Game 3 - Dodger Stadium

I’ve always wanted to go to a game at Dodger Stadium and this would be a first for all of us. We were fortunate to have a connection with Tommy LaSorda, so our seats were going to be pretty good. Plus, they were celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Stadium itself, and LaSorda and The “Bulldog,” Orel Hershiser, were honored before the game. It was pretty cool to see and everyone was given a Hershiser bobble head as they entered the park.

We arrived about two hours before game time so we would have ample time to check out the entire stadium. Parking a motor home was a bit of a challenge as the hills around Chavez Ravine are a bit difficult to navigate, but we managed. After we picked up our tickets at the player will call, we finally went in to check out Dodger Stadium. Immediately, there was a special feeling to the place. First, it’s just a beautiful setting. The views to the outfield are some of the best I’ve seen in a park. Secondly, the place had a certain swagger about it. Granted, the team is playing well right now, but this felt much deeper. You knew there had been some pretty special things that have happened here. I thought to myself, if Albert was going to come west, he picked the wrong team.

At first pitch, the crowd was pretty thin. True to form, the fans started rolling in at the end of the first inning. I would think this had more to do with LA traffic than anything else, because by the end of the game, the place was packed. It was a beautiful night for a game, and if I lived in LA, I would be at Dodger Stadium often. Magic Johnson and the rest of the ownership group sat in the front row and seemed to be enjoying their $2 billion investment. I hope they have some cash left to sign a few free agents. If so, this could be a really fun team to watch.

Because of the rich tradition, and beautiful views to the outfield, my Dad gave Dodger Stadium:
Because we had to be in San Diego for a 3:00 PT game the next day, I wanted to drive out of the city as far as I could to avoid the traffic in the morning. We made it to Oceanside, CA to a Walmart and just as we were getting settled, security told us no overnight parking was allowed. At midnight, this isn’t exactly what you want to hear, but we were in luck. There was another Walmart five minutes away and it even had a Chick-Fil-A in the parking lot. Things were looking up…

Pros: Stadium views, fan base, Vin Scully, uniforms, service and beach balls!

Cons: Parts of the stadium need updating, and motor home parking was a bit difficult.