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Would you pay $3.50 for a cup of ice water? In this economy?

It would appear the Cleveland Indians are banking on it, as news is spreading that the vendors at Progressive Field are asking a stern price in exchange for a cup of water and ice.

Twitter user @CoreyEvans_10 tweeted a picture to ESPN’s Darren Rovell of a menu showing "cup of ice water" listed at $3.50.

Take a quick gander at that price line. If it’s genuine, the Indians are asking 50 cents less for a cup of water than the cost of a small draft beer. Presuming this is good ol' Cleveland tap water, the profit margin on this cup of water is staggering.

I can only think of one situation where I’d pay over three dollars for a cup of tap water, and it involves me in the desert living among the ruins of a downed biplane.

Glenn McGraw of GameDayr.com writes that $3.50 for a cup of water is a steal compared to what a bottle of water would cost.

“Considering a bottle of water is somewhere in the $5 range, I guess this is a bargain. Maybe just ask for a cup of ice and fill it up at a water fountain.”

Then why not just go straight to the water fountain? Granted, I’ve never been to Progressive Field, so there may be all sorts of critters and mouth-mustard crusted onto the side of the fountains there. Still, this seems overboard, even in the hallowed American tradition of price gouging the trapped masses at hot outdoor events.

Considering fans only lease this product before giving it to the stadium lavatories (without even the added effect of alcohol), it must be said that the water rent is too damn high in Cleveland.

Until this is changed, fans might want to start bringing their own water into the ballpark. Carry it in a flask, because that’s how it's valued at the park.

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