What to Wear to a Cleveland Guardians Game?

Whether you live in the Cleveland area, the surrounding metropolitan cities, or are simply visiting from out-of-town, attending a Cleveland Guardians game can be one of the most enjoyable and exciting experiences you’ll have. 

With the area surrounding Progressive Field having been recently renovated, you’ll find a plethora of food and drink options to keep you busy both before and after the baseball game.

And whether it’s your first time to Progressive Field or you’re a season ticket holder, attending a Cleveland Guardians game can be loads of fun for the entire family.  But before you head out to the local game, you may be wondering, what exactly should I wear to a Cleveland Guardians game?

Below, we’re going to review what to wear to a Cleveland Guardians game and provide you with options to ensure you blend in perfectly with the local crowd and other Guardians’ fans.  And because the Guardians wear a mix of navy, blue, and red, these clothing pieces will go perfectly with many of your other outfits as well!

Attending a Guardians game? Find out the average length of time for a Guardians game before you go!

Things to do Around Progressive Field

Let’s be honest, in the heart of the downtown Cleveland there are a plethora of options and things to do both before and after a Guardians game.  Whether you’re getting to Progressive Field by foot, taxi, or the subway, you’ll have plenty of options for food, drink, and entertainment.

• Cleveland Public Library – The Cleveland Public Library, or CPL, is located in Downtown Cleveland and operate the Main Library on Superior Avenue. A sprawling and beautiful structure, the Cleveland Public Library was founded in 1869 and has a collection well over 10-million.

• City Tap Cleveland – if you’re looking for some of the best burgers in Ohio, then look no further than City Tap Cleveland. Featuring hand packed burgers, we highly recommend trying ‘The Viking’, a burger grilled in garlic parmesan wing sauce and topped with a house-made guacamole, mayo, scallions, and Swiss cheese.

• The Arcade – perhaps one of the coolest malls in all of Cleveland is The Arcade. Opened in 1890, The Arcade was one of the inaugural indoor shopping centers in America. Originally known as “Cleveland’s Crystal Palace” the site still has a bevy of cool retail and restaurant locations.

• The Garden of Eden Rooftop – looking to escape the business of Downtown Cleveland? Definitely check out The Garden of Eden Rooftop, which covers the 12th floor of the metropolitan at The 9 hotel. A rooftop terrace equipped with comfy sofas and traditional, bar-like seating, you’ll be able to escape into your own paradise.

General Weather Conditions in Cleveland

Once you’ve found a list of things to do both before and after the Guardians game, it is important to plan your outfit.  However, doing so requires understanding the general weather conditions and climate in Cleveland and near Progressive Field.

Generally, Cleveland, being in the mid-western portion of the country, experiences all four seasons annually.  And although the temperatures do dip into the lower 20’s between December through February, those are months that the MLB is offseason.

During the MLB season, and for when the Guardians play at their home stadium, that is between the months of April through October, the weather generally remains within a low of 42-degrees to a high of 81-degrees. 

Of course, these conditions can fluctuate, but generally the weather in Cleveland varies. Expect cold conditions during the winter months, with bouts of rain and snow, and warmer, hotter conditions during the summer months.

Preparing for a Cleveland Guardians Game

Due to the fluctuations in weather in Cleveland, you should prepare yourself for hotter and slightly cooler conditions.  Although the temperature does drop a bit as the sunsets, with the longer summer days, you may still feel the warmth and tinge of the sun against your skin as the game starts.

As such, it is always recommended to apply sunscreen before heading out to a game and when in the sun for prolonged periods of time.  Sunscreen is one of the best forms of protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays. 

In addition to reducing the risk of sunburn, sunscreen can dramatically reduce your risk of skin cancer.  Statistics have shown that by the age of 70, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer.  However, you can lower your risk by using sunscreen with a minimum rating of SPF 30 or higher when you are planning on being out in the sun for prolonged periods of time.

Similarly, be sure to drink copious amounts of hydrating liquids, including water and sports drinks to help against the heat.  These drinks will also help to keep you hydrated and will ensure that you remain active and awake during the game.

However, as Cleveland does experience some colder conditions, including rain, you should also prepare for those weather conditions.  Bringing an umbrella with you to the game can help or you may opt for a rain jacket.  Similarly, many visitors to Progressive Field will don a plastic, reusable raincoat.

A Baseball Cap

One of the best, and easiest, pieces of clothing to wear to the Guardians game is none other than a baseball cap.  Not only will a baseball cap help you to avoid the beating sun on your forehead and in your eyes, but most baseball caps feature the logo of the team you are rooting for.

Personally, we love this ’47 Cleveland Guardians MLB Clean Up Adjustable Hat. A bit more on the “retro” side, the cap features a simple ‘C’ to represent the team and has a bit more of a faded look.

If you’re looking for something a bit more modern, we’d recommend the ’47 Cleveland Guardians Red Alternate Clean Up Adjustable Hat. A bit too red for our liking, the cap has a ton of great reviews from diehard fans, so they must be doing something right.

Cleveland Guardians T-Shirt or Jersey

When it comes to upper wear, honestly the best options when going to a baseball game are to rep the team’s jerseys or a t-shirt with their logo.  Both options are easy and generally affordable and will also allow you to showcase your team fandom.

However, we personally have never been fans of wearing team jerseys due to their relative tightness around the arms.  In addition, team jerseys can be quite costly, sometimes coming to several hundreds of dollars.  Rather, we generally opt for a short or long-sleeved shirt with the team logo, name, or phrase.

When it comes to choosing a shirt to wear to the Guardians game, we personally prefer long-sleeve shirts.  Again, while the weather can reach the mid 80’s, the weather in Cleveland can, and often does, rapidly drop.  And you really don’t want to be left out in the cold and uncomfortable while the game progresses.

From a short-sleeve perspective, we really like the Cleveland Guardians City Skyline shirt. Simple, with the Cleveland skyline etched in the background, the shirt reads Cleveland, with the classic long underline after the last ‘d’.

Joggers or Athletic Pants

Interestingly enough, we typically opt to go for a pair of joggers or athletic pants when going to a Guardians game.  The reason is that while the weather may be warmer, at times, rain showers can occur at almost any time. And we’re really not fans of wearing wet jeans.

However, we generally like to go for comfort over style, especially while at the ballgame.  And if the weather will be warm and hot, you don’t want to feel sweaty and uncomfortable throughout the duration of the game. 

Rather, upon confirming that the weather will remain warm and sunny, opting for shorts or pants which are a bit loose and will allow your legs to breathe and not feel enclosed is a great option.

By far our favorite joggers are from Vuori.  A bit more expensive than other options, these joggers are insanely comfortable.  In fact, you’ll feel like you’re wearing nothing at all with them on.  Vuori makes great joggers for both men and women and with a plethora of color options, you’ll be able to find the perfect ones to fit with your Guardians gear. 

Alternatively, you may want to look into Lululemon joggers for the game.  Breathable and comfortable, Lululemon joggers provide sufficient space and superior materials to make a trek to the ballgame comfortable and easy.

Sunglasses

Lastly, if you are planning on attending a Cleveland Guardians game set for the middle of the day, it may be worthwhile to bring along a pair of sunglasses.  With the sun directly overhead, it may be difficult to view what is happening on the field without sunglasses.

Further, sunglasses should be able to help you avoid squinting and causing strain to your eyes.  And while you could opt for a pair of smart glasses, you really don’t have to and a simple pair should suffice for the day.   

And while there are plenty of sunglass options, we like to keep it simple and classy.  A pair of aviators always gets the job done and looks stylish in the process.