CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Indians are asking taxpayers to replace what the team describes as an outdated and malfunctioning system that regulates lights, heating and cooling at Progressive Field.

The replacement system is expected to cost more than $1.6 million, and is a top priority for Progressive Field because the current system fails multiple times a week, according to Neil Weiss, chief information officer for the Indians.

The Indians made the request Wednesday to the board of the Gateway Development Corporation, the nonprofit that enforces the team’s lease on behalf of Cuyahoga County. Gateway is responsible for major capital repairs over $500,000 at the ballpark.

Board members said they would review the Indians’ proposal to ensure it meets criteria in the lease before voting on the expenditure.

The county pays for repairs from revenue from the “sin tax” on beer, wine, liquor and cigarettes, which in 2018 generated about $13.9 million. County Council in August also raised the bed tax by one percentage point to free up revenues to support, in part, a sports facilities fund.

The building automation system was described by Weiss as the ballpark’s “nerve center” that regulates lights, heat and air-conditioning for interior spaces at the ballpark, including a service level used by employees and the team’s administrative offices.

When functioning correctly, the system allows for timers to be set so those systems turn on automatically at the appropriate times. Such systems generally last 10 to 12 years, but Weiss said the current system was installed when the ballpark was built in 1994.

The malfunctioning system means lights can sporadically turn on in the middle of the night, or lights fail to come on when workers need them, Weiss said. The system must be re-booted every time it fails, potentially affecting the movement of workers and supplies, and resulting in higher energy costs.

The Indians want to start the overhaul in 2020. Weiss did not have an estimate on how long it will take to install.

Also on tap for Progressive Field are four new escalators, which Gateway already approved at a cost of $4.2 million. The escalators are expected to arrive in Cleveland this fall. Installation will begin after play-off season and should be complete by March 2020.

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The escalators and new request for the lighting and temperature-control system aside, the county owes the Indians about $5 million from repairs previously approved by Gateway, Weiss said in response to questions from the board.