Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers ballpark - Ballparks of Baseball (2024)

With a background that includes swaying palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains there is no other ballpark that you could be at other than Dodger Stadium. While it is the third oldest ballpark behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, one would never know as the stadium has been renovated several times throughout its history while maintaining its charm.

The Dodgers franchise was originally located in Brooklyn, NY where they played at the iconic Ebbets Field for 44 seasons. In 1950 Walter O’Malley purchased the team and began to seek a new ballpark for the Dodgers in Brooklyn. Politicians in the city prevented O’Malley from constructing a ballpark here leading him to evaluate other options. During the 1950s cities on the West Coast were experiencing population booms including in Los Angeles. Officials here and in San Francisco sought to attract a professional team to their respective cities. The New York Giants, who played at the Polo Grounds, were unsuccessful in constructing a new ballpark in New York and decided to move the West Coast along with the Dodgers following the 1957 season. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and the Giants to San Francisco.

The Dodgers initially played at the Los Angeles Coliseum, a 90,000 seat stadium built for the 1932 Olympics. In 1958 Los Angeles provided 352 acres of land in Chaves Ravine to the Dodgers in exchange for the team financing and constructing a new stadium. Construction began September 17, 1959 and was originally to open in 1961 but landslides and lawsuits delayed construction by a year. On April 10, 1962 the Los Angeles Dodgers played their first game at Dodger Stadium against the Cincinnati Reds when over 52,000 fans packed the five level structure. Not only was Dodger Stadium home to the Dodgers during their inaugural first year, but it was also the home of the Los Angeles Angels who played here for three seasons before moving to Anaheim in 1966.

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers ballpark - Ballparks of Baseball (1)

Located just a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium is located in the valley of Chavez Ravine. The stadium was constructed in the hillside with parking lots surrounding the facility allowing fans to enter the stadium on the same level as their seats. Upon entering Dodger Stadium fans encounter a stadium featuring five seating levels, all extending from the left field foul pole to homeplate and to the right field foul pole, except for the top deck. The top upper deck stretches from the first base side to the third base side. Bleachers are in right and left field and feature a wavy top roof, one of Dodger Stadium’s iconic features. Located behind the bleachers in left and right field are another one of the stadium’s iconic features, two jumbo hexagonal HD video-scoreboards.

Dodger Stadium changed little during its first three decades of existence, with the exception of its original wooden seats replaced with plastic ones in the 1970s. By the start of the 21st century that changed. Before the start of the 2000 season, new field level seats down the foul lines beyond the dugouts and a new expanded dugout section, known as the Dugout Club was added. After the 2004 season the dugouts were pushed forward allowing for several additional rows of Dugout Club seats to be added and additional seating down the foul lines. This project added roughly 1,500 seats to Dodger Stadium but kept the seating capacity at 56,000. The most recognizable change that most people noticed occurred prior to the 2006 season when all of the seats were replaced. The seating bowl returned to its original seating color scheme from 1962: yellow, light orange, turquoise, and sky blue. Additionally, box seating was added to the baseline area and the stadium bowl concrete was repaired, resurfaced and refinished. This $20 million renovation project also included the terrace picnic area that seats 500 people outside the Loge level seating entrance. In August 2007, the Dodgers announced the next phase of renovations to Dodger Stadium that widened the concourses and expanded the number of concession areas and restrooms. Before the 2008 season, renovations were completed on the field level that included two new Baseline Box Clubs.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
AT DODGER STADIUM
  • World Series: 1963, ’65, ’66, ’74, ’77, ’78, ’81, ’88, 2017, ’18
  • All Star Game: 1980, 2022
  • Sandy Koufax’s perfect game on September 9, 1965.
  • Dodgers attract 3 million fans in 1978, a first in MLB.
  • Cy Young Award winners Don Drysdale, Clayton Kershaw, Orel Hershiser, Sandy Koufax, Mike Marshall & Fernando Valenzuela.
  • Kirk Gibson’s ninth inning homerun in Game 1 of the ’88 World Series.

The next phase of renovations were completed prior to the start of the 2013 season as $100 million was spent by Dodger ownership upgrading Dodger Stadium. These improvements included new HD video/scoreboards in right and left field, a new sound system, wider concourses, new restrooms and an upgraded home clubhouse that includes new batting cages and weight rooms. Before the 2014 season, the team added bullpen overlooks that provide seating and lounging areas with a view of the action in the bullpen. The white tents that were once behind the bleachers in the outfield were replaced with a new Dodgers team store.

In July 2019 the Dodgers announced plans for a $100 million dollar renovation to Dodger Stadium that was completed prior to the start of the 2020 season. Behind the outfield bleachers a two-acre center field plaza was added that includes a beer garden, sports bars, children’s play area and a section for live entertainment. The plaza entrance features a Jackie Robinson statue and the “Legends of Dodgers Baseball” plaques. Additionally, new restrooms and seating was added to the bleacher pavilions in left and right field. Escalators and elevators on both sides of the plaza connect fans to the rest of Dodger Stadium, marking the first-time fans will be able to walk around the entire stadium. The seating capacity remains 56,000.

Since opening in 1962, Dodger Stadium has remained one of the cleanest and beautiful ballparks in the country. Not only is it given a fresh coat of paint each year, but the team employees a full time arborist to care for the landscaping surrounding the stadium. One might be surprised that the views behind the outfield could have been eliminated as Dodger Stadium was designed to be expanded to seat 85,000 fans. Original plans of the stadium also included a picturesque fountain in center field in which varied-colored spotlights would have played on the cascading waters if a Dodger player had hit a homerun.

Dodger Stadium has been the home to five Los Angeles Dodgers Championship teams and 19 National League West Division title teams. Hall of Fame manager, Tommy Lasorda, along with Sandy Koufax, Don Sutton, Orel Hershiser and Mike Piazza are just a few of the greats that have called Dodger Stadium their home. The atmosphere found at Dodger Stadium is hard to find anywhere else in baseball and although it is more than 50 years old, Dodger Stadium still ranks as one of MLB’s top ballparks.

Dodger Stadium Pictures

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers ballpark - Ballparks of Baseball (2024)

FAQs

How many people have hit a homerun out of Dodger Stadium? ›

There have been six recorded home runs to leave the ballpark. Fernando Tatis Jr. was the last to do it in 2021, hitting a 467-foot homer to left field. Giancarlo Stanton, Mark McGuire, Mike Piazza and Willie Stargell (twice) were the other four players to hit a home run that left Dodger Stadium.

How much is a Dodgers dog at Dodgers stadium? ›

Hot dog prices across Major League Baseball
TeamPrice
Los Angeles Dodgers$7.99
San Diego Padres$7.99
Los Angeles Angels$8.00
Oakland Athletics$8.39
26 more rows
May 5, 2024

Does everyone get a bobblehead at Dodgers stadium? ›

According to the Dodgers, promotional items like the bobblehead are limited to around 40,000 units. With more than 40,000 fans expected at Wednesday night's game, some fans will likely go home empty-handed.

How much is a beer at Dodgers stadium? ›

Josh Thomas on X: "Dodger Stadium has the highest beer prices in MLB, 99 cents/ounce, which is 43.5% higher than second place 😳" / X.

Has a home run ever been hit out of the stadium? ›

The Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (on May 12, 2015), St. Louis Cardinals' Mark McGwire (May 22, 1999), Dodgers' Mike Piazza (Sept. 21, 1997), and Pittsburgh Pirates' Willie Stargell (twice, Aug. 5, 1969 and May 8, 1973) also hit balls out of Dodger Stadium.

Is it possible to hit a baseball out of the park? ›

These changes resulted in the baseball being easier to see and hit, and easier to hit out of the park. Meanwhile, as the game's popularity boomed, more outfield seating was built, shrinking the size of the outfield and increasing the chances of a long fly ball resulting in a home run.

What age is free at Dodger Stadium? ›

Child Tickets

Children 3 and under can enter the stadium free, provided they sit on a parent's or guardian's lap.

Can you wear a fanny pack to Dodgers Stadium? ›

Prohibited bags include but are not limited to: purses larger than a clutch bag, briefcases, backpacks, cinch bags, and fanny packs that are not clear and/or exceed the size restriction; luggage of any kind; computer bags/cases; camera bags/cases; binocular bags/cases or any bag larger than the permissible size.

What is the 76 at Dodger Stadium? ›

The 76 ball is also a landmark at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where the only gas station on the premises of a major league ballpark is visible from the park beyond the outfield stands. The gas station is no longer active and has been converted into an event space.

How much is a soda at Dodgers stadium? ›

Price for a soft drink in Major League Baseball in 2023, by team (in U.S. dollars)
CharacteristicSoft drink price in U.S. dollars
Cincinnati Reds7.49
New York Mets6.75
San Diego Padres6.5
Los Angeles Dodgers6.5
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Sep 21, 2023

Can you use cash at Dodgers stadium? ›

Please note that Dodger Stadium is a cashless venue and does not accept cash payments. You may use any gate at Dodger Stadium to enter their parking lot. As you enter the parking gates, you may use the ring road to access any of the preferred parking lots with the appropriate pass.

Has anyone hit it out of the park? ›

Many players have done that but mainly in a few parks where it's easily done. Balls that clear the Green Monster in Boston go out of the park. So Jim Rice did that repeatedly. Barry Bonds hit “splashdowns” into McCovey Cove some two dozen times.

How many players have hit inside the park homerun? ›

Only 18 players in major league history have performed this feat, with Gagne being just the second since 1930. Both home runs were hit off Chicago starting pitcher Floyd Bannister, who also tied a modern-era major league record by allowing two inside-the-park home runs in one game.

Who has hit the most home runs as a Dodger? ›

The Los Angeles Dodgers player with the most career home runs is Duke Snider with 389. This is followed by Gil Hodges with 361 home runs.

What baseball team has the most home runs in a game? ›

The Toronto Blue Jays have crushed the most home runs by a team in a game, with 10 home runs against the Orioles on September 14, 1987.

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