This classic ballpark, one of baseball's oldest, has hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1962.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Provided by Google

Disneyland Park

Santa Monica Pier

Griffith Park

Disney California Adventure Park

Taro Michigan

Jennifer Feliciano

Matías Gagliardone

said rivera

John Townzen

Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium, nestled in Chavez Ravine, distinguishes itself through its mid-century modern architectural style, a rarity among ballparks. Its terraced parking lots, designed to minimize obstruction of views, are a unique feature, allowing fans arriving early to picnic with sweeping vistas of downtown Los Angeles. The stadium's location, carved into the hills, provides natural amphitheater acoustics, amplifying the roar of the crowd. Unlike many modern stadiums, Dodger Stadium retains a classic, symmetrical outfield dimension, a nod to baseball's traditional playing field. The stadium's iconic hexagonal scoreboard, a vintage marvel, remains a beloved feature. A lesser-known fact is the presence of several palm trees beyond the outfield fence, a distinctly Californian touch that adds to the stadium's unique character. The stadium's original color scheme, a vibrant palette of pastel hues, was carefully chosen to complement the Southern California landscape.

Introduction

Dodger Stadium's location is intrinsically linked to the history of Chavez Ravine, a shallow canyon in Los Angeles named after Julian Chavez, who acquired the land in 1844. By the early 20th century, three Mexican-American communities – Palo Verde, La Loma, and Bishop – had formed in the area. In the 1940s, Chavez Ravine was seen as an underutilized location, leading the city to designate it for redevelopment.

The city initially planned the Elysian Park Heights public housing project for the area, acquiring land through eminent domain. However, after political shifts and a public referendum, these plans were abandoned. Instead, in 1958, the city traded 352 acres of Chavez Ravine to the Brooklyn Dodgers in exchange for land around Wrigley Field, incentivizing the team's move to Los Angeles. This decision was controversial, marked by allegations of illegal deals and public debate.

The construction of Dodger Stadium required the removal of the remaining residents of Chavez Ravine, a process that involved forced evictions in 1959. The stadium officially opened in 1962. During the years the Los Angeles Angels were tenants of the Dodgers, they referred to the stadium as "Chavez Ravine Stadium". In October 2008, the Los Angeles City Council designated the property as "Dodgertown," and in April 2009, the United States Postal Service assigned it the postal code "Dodgertown, CA 90090". The stadium's construction is a key event in the history of Chavez Ravine, reflecting themes of urban development, community displacement, and political maneuvering.

Chavez Ravine History

Dodger Stadium distinguishes itself with a symmetrical outfield, a design choice that sets it apart from many modern ballparks. Following the opening of Citi Field and the demolition of Shea Stadium in 2009, it became the National League's sole stadium with this feature, sharing this characteristic across MLB only with Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. The field dimensions feature 330 feet down both the left and right field lines, 380 feet to both left and right center, and what was originally marked as 410 feet to dead center.

Although the distance to center field has been marked at 395 feet since 1973, it is still actually 400 feet to center, as has been the case since 1969. Two 395-foot signs erected in 1973 flank dead center. The curvature of the fence between these signs means the distance from home plate directly to center field is likely 5 feet farther than indicated. As of 2025, the center field distance of 395 feet is indicated at straight away center field.

This symmetrical design reflects owner Walter O’Malley's preference for balanced dimensions, believing it would enhance the integrity of baseball records and comparisons. O'Malley expressed a desire for all stadiums to adopt identical dimensions. The symmetrical outfield contributes to Dodger Stadium's reputation as a balanced environment, harking back to classic ballpark designs.

Symmetrical Outfield Dimensions

Dodger Stadium has long been known as a pitcher's park, a reputation cemented by its dimensions and atmospheric conditions. The stadium has witnessed 13 no-hitters, including perfect games by Sandy Koufax and Dennis Martínez. Pitchers like Koufax, Don Drysdale, Don Sutton, Fernando Valenzuela, and Orel Hershiser achieved stardom in Los Angeles, further enhancing this reputation.

Originally, the deep outfield dimensions contributed to this, with power alleys around 380 feet. Although home plate was moved 10 feet toward center field in 1969, expanding foul territory somewhat offset the change. Night games are considered particularly pitcher-friendly due to the "marine layer effect," where cooling air increases density, potentially shortening fly ball distances. However, research suggests the marine layer's impact at Dodger Stadium is minimal.

Despite its historical reputation, Dodger Stadium's park factor has fluctuated. From 1997 to 1999, it was the most pitcher-friendly park in MLB, deflating doubles and triples. After renovations in 2004, which reduced foul territory, it became a balanced park from 2005 to 2007. It reverted to a pitcher's park from 2008 to 2010. Recently, from 2022 to 2024, it is again considered balanced, inflating home runs by 22%. The center field distance, marked at 395 feet since 1973, is actually 400 feet to dead center.

MLB's Pitcher's Park Reputation

Dodger Stadium has undergone several significant renovations since its opening in 1962. Initially, changes were minimal, with the first major update being the replacement of wooden seats with plastic ones in the 1970s. The turn of the 21st century marked the beginning of more extensive renovations, starting before the 2000 season with the addition of field-level seats along the foul lines and an expanded dugout area, known as the Dugout Club.

Further changes in the 2000s included moving the dugouts closer to the field, adding more Dugout Club seating, and replacing all seats in 2006 to restore the original 1962 color scheme. Additional box seating was installed along the baselines, concrete repairs were made, and a terrace picnic area was created. In 2008, concourses were widened, concessions and restroom facilities were increased, and two Baseline Box Clubs were added.

A $100 million renovation in 2013 brought new HD video boards, a state-of-the-art sound system, expanded concourses, upgraded restrooms, and a revamped clubhouse. Bullpen overlooks were added in 2014, along with a new Dodgers team store. Another $100 million renovation, completed before the 2020 season, introduced a two-acre center field plaza with various amenities, including a beer garden, sports bars, and a children’s play area. Escalators and elevators were installed to improve stadium accessibility, allowing fans to walk around the entire facility. These renovations aimed to modernize the stadium while preserving its original character and mid-century modern design.

Stadium Renovations

Dodger Stadium's architectural design reflects Los Angeles' aspirations as a futuristic city in the early 1960s. Designed by Emil Praeger in consultation with Walter O’Malley, its Mid-Century Modern lines remain iconic. The ambitious construction involved extensive excavation and the on-site creation of over 25,000 concrete pieces. O'Malley envisioned a Disneyland-like destination, incorporating elements such as unique transportation, landscaping, and forward-thinking architecture.

Key architectural details include the folded metal roof over the center field pavilion, inverted canopies, abstractly shaped urns, and a pastel color palette characteristic of the era. Praeger designed the stadium so that each entry is at grade -- from the Top Deck to the Field level seats. The 21 terraced entrances on the six different seating levels presents a unique vertical circulation along the landscaped plazas around the stadium perimeter and each section of seating has parking immediately adjacent the entrance.

Later renovations, overseen by Levin and Associates, were preservation-minded, retaining the stadium's character while modernizing amenities. These included wider concourses, improved seating, and new features, all designed to revive the original Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. The stadium was one of the last baseball-only facilities built before the rise of multi-purpose stadiums, featuring an expansive parking lot integrated into Chavez Ravine's hillside. Original design innovations included a covered, screened seating section behind home plate, inspired by Tokyo's Korakuen Stadium, though later replaced with conventional box seating.

Architectural Design

Dodger Stadium has hosted a diverse array of notable events beyond baseball, including a Mass conducted by Pope John Paul II and concerts by iconic artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and U2. In 1992, games against the Montreal Expos were postponed due to the Los Angeles riots, leading to three consecutive days of doubleheaders later in the season. The stadium also hosted a soccer doubleheader in 2013 as part of the International Champions Cup, featuring Real Madrid, Everton, Juventus, and the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2014, it hosted its first National Hockey League game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks as part of the NHL Stadium Series.

In 1963, Ultiminio "Sugar" Ramos won the WBC and WBA featherweight titles at Dodger Stadium, while Roberto Cruz also won the WBA Junior Welterweight title. Cricket All-Stars Series 2015 was held there, featuring retired cricket legends. The 1984 Summer Olympics baseball competition took place at the stadium.

Dodger Stadium hosted all games between the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics in the 2020 American League Division Series due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The stadium has been the site of legendary moments, including Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965 and Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run in the 1988 World Series. The Dodgers clinched the 1963 World Series at Dodger Stadium, sweeping the New York Yankees. Until 1988, the stadium had never hosted a seventh game of a postseason series, which changed when the Dodgers won Game 7 of the 1988 National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.

Dodger Stadium

Highlights from Reviews