View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/01/11/86337.htm
In March of 1937, Steve O’Neill was managing the Cleveland Indians, the team was at spring training in New Orleans and preparing for another season at League Park at Lexington and East 66th Street in Cleveland. At the same time, just a few blocks away on Euclid Avenue, two young Clevelanders, Jack Lewis and Joe Green, were starting a car insurance company known as Progressive.
Now, 70 years later, two Cleveland institutions—the Cleveland Indians and Progressive—are joining forces.
Today, what’s currently known as Jacobs Field will become Progressive Field. Progressive, a national car, motorcycle and commercial auto insurer, has partnered with the Indians on a 16-year deal for the naming rights to the ballpark and will also become the Official Auto Insurer of the Cleveland Indians.
Progressive’s payments to the Indians over the 16 year term of the agreement will average approximately $3.6 million annually.
“More people than ever are watching Major League Baseball. This is an opportunity to make Progressive even more of a household name not just across Ohio, but all over the country, driving even more business to the more than 30,000 independent agents who choose to represent us,” said President and CEO Glenn Renwick.
The partnership includes naming rights, including signage inside and outside the park as well as broadcast advertising, logos on schedules, Internet ads, etc. Also, as Official Auto Insurer, Progressive will be the only auto insurance company featured inside of Progressive Field during regular season play.
Source: Progressive insurance