33. Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium holds more people than any other MLB stadium (3000 more than Rogers Centre), and indeed more than any other baseball stadium in the world. It's also the third oldest MLB stadium, behind only the old warhorses Wrigley and Fenway. Despite my long held antipathy for the Dodgers, I have to say that I enjoyed Dodger Stadium.
Dodger Stadium is interesting in that it has been dug into the earth with terraced levels surrounding it. This helps defend it against earthquakes and means that for most seats you can walk into the park at the level. It is so effective that I actually got confused about where I was and sat in the upper deck for an inning before I realized that my ticket was actually for the main level along the third base line. It also means that even though the stadium is very close to downtown Los Angeles and the intersection of several freeways, it feels comparatively quiet and secluded. Even though it is not technically a suburban lot, Dodger Stadium is surrounded by a massive expanse of parking lots in all directions around the park, rivaling or even exceeding those surrounding Kauffman Stadium.
The park itself has some fun touches, like giant baseballs "signed" by every Dodger to win a Cy Young, a statue of Jackie Robinson, some life-sized bobbleheads that were painted with famous uniform designs from Dodger history, and in the main plaza, giant replicas of the World Series rings that have been awarded by the Dodgers over the years. There are murals throughout the stadium commemorating various anniversaries or historical events, like the 1984 Olympics and the 1980 All-Star Game. Retired numbers are near the left field foul pole. In short, this is a park that remembers its history.
I had time before the game to walk around a significant portion of the park. The concourse is cramped and crowded compared to more modern stadiums, but there are plenty of food options and places where you can look out over Los Angeles. Alas, I must report that the legendary Dodger Dog, which is probably the single most famous concessions item in MLB, was nothing particularly special.
It was a fun game. The Braves broke the Dodgers' 11 game winning streak in a game that ended with the tying run at the plate. Dodgers fans legendarily leave the game early to avoid traffic, but whether it was the close game or the customary great weather (1300+ games without a rainout is the most recent record streak), most fans stuck around to the end. I took my time getting to my car because I knew it was going to be bad, but I still sat for more than half an hour before I made it out of the parking lot and headed north to Oxnard, fighting traffic all the way.
Park Rankings
RankParkTeamFirst Visit# Visits (at time of article)
1 Marlins ParkMiami MarlinsMay 23, 20141
2 Wrigley FieldChicago CubsApril 23, 20042
3 PNC ParkPittsburgh PiratesSeptember 25, 20042
4 Jacobs FieldCleveland IndiansApril 17, 199963
5 Miller ParkMilwaukee BrewersApril 24, 20041
6 Camden YardsBaltimore OriolesJune 22, 20121
7 Kauffman StadiumKansas City RoyalsJune 9, 20131
8 Petco ParkSan Diego PadresApril 27, 20151
9 Fenway ParkBoston Red SoxJuly 1, 20161
10Dodger StadiumLos Angeles DodgersJuly 20, 20171
11 Yankee Stadium (original)New York YankeesJuly 28, 20061
12 Minute Maid ParkHouston AstrosMay 21, 20161
13 Chase FieldArizona DiamondbacksApril 25, 20151
14 Safeco FieldSeattle MarinersAugust 25, 20141
15 Coors FieldColorado RockiesApril 20, 20151
16 Comerica ParkDetroit TigersJuly 31, 20041
17 Target FieldMinnesota TwinsJuly 25, 20141
18 Turner FieldAtlanta BravesMay 5, 20071
19 Angel Stadium of AnaheimLos Angeles AngelsJuly 18, 20171
20 SunTrust ParkAtlanta BravesMay 6, 20171
21 Busch Stadium IIISt. Louis CardinalsAugust 8, 20131
22 Nationals ParkWashington NationalsJune 21, 20121
23 Citizens Bank ParkPhiladelphia PhilliesJune 23, 20121
24 Citi FieldNew York MetsJune 24, 20121
25 Globe Life ParkTexas RangersMay 27, 20161
26 Rogers CentreToronto Blue JaysMay 21, 20051
27 Cinergy FieldCincinnati RedsAugust 8, 19984
28 Yankee Stadium (sequel)New York YankeesJune 25, 20121
29 The MetrodomeMinnesota TwinsJune 22, 19923
30 Shea StadiumNew York MetsJuly 24, 20061
31 Great American Ball ParkCincinnati RedsMay 9, 20041
32 U.S. Cellular FieldChicago White SoxApril 25, 20041
33 Tropicana FieldTampa Bay RaysMay 21, 20141
Background: Prologue Memory Interlude
Original Series End
Dodger Stadium is interesting in that it has been dug into the earth with terraced levels surrounding it. This helps defend it against earthquakes and means that for most seats you can walk into the park at the level. It is so effective that I actually got confused about where I was and sat in the upper deck for an inning before I realized that my ticket was actually for the main level along the third base line. It also means that even though the stadium is very close to downtown Los Angeles and the intersection of several freeways, it feels comparatively quiet and secluded. Even though it is not technically a suburban lot, Dodger Stadium is surrounded by a massive expanse of parking lots in all directions around the park, rivaling or even exceeding those surrounding Kauffman Stadium.
The park itself has some fun touches, like giant baseballs "signed" by every Dodger to win a Cy Young, a statue of Jackie Robinson, some life-sized bobbleheads that were painted with famous uniform designs from Dodger history, and in the main plaza, giant replicas of the World Series rings that have been awarded by the Dodgers over the years. There are murals throughout the stadium commemorating various anniversaries or historical events, like the 1984 Olympics and the 1980 All-Star Game. Retired numbers are near the left field foul pole. In short, this is a park that remembers its history.
I had time before the game to walk around a significant portion of the park. The concourse is cramped and crowded compared to more modern stadiums, but there are plenty of food options and places where you can look out over Los Angeles. Alas, I must report that the legendary Dodger Dog, which is probably the single most famous concessions item in MLB, was nothing particularly special.
It was a fun game. The Braves broke the Dodgers' 11 game winning streak in a game that ended with the tying run at the plate. Dodgers fans legendarily leave the game early to avoid traffic, but whether it was the close game or the customary great weather (1300+ games without a rainout is the most recent record streak), most fans stuck around to the end. I took my time getting to my car because I knew it was going to be bad, but I still sat for more than half an hour before I made it out of the parking lot and headed north to Oxnard, fighting traffic all the way.
Park Rankings
RankParkTeamFirst Visit# Visits (at time of article)
1 Marlins ParkMiami MarlinsMay 23, 20141
2 Wrigley FieldChicago CubsApril 23, 20042
3 PNC ParkPittsburgh PiratesSeptember 25, 20042
4 Jacobs FieldCleveland IndiansApril 17, 199963
5 Miller ParkMilwaukee BrewersApril 24, 20041
6 Camden YardsBaltimore OriolesJune 22, 20121
7 Kauffman StadiumKansas City RoyalsJune 9, 20131
8 Petco ParkSan Diego PadresApril 27, 20151
9 Fenway ParkBoston Red SoxJuly 1, 20161
10Dodger StadiumLos Angeles DodgersJuly 20, 20171
11 Yankee Stadium (original)New York YankeesJuly 28, 20061
12 Minute Maid ParkHouston AstrosMay 21, 20161
13 Chase FieldArizona DiamondbacksApril 25, 20151
14 Safeco FieldSeattle MarinersAugust 25, 20141
15 Coors FieldColorado RockiesApril 20, 20151
16 Comerica ParkDetroit TigersJuly 31, 20041
17 Target FieldMinnesota TwinsJuly 25, 20141
18 Turner FieldAtlanta BravesMay 5, 20071
19 Angel Stadium of AnaheimLos Angeles AngelsJuly 18, 20171
20 SunTrust ParkAtlanta BravesMay 6, 20171
21 Busch Stadium IIISt. Louis CardinalsAugust 8, 20131
22 Nationals ParkWashington NationalsJune 21, 20121
23 Citizens Bank ParkPhiladelphia PhilliesJune 23, 20121
24 Citi FieldNew York MetsJune 24, 20121
25 Globe Life ParkTexas RangersMay 27, 20161
26 Rogers CentreToronto Blue JaysMay 21, 20051
27 Cinergy FieldCincinnati RedsAugust 8, 19984
28 Yankee Stadium (sequel)New York YankeesJune 25, 20121
29 The MetrodomeMinnesota TwinsJune 22, 19923
30 Shea StadiumNew York MetsJuly 24, 20061
31 Great American Ball ParkCincinnati RedsMay 9, 20041
32 U.S. Cellular FieldChicago White SoxApril 25, 20041
33 Tropicana FieldTampa Bay RaysMay 21, 20141
Background: Prologue Memory Interlude
Original Series End