I visited Dodger Stadium on April 16th & 17th, 2022 – Opening Weekend – Dodgers versus Reds. I created this video to show the stadium, it is just me walking around the entire stadium amongst the crowd, it is for people who are baseball fans that haven’t been to a Dodger game, it will give a feel of what it is like to be at a game.
I will be doing these videos through out the year, mostly I want to learn how to edit video and learn the tricks to produce a decent film, this is quite lengthy, I recommend to just start watching, it was never intended to be watched from start to finish, skip through it, or just play it in the background. Dodger Stadium is very unique and has some very cool sight lines, it is the 3rd oldest park in Major League Baseball.
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Yesterday, I went to opening day at Dodger Stadium! I was very excited to be there since I have been a big fan since the mid 70’s. I got a free ticket from Bob Brennan who hooked me up (Day 34 “March Madness”)! It was all that I expected. The fans were loud and into it even though the San Francisco Giants scored 6 times in the top of the first – the day was beautiful. I love the look of Dodger Stadium, the design is very classic and no other ball park that I have seen is quite like it. I have to say that the traffic was horrific! Getting into and out of the parking lot was a nightmare! I did meet some great guys after the game that I talked to for a half hour to kill some time, they told me about how things worked and where to go in LA.
It was exciting to be a part of my third Opening Day this year (Padres, Angels, Dodgers)! The Dodgers honored Vin Scully who has been their broadcaster for 65 years! My seats were on the second level down the third base line. I got to talk to Deborah, who was there with her daughter Isabella. Isabella, who I think was three, slept for about five innings. Her mom was a hardcore baseball fan. Her knowledge of the players and their tendencies kept surprising me. She was from Boston, but currently lives near Miami and was in town with her husband. No, he was not at the game because of business. I initially thought she was a players wife, she knew some people on the team and knew a lot about them. Deborah has been to a lot of games at different places. Of course she was a Red Sox fan and the Dodgers were her “National League” team. She put me to shame with her information! I enjoyed talking to her throughout the game as I soaked in the atmosphere, it felt great being at the game. I kept looking around and saying to myself that I was at Dodger Stadium. I thought about my friend Brian Roberts (Day 26 “Sleeping Arrangements”), he would have loved this, I made sure to text him.
Traffic and the Blimp!
I have been to Los Angeles four times now, but this was the first time I spent a lot of time battling the traffic. Not fun on the “405” or the “5” with cars and people everywhere. I haven’t been feeling very good since I got to California. I think I have an Upper Respiratory infection, I am blaming it on the traffic and the smog! I am sitting in Las Vegas right now writing this post (figured it would help my cold). I headed this way this morning to catch a minor league game between the Las Vegas 51s and the Fresno Grizzlies at Cashman Field which I will do a fan review of on Stadium Journey! Check out my review of Dodger Stadium. Well, that is all for today, with this cold or infection I have been really tired! I will try and find a profile tonight, but to be honest it has been hard to concentrate at the games for long periods of times with this cold.
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I went to the Dodgers vs Padres game at Petco Park last night and had an awesome time! The place was packed and the Dodgers and Padres fans were into it! There was a big party around the stadium for about four hours prior to the game with lots of food and drinks! I was very impressed with Petco. The stadium opened 10 years ago in the downtown area of San Diego and lots of condos have sprung up since then. Inside the ball park there is so many unique site lines and interesting features. There is a historic building incorporated into the park, Western Metal Supply Company. The building looks great the way it is utilized, check out the following link to see more of it: http://www.heritagearchitecture.com/pro_wmb.html. I walked the entire place and was constantly surprised at what I found. In the outfield there is a park for families to come letting the kids run around and fans can watch the game on a big screen TV that is situated on the back of the centerfield wall.
The bullpen is also very cool. I felt “kinda” sorry for the pitchers, but the fan appeal is great. It is in left field with a stacked set-up. The Padres bullpen is in front of the visitors with seating at the same level as the visitor bullpen. Fans could get very close and were able to watch players from each team stand and talk to each other. I stood and watched the bullpens for an inning as I watched the game on a TV. I was standing on stairway, everyone was coming over and shouting to Dodgers reliever Brian (Fear The Beard) Wilson. He look smaller in person, by the way…
Western Metal Supply
I went up to the second deck. Looking at the right field seats, it reminded me of the set-up at Wrigley Field. I had a great view of the entire ball park. I looked over near the Western Metal Supply building and to the right was a large scoreboard which was straight down from the bullpen. The design of the park with the building, worked very well with the skyline of downtown. I went to the third deck and watched the game from behind the first base dugout. I was up very high and, again, the view was fantastic. I looked out to the centerfield wall which had retired numbers on it along with some huge torches that would go off between innings. That was very different, but cool! I enjoyed the fans. I talked to a lot of them and they were having a great time on a perfect night for baseball – okay, it was a little cooler than I would have liked but it worked well with the atmosphere. Dodgers’ fans were telling me about Dodgers Stadium and how nice it is with a lot of history, compared to Petco. Even though, they all liked this park. My frustration was the price of everything. I paid $30 for parking in addition to $24.50 for a ticket to the park in the outfield. The food choices were excellent and I loved the fact that all kinds of places existed in this place; but – I paid $9.50 for a bratwurst… I know the vendors have to make money, but I can’t see how a family of four can afford a place like this. However, I say to all the baseball and stadium enthusiasts out there, “you have to experience the place!” It is my top “new” ball park. I have only been to four – Petco Park, Miller Park, US Cellular Field, and Chase Field – so don’t get too excited. I was at Turner Field, but it was over 10 years ago. My top MLB park overall is Wrigley. I haven’t been to Fenway yet, so that may change! Again, I just want to say well done San Diego, well done! Check out this website for a more in depth review of Petco Park: www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/petco-park-s24!
Park in Outfield at Petco
I have to say I was disappointed in the outcome of the game because the Padres didn’t “Fear the Beard”. They lit Brian Wilson up for three runs in the bottom of the eighth and they won 3-1. I can say, “I am happy that I got to be apart of their Opening Night of the MLB season.” Next up, Angels Stadium in Anaheim to watch the Los Angeles Angels take on the Seattle Mariners (I really think the Angels have identity issues) for Opening Day, even though it will be a night game…
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Baseball Is Happiness!
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