The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Beer part of ballpark experience
Domestics still rule, but demand for craft beers at stadiums is on the rise
Beer and ballparks go together like hand in baseball glove.
So say Fattar Thomas and John Klein.
These gentlemen know of what they speak, since they are in charge of the food and beverage operations at Progressive Field in Cleveland and Classic Park in Eastlake, respectively.
“There is no baseball in America without beer,” said Thomas, general manager for Delaware North, Cleveland Sportservice.
For those of you who aren’t in the baseball loop, Progressive Field is the home of the Cleveland Indians. Make that, home of the defending American League champion Cleveland Indians.
Opened in April 1994 as Jacobs Field, in honor of then-Indians owners Richard and David Jacobs, the downtown ballpark was renamed Progressive Field in 2008 with the purchase of naming rights by Progressive Insurance.
Classic Park is the home of the Lake County Captains, a Single-A minorleague affiliate of the Indians playing in the Midwest League.
Opened in April 2003 as Eastlake Ballpark, the 7,200-seat stadium became Classic Park in 2005 when the late Classic Auto Campus founder Jim Brown collaborated with team ownership on a naming-rights deal.
“You go to a game on a warm summer day or night, and you see friends hanging out, drinking beer and talking baseball. Nothing could be more American than that,” said Klein, director of food and beverage for the Captains..
Because of ongoing renovations, seating capacity at Progressive Field has been downsized in recent years from 43,000 to about 35,000.
By any name or seating capacity, on 81 home dates during the regular season and even more during seasons that produce playoff runs, Progressive Field plays host to fans who make beer part of their ballpark experience.
In classic baseball weather away from earlyseason and late-season chills, Thomas said, fans will drink about 50,000 units of beer between draft and canned varieties.
Klein said the beer consumption figure at Classic Park in favorable weather is about 3,000 units.
At Progressive Field, beer prices range from $4 (12-ounce value draft) to $12 (24-ounce, premium).
“I wouldn’t say we never get complaints about beer prices. Especially when the team is losing, the beer is warm and the hot dogs are cold,” Thomas said, laughing.
“A major part of people’s attitude about prices to me is that they look at going to baseball games as a tradition,” he added. “A day at the ballpark is part of our culture. It’s ingrained. When you come to an Indians game, it’s a chance to party with 30,000 of your friends and cheer for your team. You can’t buy that experience.
“People are willing to pay more in special circumstances, too. When so many people gather for a common goal, who cares what the beer costs?”
Beer prices at Classic Park range from $6.25 (20-ounce domestic draft) to $7.25 (20-ounce craft draft). the ticket-holder to standing room and one 12-ounce domestic draft beer.
Beer sales pick up sharply at Classic Park for $1 domestic draft beer (12-ounce) at Monday home games and $3 domestic draft at “Thirsty Thursday” games. .
While the majority of beer dispensed at both ballparks still is domestic draft, the ever-widening tastes of fans is reflected in steadily increasing demand for craft beers in draft and cans.
“Craft beer is a huge trend,” Thomas said.
“The millennials are driving that.
“There is no baseball in America without beer.” — Fattar Thomas, general manager for Delaware North, Cleveland Sportservice.
“There’s a balance of factors that go into setting the price for beer at the ballpark, from what the distributors charge us to what we pay our concession stand employees,” Klein said.
“Fans realize when they go out to see the Browns, Indians, Cavs, Captains and (Akron) RubberDucks, our beer prices are a little higher than they are at the corner bar. People don’t mind. You’re in the ballpark, watching a game and having a great time.”
Beer prices are incentivized at both ballparks.
The Indians do brisk business with the $13 District Ticket that entitles