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5 min read
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Jul 23, 2019
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A new centerfield plaza, renovations to the left and right field pavilions and a statue for Sandy Koufax are among the plans to enhance the Majors’ third-oldest ballpark with modern and fan-friendly amenities.
The Dodger Stadium projects are expected to be completed in time for the 2020 season, during which the Dodgers will host the All-Star Game.
“Dodger Stadium has always been and remains the most beautiful place ever built to play or watch the game of baseball, and these renovations will enhance every aspect of the fan experience with modern and family-friendly amenities,” said Dodger President & CEO Stan Kasten. “This latest project continues to demonstrate ownership’s commitment to give a first-class experience to the best fans in baseball.”
Kasten and Vin Scully announced the updates Tuesday as part of a ceremony unveiling the 2020 All-Star Game logo at Dodger Stadium surrounded by current and former Dodgers All-Stars and legends, as well as Commissioner Rob Manfred, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Gil Cedillo.
Janet Marie Smith, Dodgers senior vice president of planning & development, said Dodger Stadium was originally designed so fans would enter on the level of their seats. Now, the new centerfield plaza provides a clearer entranceway.
“The centerfield plaza is intended to literally connect the dots between the two field level plazas we did in 2014 and to give us an opportunity to create that front door that Dodger Stadium has never had,” Smith said.
The centerfield plaza will include almost two acres of unique food offerings, entertainment and kids areas, retail locations, sponsor activations, more social and standing room areas and greater access for those with special needs. Smith said among the food stands in the outfield plazas will be specialty food items, local fare and a beer garden.
A new kids play area will be constructed just beyond the wall in straight-away centerfield, and fans will be able to enjoy the game from on top of a newly-constructed batters eye wall. The centerfield plaza will pay homage to Dodger history with statues and a permanent home for the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” plaques.
The new plaza is just the beginning, as there will also be renovations to the left field and right field pavilions, including new restrooms, enclosed bars with views into the bullpen, standing room areas at the top of each pavilion, enhanced ADA seating and “home run seats” just beyond the outfield wall.
Elevators are already under construction in the right field and left field plazas to help fans move more easily to and from the new centerfield plaza and the rest of the stadium,. Bridges will also be constructed to connect the new pavilion standing room decks to the rest of the stadium, creating not only a 360-degree connection around the park’s perimeter but also a solution to the 110 feet of elevation.
The Dodgers’ focus is on modernizing Dodger Stadium while also keeping with the midcentury modern architecture that defines their 1962 home.
Under the ownership of Guggenheim Baseball Management since 2013, Dodger Stadium has undergone a series of improvements including the creation of two new entrance plazas on the field level, tiered seating and bar areas overlooking both bullpens, two new HD video screens, new team stores, wider concourses, renovated restrooms, enhanced concessions and kids play areas. There have also been structural and behind-the-scenes upgrades to Dodger Stadium’s infrastructure as well as the construction of new home and visiting clubhouses, batting cages and weight rooms.
Still, Smith said more work was to be done to provide modern touches while not losing the classic feel. According to Smith, the pavilions’ wooden benches, folded roof and capacity will stay the same.
“As excited as we are about the newness of these things, the memorable parts of Dodger Stadium don’t change,” Smith said.
The Dodgers also plan to honor Koufax with Dodger Stadium’s second statue, following the dedication of the Jackie Robinson statue in 2017. The Robinson statue will be re-located from the left field reserve level so both statues can reside in the centerfield plaza.
“In 1955, I joined the Brooklyn Dodgers,” Koufax said. “It was my honor to be with Jackie Robinson in life. Now in Los Angeles, it is again my honor to be with him in bronze and to thank the Los Angeles fans for treating me so well on this journey.”
A new sound system will replace the current speaker tower and provide an enhanced audio experience to fans on all levels of the ballpark with more directed sound inside the stadium. Smith said the Dodgers will redo the batter’s eye itself, installing a camera platform with a bar to stand in straightaway center.
All of the updates will ideally encourage fans to see all the ballpark has to offer every trip.
“It’s a significant amount of work to do in a single offseason,” Smith said. “So one of the challenges has been to have the drawings completely ready so that when the last out is, whenever that is, we’re ready to start immediately and be ready by April.”
