The
Dodgers
punch their
Dodgers
ticket to the
World Series!
Written by
Luis Arellano
October 20, 2018
Tucked in Chavez Ravine and framed on one end by the imposing San Gabriel Mountains and on the other by a jumble of Downtown LA high rise buildings, Dodger Stadium has been heralded for its striking beauty since the day it opened in 1962. It’s particularly magnificent when the sun goes down: The clouds turn bright pink and the sky is painted purple and gold. A cotton-candy sky with a canopy of blue—looks good enough to eat,” legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully once said. It’s a picturesque setting for a great ball game.
The stadium itself hosts a high-salaried ball club that has become quite competitive and ambitious in recent seasons. It's worth braving LA’s notoriously maddening traffic for a glimpse at Hollywood's team compete. The majority of people will tell you that there are few better places to watch a baseball game than Chavez Ravine.
I think I speak for all of us when I say that if there is one bad thing about living in L.A., it is undoubtedly the traffic. Especially rush hour traffic, and even more so on Dodgers game days. If you should choose to travel to the ball game by car, there are five entrances that lead to the expansive parking lot, which can accommodate up to approximately 16,000 vehicles. Because each entrance will show you the way to a specified location and you will also be exiting the same entrance you came through, you may want to do some research on your seat location so you can park as close to your seats as possible. If not, you may have a difficult time trying to locate your vehicle after the game. Parking, if paid in advance online, is $15. Otherwise, if paying at the gate, it will cost you $30.
There are various roads that lead to Dodger Stadium and can be accessed by the 5, 110 or 101 freeways. Because of its proximity to downtown Los Angeles and the fact that most of the natives rely on their vehicles to get around this sprawling city, you will want to allow yourself more than ample time to drive to the stadium if you want to be at your seat by the first pitch.
L.A. traffic is no joke, should be taken seriously, and can really test one’s nerves, especially if you’re not familiar and a stranger with the local scene.
Another transportation alternative is the Dodger Stadium shuttle, which runs from Union Station in downtown every 15 minutes beginning 90 minutes to 2 hours before game time. Union Station can also easily be reached by light rail via the MTA through the Red, Purple and Gold lines.
Attendance is always high at Dodger Stadium, but tickets are fairly simple to obtain. Remember though that Opening Day or postseason games are games that sell out exceedingly fast. For the rest of the regular-season games you can easily purchase tickets outside the LF pavilion, on the Dodgers website or any of the ticketing websites.
Seeing a game at Dodger Stadium will range in price. And, although prices may have gone up in the past several years, it’s still relatively inexpensive to see the boys in blue take on the visiting team. Prices vary depending on a variety of factors including the location of the seat, whether it’s an opening day game, or one of the more popular games. The least expensive option is just $12 for a top deck seat.
As far as seating, the most exclusive experience at Dodger Stadium, seats in the Dugout Club offer more than just an amazing view that will make you feel as if you’re right in the action. With seats that line the wall behind home plate and wrap around from dugout to dugout, you’ll also have access to a variety of complimentary buffets, Baseline Club seats, considered part of the premium seating, sit on the ground level next to the Dugout club on the right and left fields. Offering a variety of options including Field Box VIP, Field Box MVP, Infield Box, and more, Field Level seats, as the name suggests, offers an unobstructed view of the playing field from behind the Dugout Club and home plate to the edge of right field and the edge of left field. You may even catch a foul ball here! Often considered to be the best seats if you’re looking to catch a foul ball, the Loge Seats are the 2nd level in the seating ring and offer great views of the field. Pricing depends on the game and the seat, but is considerably less than a seat in the Field Level section. Just below the Top Deck are the Reserve Level seats. Affordable pricing and views of the park make these desirable for those not wanting to spend much. These seats extend to the very edges of the park on the right and left field, whereas the Top Deck seats are limited to behind home plate and to the 1st and 3rd baselines. The “Centerfield Experience” which consists of the Left-field and All You Can Eat Pavilion is unlike any other seat in the house. Although they might not be Dugout seats, these seats are coveted among die-hard Dodger fans. Make sure to bring your glove for an up-close glimpse of your favorite major leaguers and the opportunity to catch the occasional home run ball.
When it comes to the food selection at Dodger Stadium, many will say it begins and ends with a Dodger Dog. Unabashed fans will say that no other item on the menu can ever compare to the iconic Dodger Dog. It will always be the top dog (no pun intended) But, these days, Dodger Stadium has kicked it up a notch with a bevy of tasty terrific eats. With your purchase of an All You Can Eat Pavilion ticket you get to enjoy unlimited Dodger Dogs, Popcorn, Peanuts, Nachos, Soda, and water! Some items like alcohol, garlic fries, ice cream, and candy aren’t in play and are sold from vendors and carts at regular prices. Launched back in 2007, the All You Can Eat Pavillion opens 90 minutes before the first pitch and lasts until the start of the seventh inning.
With its picturesque setting nestled at Chavez Ravine, Dodger Stadium has withstood the test of time to remain one of the most breathtaking venues to watch an event. As with any great American city’s baseball team, Dodger fans make attending baseball at the stadium a unique experience.