Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles Dodgers
Updated: Sep 29
Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Dodger Stadium 1000 Vin Scully Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012
Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 56,000
Sho-Time At The Ravine
Upon their arrival in 1958 from Brooklyn, the Dodgers would play their home games at the L.A. Coliseum until 1961. Native Angelinos were quick to embrace the Brooklyn transplants, as over 78,000 attended the Dodgers first-ever home game at the Coliseum.
But not all of Los Angeles would embrace the former Flatbush Bums arrival, particularly when it came to the controversy leading to the construction of Dodger Stadium. When the dust finally settled, Dodger Stadium would officially open on April 10, 1962. The Dodgers would draw over 2.75 million fans in their gleaming new home. Year in and year out, Dodger Stadium features the highest attendance figures in all of baseball, with daily crowds of over 40,000 being the norm.
Over the years Dodger Stadium has had many memorable moments such as Shohei Ohtani’s historic 40-40 feat via the walk-off grand slam, Kirk Gibson’s epic Game 1 walk off homer against Dennis Eckersley in 1988, their sweep of the Yankees in the 1963 World Series, Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series and most recently his 18th inning walk-off in game 3 of the 2025 World Series.
Before the 2026 season, the Dodgers teamed up with the UNIQLO brand, and on the eve of Opening Day, UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium was officially christened. The deal marks UNIQLO's first major sports partnership in the United States. The company came into the agreement with an awareness of what the Dodger Stadium name means to people in L.A. and did not want to take that away altogether.
Dodger Stadium is the third oldest yard behind only Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Despite being the third oldest big league park, Dodger Stadium, affectionately referred to by blue-clad locals as Blue Heaven On Earth, is hardly referred to as a classic. Dodger Stadium maintains a truly unique identity as marked by its signature pastel-colored seating palette.
Food & Beverage 4
Though Farmer John is no longer the hot dog provider after being synonymous with Dodger Baseball for so many years, the famous Dodger Dog remains on the menu now provided by Papa Cantella. Kosher hot dogs and sausages are also available through their stand located in the right field section of the outfield plaza.
Some of the most noticeable dining options include specialty burgers from The Habit, as well as a fried chicken bucket with biscuits and mashed potatoes enough to feed two. Some of my favorite dining choices are on the left field side of the outfield plaza. The Smoked Brisket Sandwich and Burnt End Nachos are available at the Think Blue Barbecue stand. The brisket in each item is smoked overnight, with the sandwich topped off with coleslaw, providing fans with one of the tastiest items in the yard.
Another favorite of mine that was added this season is the PB&J Smashburger Lunch Box combo.
If you happen to bring a big appetite with you, Think Blue Barbecue also has an MVP Platter with burnt ends, pulled pork, hot links, coleslaw, potato salad, and jalapeno cornbread. Not only is this one of the tastier items throughout the park, but it's also big enough to feed two to three heavy hitters.
Next to the Think Blue Barbecue stand is the Dueling Dogs featuring a bacon-wrapped dog and a visiting team-themed dog. Dining areas were recently added to the outfield plaza. Fans dining in the plaza can watch the game on the new outfield plaza screens with scoreboards providing live stats.
One of the more noticeable additions to the Dodger Stadium food lineup is The Slugger. The much talked about addition to the Dodger Stadium food lineup is a 16-inch jalapeno cheddar dog topped with corn relish, white cheddar sauce, cilantro crema, and tortilla chips with French fries.
As an organization in a city with a diverse cultural fanbase, rotating food selections can vary throughout certain games especially on “theme nights” such as Salvadoran, Mexican, Japanese or Filipino heritage nights.
Atmosphere 5
It all starts as you enter through the grand entrance to the newly enhanced outfield plaza. As you enter the plaza, you are greeted by two legendary statues, Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. Once past the statues fans will notice two lines that lead to replicas of the 2024 and 2025 World Champions ring and trophies, two of the more popular photo spots for the 2026 season.
Pregame entertainment in the outfield plaza varies each game with in-game DJ’s blasting beats to performances from various cultural performers. The festivities continue inside the stadium as the pregame hype team keeps the vibes flowing. For a team as storied as the Dodgers, it may seem a bit too much particularly for an older fanbase that may prefer a more traditional muted and subdued setting.
As fans roam the outfield plaza one thing they will notice are historical displays paying tribute to significant figures in Dodger history dating back to their beginnings in Brooklyn.
When not fully paying attention to the action on the field, some of the best views of the city, be it the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the outfield or the downtown skyline, can be seen from the top deck and reserve levels.
Neighborhood 3
Several nice walking trails along with pregame picnic areas on the grounds of Elysian Park are outside Dodger Stadium and provide some of the natural scenery beyond Dodger Stadium.
Aside from Elysian Park’s picnic areas and the scenery it provides the yard, the surrounding area does not offer a ballpark village with pre- or post-game entertainment or dining options that fans have become accustomed to in some of the post Camden Yards era venues. However, The Shortstop, a local dive bar not far from the stadium, is a favorite among Dodger fans. Chinatown and Downtown L.A. are also a short drive from the yard and offer several pre- and post-game dining options.
Fans 5
Yearly crowds of over 3 million plus are the norm at Dodger Stadium. With the team coming off the excitement of back-to-back championships and in spite of rising ticket costs, for the second year in a row the Dodgers have crossed the 4 million mark in attendance. The home nine’s current run of 14 consecutive post-season appearances has done nothing to dull the enthusiasm of the Dodger Blue Faithful.
Dodger Blue runs deep throughout many Angeleno’s hearts and throughout Southern California as they are a loud and passionate bunch.
The Dodgers, like their purple and gold counterparts at the Crypto.com Arena, can attract many a Hollywood crowd. Dodger blue and white are the colors you see decked among the fans who proudly show their passion. Though some are there to stargaze or “to be seen,” noted by a particular outfielder from an organization that wins an occasional world championship every hundred plus years.
As with any L.A. sporting event, Dodger fans are very passionate about their Boys In Blue, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by certain rival players.
Access 3
The recent enhancements to Dodger Stadium have significantly improved access throughout Dodger Stadium. Unlike years past, fans can enter through any entrance and are also free to roam throughout each level of the stadium.
Additional elevators have been installed on the left and right field corners of each concourse , as well as additional escalators and stairs in the expanded exterior concourse. A pedestrian walkway atop the pavilions, enhanced ADA viewing areas, and a social area overlooking the outfield plaza improve the updates. The renovations also included more restrooms to each of the two pavilions.
Because Dodger Stadium attracts nightly crowds of over 45 and 50 thousand plus fans, expect plenty of congestion throughout the concourses in each level.
If you choose to drive to the game, five entrances lead to the vast parking lot, which can accommodate up to 16,000 vehicles. Unless you plan on entering through the outfield plaza, it’s still a good idea to research your seat location so you have a good idea where you should park. You will also want to purchase parking ahead of time on your mobile app to help reduce entry time; $40 if purchased in advance, $45 at the gate.
Various roads lead to Dodger Stadium which can be accessed by the 5, 110, or 101. 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. There’s a reason why Dodgers fans have a reputation, albeit an unfair one, as late arrivals.
Because the games are regularly packed with over 50,000 plus fans, accessibility can be slow. Some nights, exiting the stadium lot can take up to 2 hours.
Another transportation option is the Dodger Stadium shuttle, which runs from outside the west main entrance at Downtown Union Station beginning 2.5 hours before game time. Union Station can also easily be reached by light rail via the MTA through the Red, Purple, and Gold lines
Return on Investment 3
Coming off another memorable championship season, along with arguably the game’s most popular player, comes the price of success. When attending a game at The Ravine, expect a significant dent in your wallet just from the ticket prices alone.
Single game ticket prices start at $38. If you should be fortunate, for games against rival teams such as the Giants, Padres, and Angels, prices start at $53.
On nights when certain promotional giveaway items are distributed, expect the lowest price to start in the triple digits. On certain nights when popular themed items such as Hello Kitty or One Piece themed items are the promotional giveaway, prices can start north of $200 and possibly close to $300. Those Shohei Bobbleheads and replica World Series players' rings are just some of the most sought-after items fans clamor for.
There’s no way around it. Attending a Dodgers game is not economical. Then again, you can say the same thing about most vacations. But as the Dodgers continue their drive toward a third straight world championship, the ROI of attending a game at one of MLB’s most historic ballparks just may be worth the significant price hike. If you’re fortunate, you may even walk away with one of those prized giveaways.
Extras 5
In past years Dodger Stadium did not offer much regarding displaying their storied history. That recently changed with the outfield plaza enhancements most notably in both pavilion areas. Fans can view memorabilia and displays paying tribute to Dodgers legends and sit in old stadium seats. Gold Glove Awards can also be viewed below the left field pavilion.
Fans entering through the Top Deck entrance will walk through the Retired Numbers Plaza featuring statues of the iconic red numbers from the Dodgers uniforms of each Dodger who had the honor of having their number retired, including recently retired number 34 belonging to the late former legendary pitcher and longtime fan favorite Fernando Valenzuela.
The most recent addition to the outfield plaza is a mural honoring former Dodgers Glenn Burke and Billy Bean. The mural was unveiled prior to a June Pride Night ceremony in remembrance of the two baseball trail blazers for the LGBTQ community.
Final Thoughts
With the 2026 post-season just around the corner, the expectations for the Dodgers to repeat as World Champions for a third consecutive season are sky high.
Now in its 64th year of service, from Gibby to Freddie, what exciting and historical moment will happen next at Chavez Ravine?
