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Dodger Stadium

After more than 40 years of existence, Dodger Stadium remains one of the best ballparks in the country. Originally located in Brooklyn, Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley began lobbying for a new stadium to be built for his club, even though Ebbets Field was still in excellent shape. After a deal could not be completed to build a stadium, the Dodgers along with the Giants moved to California after the 1957 season.

With the move to Los Angeles from Brooklyn, a new stadium for the Dodgers was built. In September 1957, Los Angeles agreed to exchange 300 acres of land in Chavez Ravine to the Dodgers in return for the Dodgers’ commitment to construct a 50,000 seat stadium. The construction began on September 17, 1959, while Dodger Stadium was being constructed the Dodgers played at the Los Angels Coliseum.

Dodger Stadium was suppose to been completed by 1961, but lawsuits and landslides pushed the opening ahead one year later. Opening day at Dodger Stadium was on April 10, 1962 when 52,564 fans packed the five level multicolored structures. The Angels also began playing at Dodger Stadium in 1962, playing there until 1965. Dodger Stadium was designed to be expandable to seat 85,000 people. Also in the original plans of the stadium was a charming fountain in center field in which vari-colored spotlights would have played on the cascading waters if a Dodger player had hit a homerun.

The top upper deck stretches from the first base side to the third base side. A wavy top roof hangs over the back of the bleachers that are located behind both left and right field. Two scoreboards are above the bleachers. For more than three decades there were few changed at Dodger Stadium. However in recent years that has changed. This project added roughly 1,500 seats to Dodger Stadium.

After the 2005 season, the Dodgers announced plans to replace all the seats at Dodger Stadium. The seating bowl returned to its original color that was at the stadium when it opened, yellow, light orange, turquoise and sky blue. In addition 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. Since it has opened, Dodger Stadium has remained one of the cleanest and nicest ballparks in the country.

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