OT: Heading to Chavez Ravine

Cooptown

Heading to the Dodgers game on Friday. I'm in LA for a conference that breaks at noon on Friday, and was thinking about heading down to the Stadium shortly after that. I know the stadium opens at 5pm, and I'd like to get down there early to take everything in. But if there's not a lot going on, I don't want to get down there too early. Are there a lot of tshirt shops, restaurants, bars, etc. to occupy my time? Thanks!

VitoCo1972

There's literally nothing at the stadium other than the stadium. It's basically in the middle of a giant parking lot on top of a hill overlooking downtown. If you go early, there are new bars they put inside the stadium in right and left field and some statues at the very top of the hill (behind the home plate end) outside the stadium. But once you in inside the parking lot (whether you drive or Uber) you're basically at the stadium's mercy until the game is over. There are big souvenir stores at the right and left field gates too but they're definitely 5-10 min browse worthy as opposed to somewhere like Fenway where the souvenir store across the street could take you an hour to get through.

Cooptown

That's good to know! Thanks. So the bars and minimal shops you talk about, would be part of the 2 hour prior to game when the gates open. I shouldnt plan to be much in the area before 5pm then? I plan on ubering.

Thanks again - much appreciated.

Griffins

Dodger Stadium has less pre game activity than any of the other 20 stadiums I've been to. First off Chavez Ravine is just ballpark, with no other businesses. 2nd, tailgaiting is prohibited and there are plenty of cops in the parking lot making sure you exit your car and head right to the gate.
As Vito said, there are a few areas around the stands that are open when the gates open (none outside the gates) but the food is generally dismal, unless you have stadium club access. I've had season tickets for 20 years (minus the McCourt boycott years) and the amenities are embarassing. But the park is a classic and the team on the field is the best in the majors.
DTLA has a ton of great places and it's less than a mile from the park, best bet is to hit some of those when your conference breaks up and then uber to the game an hour or so before first pitch.
Perch across from Pershing Square is a rooftop bar and is a good place for a drink, the Bonaventure Hotel has a rotating bar at the top that takes about 45 minutes to go 360 degrees. If The Edison is open that early it's a great place to stop in. Yelp will give you tons more ideas.
Have a great time! Friday's game should be packed.

travis t

Ah the Stadium Club. Days so good and yet so old. I miss the Caeser Salad. Or whatever that leafy green stuff was. And Lasorda working the room. At least he never picked from my plate.

Cooptown

Thanks for all of the feedback guys. Really appreciate it. Looking forward to my first game there tomorrow night. I'm glad I knew about the lack of pre-game festivities prior, or I would have been disappointed.

Griffins

How was it?

Cooptown

@Griffins said:
How was it?

Amazing. Dodger Stadium was the 15th MLB stadium I have been to, and it ranks right up there at the top. I loved how it's basically a time warp; it feels like you are stuck in the early 1970s with the signage, font, etc. But not in a run down way at all. I got there at 5pm when the gates opened to take it all in.

I wound up getting a $95 single ticket off Stubhub, after fees, to sit about 15 rows up between the end of the dugout and homeplate - the last section behind netting. Well worth it. I did a sweep of the stadium, and hit all the gift shops/stands when I first got there. I overheard someone in one of the large team stores that there was a large team store on the 9th floor. I asked her how to get there, and boy I am glad. I wound up taking the elevator to the 5th floor, where there is an entrance to the press box and luxury suites. Tons of display cases, memorabilia, pictures, etc on the walls. I then went up the 9th floor, and as soon as you get off the elevator - the views are breathtaking. Part of you wants to believe that you are out in the middle of nowhere, and then part of you realizes you are only a few minutes from LA. It's quite the view.

So glad I made the trip.

BLUEJAYWAY

Thanks for the follow up. Glad your visit met your expectations.

travis t

Break up the Dodgers! They must be stopped!

seebelow

I have to get there myself. Glad u had a great time.

Did the shops inside have any game used equipment or unique items? thanks

Cooptown

There is a game used shop that is located on the 5th floor, I believe. It's sort of out of the way, you wouldn't find it unless you were looking for it. I briefly looked, and I don't have a good pulse on the game used market, but a lot of items did not have price tags. There were a slew of jerseys and game used bats that did not have price tags. I did notice that the Puig and Pederson ones were in the $400 - $500 range. They also had game used balls that were hits, rbis, etc that were in the $100 range, which I think are in line with correct pricing. They also had a bin of game used balls from earlier in the week that weren't connected to a particular player that were marked at $20, which seems like a bargain if you are looking for a ball from a game you went to.

Griffins

Glad you had a good time, and liked the park.

Seebelow, there is a game used booth on the club level, next to the pressbox. They've got tons of bats, jerseys, etc as well as some interesting stuff at times like On Deck circles, and bases. They aren't super cheap but you've got to think the provenance is solid.