Dodger Stadium: History, Design, Timeline, Secrets, Guides & More (2024)

Home to one of the greatest and most influential sports franchises in history, Dodger Stadium is a Southern California icon with its beautiful design, rich tradition, and deep history. Angelenos may know the long and at time tumultuous history of this venerable baseball destination, but few know every secret and little detail about the design and what went into making this modern marvel at the time.

In this guide, we’re hoping that you walk away learning something new about this beautiful Los Angeles venue.

Dodger Stadium History

You have to know where you’ve been to appreciate where you’re going. While the ballpark is a beauty now, how it came to be is one of LA’s darkest moments.

The History of Chavez Ravine

Before the Dodgers moved out west from Brooklyn, New York, the city of Los Angeles forcefully evicted 300+ Mexican-American families from the Chavez Ravine public housing projects in the early 1950’s. Homes, schools, and churches were bulldozed to the ground to make way for the brand new stadium, with promises of first picks of apartments in a proposed housing project, but in the end, there were no reimbursements for the properties which makes the controversy even more easier to understand.

More info can be found here.

The Driving Forces Behind Building Dodger Stadium

There were basically two people responsible for the Dodgers moving to the West Coast and making Los Angeles their home. A Los Angeles city councilwoman by the name of Rosalind Wyman and the owner of the Dodgers, Walter O’Malley.

Not much is ever said about Wyman, but she was a powerful force in the building of what you see in Los Angeles today. Word got out that O’Malley was looking for a new stadium deal for his Brooklyn Dodgers, but with the Yankees and Giants sharing the market, Wyman saw an opportunity and led a group of Los Angeles city officials to go and woo O’Malley to Los Angeles. Obviously, the plan worked and Wyman would go on and also bring the Lakers to Los Angeles as she goes on to serve 16 years of public office, where she was in involved in multiple projects that helped the economic development and viability of Los Angeles as a major metropolitan city.

The Design and Building of Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium was one of the last privately financed baseball only stadiums built and is located near the intersections of the 5, 10, 101, 60 and 110 Freeways near the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. At the time, Dodger Stadium featured innovative designs such as dugout-level seats behind home plate, and a pillar-less design that would ensure every fan would get an obstructed view of the game below. Some design ideas that didn’t quite make it were a drive-in like spot behind home plate for the car crazed fans of Los Angeles and the flexibility to expand the stadium to 85,000 seats in another phase of the build.

The color scheme of the seats are always a big question amongst the uninitiated, but here’s a little guide to help:

  • Reserve Level represents the landscape all around the stadium with a sea foam green.
  • Loge Level represents the sandy beaches of Southern California with it’s light orange.
  • Field Level represents the bright sunny days in Los Angeles with its yellow seats.

Timeline of Dodger Stadium Upgrades and Changes

  • 1958: The City of Los Angeles approves the construction of Dodger Stadium
  • 1962: Dodger Stadium opens and becomes the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels, who would call it Chavez Ravine Stadium during their tenure up to 1965 when they moved to Anaheim.
  • 1975: New plastic seats replaced the old wooden ones.
  • 2005: The installation of LED Video displays were finally completed
  • 2005: Frank McCourt changes out the seats to return to the color scheme originally installed by Walter O’Malley
  • 2012: Jane Marie Smith is hired by the Guggenheim Baseball Management group to direct the new renovations to Dodger Stadium that include updates to the batting cages, sound system, concession stand, restrooms and so much more.
  • 2014: Additional entrances, children’s play areas, new team stores and bar areas are added
  • 2016: More standing room in the top deck is added along with more memorabilia from the Dodgers rich tradition are shown throughout the stadium.
  • 2017: A statue of Jackie Robinson is revealed behind left field along with more premium seating and renovated club and suite seating for large groups of Dodger fans.
  • 2018: An ode to the 1962 past as the Club Level seats are returned to the orange, yellow and seafood green of the past. And you guessed it, even more food stands and concession stands are built for fans to get their Dodger Dogs and Micheladas.
  • 2019: The Top of the Park store is remodeled.
  • 2020: A brand new Center Field plaza is built to be the new home of the Jackie Robinson Statue along with a new Sandy Koufax Statue.

Fun Facts about Dodger Stadium

  • The Dodgers have exceeded the official maximum capacity of 56,000 multiple times
  • Dodger Stadium has hosted 8 World Series
  • There is a secret Japanese Garden located on the property
  • Dodger Stadium that has it’s own Zip Code
  • The Pope held mass at Dodger Stadium
  • The most memorable home run in World Series history was hit at Dodger Stadium
  • There is a Time Capsule buried in the top deck of Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium Tricks, Tips and Guides

What do I need to know about Dodger Stadium Parking?

The designers of Dodger Stadium couldn’t have predicted how many cars would be driving the freeways near Chavez Ravine, so that’s the excuse we’re going to go with to give them a pass at this part of their design. Getting in and out of the stadium could sometimes be longer than the game itself, but not if you use our Dodger Stadium Parking Guide to find out where the cheap parking is, the best gates to go through and fastest exit routes to get you home fast.

Where are the Best Bars Around Dodger Stadium to Watch Games with Fans?

If you couldn’t get tickets for the game, then the next best thing is to find a great local Dodgers bar to watch games at. Great cocktails, great music and great vibes usually fill these bars, so make sure to check out our Dodgers bar guide here and with more than a dozen to pick from, you’ll be sure to find one that satisfies your thirst!

Dodger Stadium: History, Design, Timeline, Secrets, Guides & More (2024)

FAQs

How has the Dodgers stadium changed over time? ›

Renovations to Dodger Stadium began in the winter of 2012. Both video boards were replaced with High Definition screens, and new clubhouses and weight rooms were installed. The restrooms, concession stands, sound system and batting cages were also improved and renovated.

What stolen land was Dodger Stadium built on? ›

Known today as Chavez Ravine, the 315 acres of land between the San Gabriel Mountains and downtown Los Angeles were once home to three predominantly Mexican American neighborhoods: Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop.

What was Dodgers Stadium originally called? ›

Before Dodger Stadium was a legendary baseball venue, it was known as Chavez Ravine. The area was home to generations of families, most of them Mexican American.

What is unique about Dodger Stadium? ›

Constructed at a cost of $23 million, Walter O'Malley's dream stadium was the first privately-built Major League Baseball stadium since Yankee Stadium opened in 1923. An overhead view of the newly-painted Dodger Stadium parking lot, which accommodates 16,000 cars and buses.

What does the G stand for on a Dodgers uniform? ›

Guggenheim was front and center all offseason long for the Dodgers. After spending over $1 billion in free agency, the Guggenheim group made sure to have their logo on the backdrops for the Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto's introductory press conferences.

What's new at Dodgers Stadium in 2024? ›

From the indulgent Fried PBB&J to the savory Pulled Pork Mac n' Cheese, the exotic Original Takoyaki, delicious Tiger Milk Boba, Birria Burger, Loaded Carne Asada Potato, Chicken Katsu Sando, Miso Ginger Salad, Kurobuta Pork Sausage, Fried Pickles, Korean Fried Bucket, and the new Home Plate Sampler, featuring veggie ...

Which Dodger was signed illegally? ›

The Dodgers signed Beltre on July 7, 1994. They listed his birth date as April 7, 1978, which would have made him the requisite 16 years old when he signed. But Beltre was actually born a year later, meaning he was 15 when he signed. Altered documents were found in the Dodgers' files.

Does Dodger Stadium have a jail? ›

“It's just a holding area,” Smith insists politely. I let the matter drop, but figure if we have to call jails “holding areas,” we're going to ruin a lot of good country-and-Western songs. The Dodger jail is part of the stadium security office, which is between the two upper decks, behind home plate.

Who owns the land beneath Dodgers Stadium? ›

The land for Dodger Stadium was purchased from some local owners/inhabitants in the early 1950s by the City of Los Angeles, using eminent domain, with funds from the Federal Housing Act of 1949.

What mountains are behind Dodgers Stadium? ›

It is the third oldest continually used park in Major League Baseball and stands as one of the most unique and picturesque settings in sports, carved as it is into the hillside of Chavez Ravine overlooking downtown LA to the south and the San Gabriel mountains to the north.

Is Dodgers Stadium built on a ravine? ›

The referendum to stop the land transfer, in June 1958, failed by 25,000 out of 677,000 votes. The city ended up conveying the Chavez Ravine site to the Dodgers for small consideration. Dodger Stadium was then constructed with private funds and remains privately owned.

What city was before Dodger Stadium? ›

Long before the Dodgers Stadium was built, the village of Chavez Ravine existed. Learn what happens to a place across time through the history of this Mexican-American village.

What are some random facts about the Dodgers? ›

Historical records and firsts
  • First baseball team to win championships in different leagues in consecutive years (1889–1890)
  • First television broadcast (1939)
  • First use of batting helmets (1941)
  • First MLB team to employ and start an African-American player in the 20th century (Jackie Robinson, 1947)

What is the shady side of Dodger Stadium? ›

Dodger Stadium Orientation to the Sun

In the morning, the sun rises over right field, curves around home plate at lunchtime, and ultimately sets beyond the left field foul pole. This configuration makes the 3rd base line the “shade side” of the park and the 1st base line and outfield the sunny spots.

Has Dodgers Stadium been remodeled? ›

LOS ANGELES - At the outset of the 2024 season, the Dodgers have launched a number of new offerings and improvements at Dodger Stadium for fans to enjoy at this historic and diverse destination. On March 26, the Dodgers unveiled their Japanese stone lantern from 1965 at a more prominent location on Top Deck.

What was there before Dodgers Stadium? ›

Long before the Dodgers Stadium was built, the village of Chavez Ravine existed. Learn what happens to a place across time through the history of this Mexican-American village.

How old is the new Dodgers stadium? ›

Did the Dodgers stadium flood? ›

“Dodger Stadium is an island,” said another. But the team says the stadium, which is built into a hill, was never under water — and the apparent flood in the video is just an optical illusion. Here's a closer look at the facts.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 5261

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.