What's new at Progressive Field in 2023 from beer to burgers to sports betting

Purists might say the sure sign of summer is the sound of the crack of the bat.

But anyone who loves baseball in Northeast Ohio might disagree.

The sound of radio announcer Tom Hamilton saying those immortal words: "And we're underway at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario" is the sure sign that baseball has returned to Cleveland.

Guardians home opener: Cleveland Guardians announce home opener at Progressive Field is sold out

The home opener is Friday and the Guardians have something prove this campaign: There's an American League Central Division championship to defend.

Fans at Progressive Field might see a few new faces in the dugout but many of the fan favorites — including José Ramírez, Shane Bieber and Steven Kwan — remain.

There are some other changes in and around the ballpark that have nothing to do with who's on first.

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Some stands and vendors at Progressive Field will be cashless

You can still pay cash for a beer and a hotdog at Progressive Field this season but you might have to walk a bit to do so.

Half of the concession stands will be fully cashless this season and will only accept credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay. These cash-free stands will have signage near the menus.

Likewise, most of the food and beverage vendors in the stands will be cash free. They will only accept credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Fans can tell the difference between the cash and cashless vendors by the color of shirt they are wearing in the stands. Cashless vendors will wear yellow shirts and vendors who still accept cash will wear green shirts.

What are the new food offerings at Progressive Field?

Each new season brings a new line-up of food at Progressive Field.

Don't fret, the old favorites − like hotdogs − are still around but there are some new menu offerings in the ballpark this season. In addition to regular fries, some stands will also offer garlic fries.

Here are the new menu items:

• Pepper Jack Bites: Crusted pepper jack cheese served with ranch dressing served at FatHead’s (Right Field District).

• Melt Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl: Creamy macaroni and cheese topped with buffalo chicken served at the Melt Bar and Grill (Right Field District).

• Pimento Cheese & Bacon Burger: A 1/3-pound certified angus all-beef patty topped with pimento cheese, bacon and shredded lettuce on a brioche bun served at Build a Burger (left field).

• Hot Honey Chicken Tenders: Chicken tenders, fries and a hot honey glaze from Akron Honey served at Fat Rooster (under the left field bleachers).

• Crab Rangoon Nachos: Tostitos chips topped with white cheddar cheese sauce, sweet chili sauce, shredded crab, sesame seeds and green onion served at the Loaded Nacho Stand (right field).

• Mac & Cheese Brisket: Creamy mac and cheese topped with Montgomery Inn BBQ Brisket, with pickled and crunchy onions and a drizzle of barbecue sauce served at the Throwin’ Smoke BBQ (Third Baseline Concourse).

• The Wild Thing: A Field Roast Dog (vegan), vegetable chili, shredded cheddar, diced onion and Flamin' Hot Cheetos served at Happy Dog (Third Baseline Concourse).

• Noodle Bowl: Ramen Noodles, Asian sauce, red pepper, carrot, Napa cabbage, sesame seeds and an optional ginger chicken addition served at Down The Line Bowls (Third Baseline Concourse).

What are the new beer and adult drinks at Progressive Field?

Like the food menu, the options for adult beverages changes season to season.

Here are some of the new beverage options:

• Fat Head’s: Fat Head’s Brewery is expanding to the Beer Garden in section 164 and updating the neighborhood stand in section 111.

• The Brew Kettle: The Brew Kettle is refreshing its neighborhood stand with updated food items like Smoked Chicken Wings.

• Cutwater Spirits: Cutwater Spirits will be available at the Cutwater Cart in section 150 and at various grab-n-go locations and premium seating areas throughout the ballpark.

• Masthead: Masthead Brewing Co. will have a branded cart in section 117 and will also be available at various draft beer locations throughout Progressive Field.

Post-game promotions available for Guardians fans

• Wendy’s: Participating Northeast Ohio Wendy’s locations will offer a free small Frosty after a Guardians win and the following day. Simply show the Guardians social post after the game to redeem a free small Frosty.

• McDonald’s: McDonald's will offer a free six-piece Chicken McNuggets with the purchase of a $1-or-more on the McDonald’s app whenever a Guardians player steals a base at a home game.

• Circle K: Circle K will offer a free Polar Pop to fans who check in to the Ballpark app when the Guardians strike out seven -or-more batters at Progressive Field. The offer will come via email the day after the game.

Tickets to Guardians games

There are a variety of ways to view a game at Progressive Field.

Some of the seats cost a princely sum, particularly those within shouting distance of the first base coach.

Some 95% of the tickets for home games this season are available for $20 or less.

And they are offering ballpark passes that offer standing-room only tickets to every home game in a month for $49 a month. Standing-room only tickets for a single game are $15 and include $5 to be used during the game.

For the first time ever, fans can reserve a single suite online at CLEGuardians.com/premiumseating. The suites include food and beverage offerings.

For more information about tickets, visit mlb.com/guardians/tickets.

Guardians 2023 game promotions

The Guardians have a promotion of sorts for 40 of the 81 home games this season.

Fireworks nights, along with Dollar Dogs nights return this season along with free T-Shirts for the first 12,500 fans at every Friday home game.

There are some player-inspired promotions including:

• May 13 – Mystery Gold Glove (10,000 fans)

• May 27 – Josh Naylor Jersey courtesy of Bally Sports (12,500 fans)

• June 10 – Triston McKenzie Jersey courtesy of Sugardale (12,500 fans)

• June 24 – Andrés Giménez Bobblehead courtesy of Discount Drug Mart (12,500 fans)

• July 8 – José Ramírez Reversible Bucket Hat courtesy of Progressive (15,000 fans)

• July 22 – Steven Kwan Bobblehead courtesy of Sherwin Williams (12,500 fans)

• Sept. 2 – Emmanuel Clase Bobblehead courtesy of Bally Sports (12,500 fans)

Sports betting at Progressive Field

The Guardians have partnered with bet365 to be the exclusive mobile betting partner.

With the start of sports betting in Ohio, the ballclub plans to add a retail sportsbook inside − sort of − Progressive Field.

The BetFanatics sportsbook will be located outside of the Right Field Gate in the former New Era store.

Fans will be able to place bets at the ticket windows off East 9th Street before entering Progressive Field.

Craig Web,. who once almost got run over by Guardians manager Terry Francona driving a scooter in the tunnel under Progressive Field, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians Home Opener: What's new at Progressive Field