Progressive Field Enters Its Final Renovation Phase

This article was published through an exclusive content-sharing agreement with neo-trans.blog.

Demolition work is about to begin at selective locations throughout Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team. This represents the start of the third and final phase of more than $200 million worth of renovations to the 31-year-old ballpark, located at 2401 Ontario St. in Downtown Cleveland.

Much of the demolition work will be to replace aging seats and concrete prior to the installation of the remaining new blue seats in the upper deck before the start of the 2026 season. They will replace the original green seats, as has been done elsewhere in the stadium.

But additional demolition work was approved via a letter issued Oct. 24 by the city’s Chief Building Official Thomas Vanover to make way for several new concession stands with each to be called The Market. The letter was posted on the city Building Department’s Web portal as were the renovation plans and renderings.

“Initial permit submission is for demolition only,” wrote Justin Wieber, principal and project manager at Rossetti architects of Detroit, in submitting plans to the city earlier this month. “Alteration scope to be submitted at a later date.”

But Wieber noted that the alteration work will involve the “renovation of three concession stands. The scope includes architecture, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, structural and civil alterations.” Two of the concession stands to be renovated are on the lower deck and one is on the upper deck.

Designs of the proposed renovations to create the “Market” concession stands were provided in the public record filing with the city and are shared at the top of this article. Cost of the work is estimated at about $5.5 million, Wieber wrote.

However, this work is not being led by the Guardians or the owner of Progressive Field, the Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland. Instead, it’s being spearheaded by Delaware North, Progressive Field’s food and beverage contractor since the stadium first opened on April 2, 1994.

Earlier this year, Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company, announced it had reached a multiyear extension of its food and beverage contract at Progressive Field. The contract was extended through the Guardians’ 2036 season.

“As part of this extension, Delaware North and the Guardians will continue to invest in making significant capital improvements to its operations and fan amenities at Progressive Field,” the two parties said in a written statement.

“This is part of our Delaware North agreement so (it’s) different than our past two years renovations,” said Curtis Danburg, vice president of communications and community impact at the Guardians, in an e-mail to NEOtrans.

But what will this mean in terms of food and beverage offerings at those Market concession stands? Apparently that hasn’t been finalized yet.

“We’re going to hold on providing more details until we get closer to the season,” Danburg added, noting that the work is proceeding as planned. “We’ll be sure to share it when that time comes.”

“We take tremendous pride in the hyperlocal food and beverage program we’ve crafted with the Cleveland Guardians,” said Jamie Obletz, Delaware North group president of Sportservice and Patina Restaurant Group.

“Having been a part of this ballpark since day one is a true honor, and the responsibility we carry holds immense value for us,” he added. “We’re eager to continue to showcase our unwavering commitment to this extraordinary baseball city in the journey ahead.”

As part of its concessions program, Delaware North has also partnered with many local nonprofit organizations to volunteer in the ballpark’s concession stands as a fundraising opportunity in which a percentage of sales benefits their fundraising cause. More than $2.5 million is earned each year by local Cleveland groups as part of the program.

Delaware North operates food, beverage and retail services at more than 50 sports and entertainment venues worldwide. The company has been serving Major League Baseball fans since 1930

The first phase of stadium renovations, completed before the 2024 season, included upgrading infrastructure, adding the upper-deck Terrace District in left field and the Pennant District in right field, replacing the lower-bowl seating, constructing a four-level structure along East 9th Street for kitchen, commissary and storage services.

The second phase, done in the first half of 2025, provided an expanded team clubhouse, women’s locker room for coaches and umpires, upgraded Terrace Hub, Lexus Carnegie Club and Dugout Club for fans, additional seating replacements, plus a new team store and corporate offices along Ontario Street.

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