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much bigger stadium that could
house many activities. In 1928, a \$2.5 million bond was issued by the city
to build the stadium. It would become the first stadium built using public
money. A landfill full of old cars and tires near Lake Erie was chosen as
the site to build the stadium on. Ground was broken for the stadium on June
24, 1930. Constructed of steel and concrete, the stadium became known as
Lakefront Stadium. The stadium was not constructed as an attempt to get the
Olympics in 1932, because Los Angeles had already been chosen the site.
Lakefront Stadium was completed by July 1, 1931. The
first event was on July 3, 1931. There was one problem after the stadium
opened. It had no baseball tenant. The Cleveland Indians, playing at
League Park, were happy that a new stadium was being built. But the city
did not sign the team to a lease before the stadium opened. This allowed the
Indians to have a say in how much they would their lease would be. It was
one year later before baseball was played at Lakefront Stadium. The first
Cleveland Indians game at Lakefront Stadium was on July 3, 1932. What the
team saw when they stepped onto the field was an enormous stadium. Lakefront
Stadium had a capacity of 78,189. The stadium had covered double-decked
grandstand that extended from behind homeplate, down and around the foul
poles, and an uncovered section of bleachers in the outfield. There were
37,896 seats in the lower level, 29,380 seats in the upper level, and 10,913
bleacher seats. Lakefront Stadium became a pitchers park because of its
size. Original dimensions were 322 ft. (left and right), and 463 ft.
(center). The stadium also had lights, a sound system, and a scoreboard
behind the bleachers in centerfield. Lakefront Stadium also became home of
the Cleveland Browns (NFL).
Initially, the Indians had good attendance at
Lakefront Stadium. Because of the size of the stadium, when the Indians
attracted only 20,000 fans, it looked like the stadium was empty. The
Indians played at the stadium full time until the end of the 1933 season.
From 1934 until 1946, the Indians played at League Park during the weekdays,
and played at Lakefront Stadium during the weekends and holidays. The lights
that had been installed when the stadium opened were never used for
baseball. Modern lights were installed in 1939, and the first night Indians
game was on June 27. Besides being called Lakefront Stadium, the stadium
also got the name Cleveland Municipal Stadium. From 1947 until it closed the
Indians played at Municipal Stadium full time. In an effort to make the
stadium more hitter friendly, a fence was erected in front of the outfield
shortening the dimensions to 321 ft. (left and right) and 410 ft. (center).
A standing room area was behind this fence.
During the remainder of its existence of a baseball
stadium, Cleveland Municipal Stadium housed some very good teams and some
very bad teams. Few changes took place during the remainder of its
existence. Two renovations took place in 1967 and 1974 when the original
wooden seats were replaced by plastic ones and a new scoreboard replaced the
old one. During the 1980’s and early 1990’s the Indians were an terrible
team and attendance was low. In 1985, Richard and David Jacobs bought the
Indians. They began to lobby for a new stadium. Voters approved a bond, and
a new stadium for the Indians was built in downtown Cleveland. The last game
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium was on October 3, 1993. The Indians moved to
Jacobs Field for the 1994 season. The Cleveland Browns (NFL) continued
to play at the stadium until 1995. The stadium was demolished in November of
1996, after the Browns moved Baltimore. A new stadium for the new Cleveland
Browns sits where Cleveland Municipal Stadium sat.
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Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Facts |
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Tenants:
Cleveland Indians (MLB),
Cleveland Browns (NFL)-Capacity:
78,000 (original),
74,400 (final)-Surface: Grass-Construction
Began: June 24, 1930-Opened:
July 31, 1932 (MLB)-Closed:
October 3, 1993 (MLB)-Demolished:
November 1996-Cost:
\$2.5 Million,
\$8.6 Million (renovations)-Dimensions:
322-L, 470-C, 322-R
(original) 320-L, 404-C, 320-R (final)-Architect:
Osborn Engineering |
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