Cleveland gears up for the Guardians’ Opening Day as devoted fans and local businesses prepare for one of the year’s busiest and most celebrated events.<\/p>\n
CLEVELAND \u2014 Downtown Cleveland<\/a> is already coming alive as crews clean the streets, bars prepare for crowds and fans count down the hours to Opening Day<\/a> for the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.<\/p>\n With less than a day until first pitch, the sights and sounds of preparation are everywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n Street sweepers and blowers moved through the area Thursday as workers put the final touches in place, while fans across the city pulled out their team gear and looked ahead to the start of the season.<\/p>\n Among those most excited are Lynn and Andy Capwill, devoted fans who say Opening Day is more than just a game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are absolutely excited, very, very excited,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n Their commitment to the team has not wavered through the years.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gotta be with them through good and bad,\u201d they said. \u201cYou know, it\u2019s do or die. You love them, no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n That loyalty shows in their remarkable streak.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve attended 405 consecutive regular season games,” they said. “Tomorrow will be 406, and that\u2019s not counting playoffs.”<\/p>\n Their experience reflects what makes Opening Day special for many in Cleveland, a mix of tradition, routine and deep connection to the team after thousands of at bats and countless renditions of \u201cTake Me Out to the Ballgame.\u201d<\/p>\n Businesses near the ballpark are also preparing for one of their busiest days of the year. At City Tap in Cleveland, staff say the crowds bring both opportunity and energy to the Gateway District.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here for all of this. The busier the better,\u201d said Cameron Burson, a bartender at City Tap. \u201cWe\u2019re all down here. We\u2019re here to make money, but we\u2019re here to show everyone a good time and entertain the crowd. That\u2019s why we do this.\u201d<\/p>\n Festivities in the Gateway District are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., with bars opening earlier in the day. Pregame ceremonies at the stadium will start at 3:30 p.m., leading up to a 4:10 p.m. first pitch.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nBeware of traffic and stay safe <\/p>\n