2020 Dodger Stadium Renovations: Photos Show History Providing Path for the Future

Opening on April 10, 1962, Chavez Ravine was converted into a state of the art symbol of the trek out west for Major League Baseball. Located within the confines of Elysian Park, Dodger Stadium was built in less than 3 years at the cost of $23 million and still is the world’s largest baseball stadium based on number of seats in can hold.

For those wondering, $23 million is equivalent to about $192.6 million in today’s money adjusted with an annual inflation of 3.80% from 1962 to now.

Walter O’Malley used private funding to build Dodger Stadium after being unable to reach a deal with New York officials on securing land to build a domed stadium and the city of Los Angeles held a vote to bring baseball out west.

Renovations: 2003-2005

After the 2005 season, new owner Frank McCourt, broke grown for the first phase of major renovations Dodger Stadium has even gone through.

• 2003 – Upgraded to LED video displays
• 2005 – Yellow, Orange, Blue and Red Seats were replaced with Yellow, Light Orange, Turquoise and Sky Blue.
• 2005 – Baseline Box Seats added more leg room and tables

Proposed Renovations – 2008

Frank McCourt proposed a $412 Million project that would have turned the parking lots of Dodger Stadium into an outdoor mall similar to local malls, such as The Americana, The Grove and Fashion Island in Costa Mesa.

• Dodger Way – A tree-lined entrance will lead to a landscaped grand plaza where fans can gather beyond center field. The plaza will connect to a promenade that features restaurants, shops and the Dodger Experience museum showcasing the history of the Dodgers in an interactive setting.
• Green Necklace – The vibrant street setting of Dodger Way links to a beautiful perimeter around Dodger Stadium, enabling fans to walk around the park, outdoors yet inside the stadium gates. This Green Necklace will transform acres of parking lots into a landscaped outdoor walkway connecting the plaza and promenade to the rest of the ballpark.
• Top of the Park – The Green Necklace connects to a large scale outdoor plaza featuring breathtaking 360° views spanning the downtown skyline and Santa Monica Bay, the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains, and the Dodger Stadium diamond.

These proposals were never seen through as the boycott of Frank McCourt’s ownership and his divorce ended it all.

Renovations: 2013-2014

Following another ownership transition, the Dodgers brought in stadium designer, Janet Marie Smith to renovate the 50 year old stadium with:

• High Definition Video Boards
• New Clubhouses
• New Weight Rooms
• Upgraded Batting Cages
• New Concession Stands
• New Sound Systems
• Wider Concourses
• Standing Room Viewing Areas
• Children’s Playground
• Improved Restrooms

Now, the Dodgers have released some artist renderings of what renovations will be happening at the Ravine this off-season as they prepare for the 2020 All-Star Game.

 

Some of the amenities coming to Dodger Stadium:

• New center field plaza
• Bridges and elevators that connect the pavilions to the rest of the stadium
• New food establishments
• Beer garden
• Kids play area
• Two sports bars
• Area for pre- and post-game concerts
• Relocation of Jackie Robinson statue
• Legends of Dodger Baseball plaque area
• New restrooms
• Enclosed bars with view of bullpen
• “Home run seats”
• New speakers

All renovations are expected to be completed for the 2020 season.

“Maybe the most important thing that drove me and Janet during this process is when you’re sitting in your seat at Dodger Stadium, whether you’re on the field level or in the top deck, it’s going to look the same as it did before,” Kasten said. “That Dodger Stadium view from foul pole to foul pole is just timeless and iconic and we didn’t want to change that. – as reported by Arash Markazi, LA Times

The use of protective netting looks to be a permanent feature of the new Dodger Stadium. It also looks like a great backdrop for MLB to use for all of the All-Star Coverage headquarters.

source: Wikipedia

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