Sep 05 2017 01:02 PM
Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 05 2017 03:44 PM
Dodger Stadium was build in 1962 in very sketchy fashion on Chávez Ravine, a hill in downtown Los Angeles that was formerly populated by generations of Angelinos of Mexican heritage. These people had their homes taken away from them by the city, who cited eminent domain and a desire to build low-cost housing on the site. The city never built that housing, and instead eventually flipped the land to Walter O'Malley, who built this beautiful ballpark on a hill. (Great companion story and album --> http://www.nonesuch.com/journal/ry-cood ... 2012-04-12)
And it is a beautiful park. Dodger Stadium is somehow the third oldest stadium in baseball (behind Fenway and Wrigley). I've been to a game at Fenway (and a concert at Wrigley) and they feel like living museums to me. Dodger Stadium was built about 50 years later than those two, but doesn't feel like an artifact in any way. The concourses are much narrower than new parks and the bathrooms a little mustier (there might even be some troughs still in the mens rooms), but seeing the palm trees dot the hillside beyond the outfield walls immediately remind you that you're sitting in an iconic baseball venue, and it will also remind you of Kirk Gibson (and the cars snaking out of the parking lot that night, trying to beat traffic in Game 1 of the World Fucking Series).
Sadly Vin is now retired. And so is Nancy Bea Hefly, the wonderful organist (whom I had great pleasure of meeting years ago), who filled the stadium with beautiful baseball music for nearly 30 years. Even without those two, Dodger Stadium on nearly any Los Angeles night (the weather never sucks) is one of my favorite places to see a game.
The Bad:
Traffic completely sucks, don't be in a rush. Angelinos are laid-back people, so showing up a little late and leaving a little early isn't culturally a sin, like it might be on the east coast. But even with the best intentions, traffic will make you late. I used to have to leave my apartment in Long Beach (~30 miles away) by 5pm to ensure I was on time for the first pitch of a 7:05 PM start. That was rare. And traffic's even worse during a playoff game.
But if you're just visiting, you want the experience and don't truly care about the outcome, show up late! Leave early! You were probably at the beach all day and couldn't make it on time anyway!
If you want to park in the stadium, everyone winds excruciatingly slowly up the same hill through different entrances, loops around the park to their spot, then does the same painful dance on the way out. HOT TIP: Park outside the stadium (most of the time for free) and walk up the hill. I've parked on Sunset Blvd many times. The short walk is faster than the snarling traffic and you burn a few calories for that Dodger Dog and beer (more later).
Also bad - sitting in the outfield bleachers. My ex-girlfriend would sit there regularly, but that place sucks. The views are fine and all, but the clientele is decidedly more Raider-fan. And those guys are dicks, lets face it. I did sit in the upper tank for Opening Day, 1990. Just fine, but get down a little lower. Also, there's a mez level where IIRC, if you sit a little too far back, you can't see the full flight of the ball on a pop fly due to the overhang. Not the worst thing in the world, but again, get down a litter closer if you can. The game's always better when you're right on top of it.
The Good:
Classic park, beautiful views! Get a Dodger Dog (the all beef one). You'll probably be like, "What the hell, it's just a goddamn hotdog" but a Dodger Dog and a tall, cold Dos Equis or Tecate in the stands on a summer night is just right, people. There are way more food and beer options now than there used to be, but old reliable is just that.