Indians to announce major Progressive Field upgrades

By Anthony Castrovince

August 7, 2014

CLEVELAND -- The Indians will hold an 11 a.m. ET news conference today to announce major enhancements to Progressive Field.

The news conference will be streamed live on Indians.com.

Detailed information about the improvements was not immediately divulged, but the Indians did confirm that the changes will all be privately financed. This is important to note, in light of Cuyahoga County voters passing a 20-year extension of the "sin tax" on alcohol and cigarettes that is expected to generate at least $260 million for Progressive Field, the Browns' FirstEnergy Stadium and the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena.

Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field) opened in 1994 and has received several modifications in recent years, including the conversion of several suites into the Collection Auto Group Club and the Kids Clubhouse.

But the coordination of an in-season news conference of this nature hints at a project of a much larger scope.

Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince.