves. Jacobs Field was the site of the 1997 MLB All-Star Game and the host of the 1997 World Series where the Cleveland Indians lost to the Florida Marlins.

Prior to the start of the 1997 season, Jacobs Field had a slight addition as two sections of seating were added onto the ends of the bleacher section, increasing the capacity by about 1,000 to its current 43,345.

In 2004, Jacobs Field's scoreboard, the largest free-standing scoreboard in the United States, was modernized with the installation of the largest video display in the world at a sports venue, built by Daktronics of South Dakota. The video board measures 36 feet high by 149 feet wide. Also in 2004, a centre field dining area located behind the seating, formerly occupied by auxiliary bleachers, was replaced with a bar area called the Batter's Eye Bar.

On Opening Day of 2007, the Cleveland Indians opened Heritage Park, a site for the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame, the 100 Indian Roster, and Memories of the Indians. It is located behind the Centre Field Wall, and shrubs and bushes were planted so it doesn't interfere with the "Batter's Eye View."