Overview: This is why you need to visit Dodger Stadium..
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, is the biggest stadium, by seat capacity, in Major League Baseball. The stadium was opened in 1962 (making it the third oldest stadium in the MLB and the oldest stadium on the West Coast) and is home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Brief History: (Spoiler Alert: The Dodgers Were Originally From New York)
The Brooklyn Dodgers were looking for a new home in the 1950s and, because they were not able to secure a location in Brooklyn, New York, the team considered Los Angeles instead, eventually agreeing to make LA their new home. And, on September 17, 1959, construction on Dodger Stadium began.
Construction of Dodger Stadium turned out to have its own setbacks. One of the most famous was the Battle of Chavez Ravine, a battle between developers and homeowners on the 352-acre plot of land, in the Chavez Ravine, where the stadium was to be built. This battle, which lasted ten years, eventually ended as all homeowners sold their homes.
Construction ended up taking 3 years and costing $23 million to complete. It took 40,000 cubic yards of concrete, 13 million pounds of steel, 546 tons of cast iron, and 375,000 feet of lumber to build the stadium.
Over the years, many renovation projects have been completed. Some of the most noticeable renovations include the 1975 stadium seat replacement, the 2005 seat replacement, which was meant to mimic the ocean with yellow (the sun) seats closest to the field and blue (ocean) seats furthest away from the field.
Location: Are there earthquakes at Dodger Stadium? Yes, but…
Situated in Los Angeles, southern California, the open-top stadium has the benefit of a very dry climate, but the downside of earthquake risks. In fact, Dodger stadium once went 1,471 games without being rained out between April 17, 2000 and October 3, 2019. The location is one of Dodger Stadium’s most beneficial features because it allows for many days operational, which means it has more opportunities to generate revenue. In order to overcome risks from earthquakes, the stadium was built to be earthquake-resistant, and it has proven itself by withstanding many earthquakes.
Design: Why does Dodger Stadium look like a spaceship? Well, it makes life easier for the visitors..
Dodger Stadium was designed with baseball at its heart as a baseball-only stadium before many new stadiums were built for multi-purpose uses. Designers worked with fans’ comfort in mind, which is why they built a terraced parking lot. The parking lot is built in a way that allows visitors to park at nearly the same level of their seats. And, the circular design of the parking lot allows more visitors to park closer to the park than a square grid parking lot would allow.
Seating: Where are the best seats at Dodger Stadium? Between Home Plate and Third Base!
Generally, anywhere between home plate and third base (odd numbered sections) is the best for evening games, this is because the sun will set behind those seats and there is no risk of having the sun in your face. Research on this was actually conducted by an LA Times journalist (link here). These seats are the best, so you might have to pay a little more to sit in them, but only around $5-$10 more than the same seat on the opposite side (sunny side). For early afternoon games at Dodger Stadium, the best place to sit is under one of the overhangs and roofs. The best seats for any time of the day are under the overhang in section 101, if you are trying to avoid having the sun in your eyes.
Dining: What is the best thing to eat at Dodger Stadium? Dodger Dog!!
The most famous food item at Dodger Stadium is, without a doubt, the Dodger Dog. This beloved meal was inspired by the Dodgers’ roots in Brooklyn, New York. It’s been a Dodger staple since the 1960s. Food crafters at the stadium put a lot of work into keeping this hotdog exciting by making many variations of it. They really put their hearts into the Dodger Dog.
To See: Jackie Robinson.
Dodger Stadium memorialized Jackie Robinson by unveiling a statue of him. Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers when they still called Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, their home. Make sure to check the statue out, it is a must see.
Buying Merchandise
Whether you’ve visited Dodger Stadium hundreds of times or just once, make sure you haven’t left the stadium without buying some cool Dodgers merchandise. Top of the Park gift shop at Dodger Stadium is open all year round and has some pretty cool gear. The gift shop also has one of the largest cap walls in the nation!
