The Cleveland Indians used to win, and they used to fill their ballpark. Then they and the economy got worse at about the same time. The economy has since done better. The Indians? Uh, no.
To lure the formerly faithful back to Progressive Field, the Indians are about to embark on a two-year makeover of the stadium. Well, they have to do something (and they could try winning again but cosmetics always offer a certain appeal). The team hasn’t announced the details of the renovations, which will be privately funded, but they will shrink seating below its current level of about 43,000.
Attendance has dropped by more than half since 1999. Those were the good old days. Back in the ‘90s and the turn of the century, the Indians qualified for postseason play five years in a row and in six of seven. They twice reached the World Series but didn’t win either time. In 1999, attendance peaked at 3.46 million. Last year? About 1.57 million.
The Browns and Cavaliers are also doing work on their buildings. Whatever the Cavaliers do, it won’t be as significant as adding LeBron James. That’s about winning. The Indians need a similar plan. Since 2001 they’ve been in the playoffs once, not at all since 2007. They’re at exactly .500 as Thursday dawns, in third place in the American League Central, after winning 90 games last year.
No Cleveland team has won a major sports title since the Browns in 1964. The Cavaliers are again the brightest hope. The Indians can fix up the stadium but they’re going to have to do a little work on the roster as well.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .
Drake Compares Rihanna to the Devil
-
Correa joined the Mets with a $315 million contract. Recently, baseball player Carlos Correa announced that he had cut...
-
Oklahoma and Texas will depart from the college sports conference at the end of the season. The Big 12...
-
Robert Kraft wants to re-sign Brady just long enough that he can retire as a Patriot. Earlier this week,...
-
The skilled third-baseman will be enshrined in Cooperstown. Scott Rolen is one of the most skilled and recognized third-basemen...
-
Brady’s 23rd football season has ended. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys went head-to-head for...
-
Smith has been fired after one season with the team. Over the weekend, the owners of the Houston Texans...
-
Pelé passed due to complications related to colon cancer. On Thursday night, the sporting world received unfortunate news: Pelé,...
-
His return heralded a victory over the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas needed to take...
-
Mayfield will be available on waiver to other NFL teams. After an underwhelming performance in his current role as...
-
Mike White led the team to a decisive victory over the Bears over the weekend. On Saturday, the New...
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...