Before last night, I think had only been to Dodger stadium three times, once for a Dodger game in 2007, once for a pre season international soccer tournament in 2013 between Real Madrid, Juventus, Everton and LA Galaxy and most recently for a Paul McCartney concert in 2019. My memories of it were of it being old and run down (if not with a certain charm), needing a lick of paint and a pain in the ass to get in and out of.
Last night, thanks to a combination of a return to full capacity crowds, some much needed stadium upgrades, a beautiful warm summer night and the current World Series Champions to watch, my perspective was dramatically changed.
Opened in 1962, Dodger stadium is the oldest ball park west of the Mississippi and the third oldest in the country behind Fenway Park, Boston (1912) and Wrigley Park, Chicago (1914).
It's still a pain in the ass to get in and out of but the new “Center Field Pavilion” has brought a whole new dimension to the experience of going to a Dodger game. The Pavilion sits at the main entrance to the stadium, consists of multiple open plan bars with big screens and food kiosks including the delicious Shake Shack and a Taco joint, kids play areas, open exhibitions of team history, multiple merchandise stores and most conveniently, new walkways, bridges and elevators that now make the stadium - for the first time in it's history, 360 degrees accessible throughout the game.
Cool new bar-like standing areas have been added to the back of the left and right field pavilion seats and "home run seats" also added, just beyond the outfield wall. The walkways to the main structure in both directions provide a stunning expansive view of the whole stadium and under the lights last night, the atmosphere was electric.
A sell out crowd of 52,342 packed in to see the Dodgers take on their arch rivals the San Francisco Giants who between them hold the best records in baseball. I went to the game with my neighbors, Loren and Trey. Loren, a lifelong die hard Dodgers fan and Trey, mostly along for a good night out, sporting a somewhat provocative t-shirt, that thankfully no Giants fans responded to. In fact there wasn't many Giants fans there at all which may be one of the reasons this was, in the current social climate, a rare American sports event without multiple brawls breaking out throughout the stands.
Avid (?) readers of my musings will remember the sheer scale of fights I witnessed in Dallas at the boxing and new clips of fan altercations seem to pop up each day online. If you haven't seen "Suns in 4" guy, please google him.
We made the smart choice of getting there around an hour and half early which gave us an opportunity to explore the new upgrades, eat and drink and relax into our seats in the right Loge, which is the middle tier of three. The view was excellent. Dodger dogs are still delicious and the action on the field didn't disappoint.
The Dodgers took an early 2-0 lead before Max Muncy, on his own bobblehead recognition night, smashed a home run to make it 3-0.
Pitcher Walker Buehler almost went 7 innings with a shut out before a mistake by Gavin Lux let the Giants back in the game. A nervy last innings saw the Giants with runners on first and second but the experienced three time All-Star, Kenley Jansen saw the game out and the Dodgers recorded their fifth straight win and maintained second place in the National League, the defeated Giants occupy first.
A fantastic night out and I definitely recommend checking out the improved version of Dodgers Stadium and I will certainly be back more often.
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