Editing Dodger Stadium (section)

==Features==

===Design===
[[File:Dodger Stadium stairs 2015-10-04.jpg|thumb|upright|Stairs to upper deck and reserve seats]]

Dodger Stadium was one of the last baseball-only facilities built before the dawn of the [[multi-purpose stadium]]. It was built near [[Four Level Interchange|the convergence of several freeways]] near downtown Los Angeles, with an expansive parking lot surrounding the stadium. With the construction of many new MLB ballparks in recent years, it is now the [[list of Major League Baseball stadiums|third-oldest park]] still in use, and the oldest on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]].

Dodger Stadium offered several innovative design features. One of these was a covered and screened section of dugout-level seats behind home plate. Dodger owner Walter O'Malley was inspired to incorporate this feature into the Dodger Stadium design after having seen it at Tokyo's [[Korakuen Stadium]] during the Brooklyn Dodgers' postseason goodwill tour of Japan in 1956. The original dugout seating area was replaced by more conventional box seating in a 1999 renovation, but this feature has been replicated at [[Progressive Field]] in Cleveland and [[Angel Stadium of Anaheim]].

Two of Dodger Stadium's most distinctive features are the wavy roof atop each outfield pavilion and the top of a 10-story elevator shaft bearing the Dodger logo rising directly behind home plate at the top of the uppermost seating level.

[[File:Dodger Stadium landscaping 2015-10-04.jpg|thumb|Landscaping in parking lot]]

A unique terraced-earthworks parking lot was built behind the main stands, allowing ticket-holders to park at roughly the level of their seats, minimizing use of ramps once inside. The stadium was also designed to be [[earthquake]]-resistant, an important consideration in California, and it has withstood several serious earthquakes.

Dodger Stadium was originally equipped with two large [[Fair Play Scoreboards|Fair Play electronic scoreboard]] units above the left- and right-field pavilions. The right-field board displayed in-game information. The left-field board displayed scores of out-of-town games and other messages. Smaller auxiliary scoreboards were installed at field level on the box seat fences beyond the first- and third-base dugouts during the inaugural 1962 season. The left-field message board was replaced by a [[Mitsubishi Electric]] [[Diamond Vision]] video board in 1980. The field-level auxiliary scoreboards were replaced by larger units installed on the facade of the Loge (second) seating level in 1998; these, in turn, were replaced by a video ribbon board in 2006. Field-level out-of-town scoreboards were installed on the left- and right-field walls in 2003.

[[Strobe lights]] were added in 2001; they flash when the Dodgers take the field, after a Dodger home run, and after a Dodger win. In 2018, blue strobe lights were added.

[[File:Dodger Stadium hall of retired numbers 2015-10-04.jpg|thumb|Hall of retired numbers inside the stadium in 2015]]

===Retired numbers===
In addition to those of [[Don Drysdale]] (53), [[Sandy Koufax]] (32), and [[Don Sutton]] (20), the [[retired numbers]] of [[Pee Wee Reese]] (1), [[Jackie Robinson]] (42), [[Duke Snider]] (4), [[Tommy Lasorda]] (2), [[Walter Alston]] (24), [[Roy Campanella]] (39), [[Jim Gilliam]] (19), [[Gil Hodges]] (14), and [[Fernando Valenzuela]] (34) are mounted on the club level facade near the left field foul pole. Also honored on the left field line in addition to the retired numbers are broadcasters [[Vin Scully]] and [[Jaime Jarrin]], and longtime owner [[Walter O'Malley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dodgerblue.com/vin-scully-dodger-stadium-ring-of-honor-history/%3famp |title=Dodger Stadium Ring of Honor history |website=www.dodgerblue.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727212636/https://dodgerblue.com/vin-scully-dodger-stadium-ring-of-honor-history/?amp |archive-date=2020-07-27}}</ref>

===Statues===
On April 15, 2017, to mark the 70th anniversary of [[Jackie Robinson Day|Robinson's major league debut]], the Dodgers unveiled a [[Jackie Robinson Memorial (Los Angeles)|bronze statue of the historic player]] in the stadium's left-field plaza. The {{convert|800|lb|adj=on}} sculpture, made by sculptor [[Branly Cadet]], depicts Robinson sliding into home plate as a rookie.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kramer|first1=Daniel|title=MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-celebrates-jackie-robinson-day-c224513112|website=MLB.com|access-date=20 April 2017|archive-date=21 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421192852/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/224513112/mlb-celebrates-jackie-robinson-day/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 18, 2022, the Dodgers unveiled a [[Sandy Koufax Monument|bronze statue of Sandy Koufax]] in the centerfield plaza, next to the statue of Robinson, which had been moved there in 2020 as part of renovations. The sculpture, which was also made by Cadet, depicts Koufax's signature leg kick as he goes into his windup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2022 |title=Los Angeles Dodgers unveil Sandy Koufax statue outside stadium |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34113661/los-angeles-dodgers-unveil-sandy-koufax-statue-stadium |website=[[ESPN]] |archive-date=June 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621051350/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34113661/los-angeles-dodgers-unveil-sandy-koufax-statue-stadium |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Location===
[[File:Dodger Stadium view of downtown 2015-10-04.jpg|thumb|left|View of downtown and the Palos Verdes Peninsula]]
[[File:Dodger Stadium and DTLA.jpg|thumb|Dodger Stadium and [[Downtown Los Angeles]]]]
[[Image:ThinkBlue.jpg|right|thumb|The former Think Blue sign in the mountains north of Dodger Stadium, was an homage to the nearby [[Hollywood Sign]].]]
Built on top of the historic Los Angeles neighborhood of [[Chavez Ravine]] in [[Solano Canyon]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Masters|first1=Nathan|title=Chavez Ravine: Community to Controversial Real Estate|url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/chavez-ravine-community-to-controversial-real-estate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803015001/https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/chavez-ravine-community-to-controversial-real-estate|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2017|website=KCET|publisher=KCETLink Media Group|access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref> the stadium overlooks [[downtown Los Angeles]] and provides views of the city to the south, the green tree-lined hills of [[Elysian Park, Los Angeles, California|Elysian Park]] to the north and east, and the [[San Gabriel Mountains]] beyond the outfield pavilions. Due to dry summers in Southern California, rainouts at Dodger Stadium are rare. Prior to 1976, the Dodgers were rained out only once, against the [[1967 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]], on April 21, 1967, ending a streak of 737 consecutive games without a postponement. On April 12, 1976, the second home rainout ended a streak of 724 straight games. April 19–21, 1988 saw three consecutive rainouts, the only time consecutive games have been rained out at Dodger Stadium.<ref name="baseball-statistics1"/> No rainouts occurred between April 21, 1988, and April 11, 1999 – a major league record of 856 straight home games without a rainout.<ref name="baseball-statistics1">{{cite web|title=Dodger Stadium|url=http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/LA/|work=Baseball Statistics|access-date=August 14, 2013|archive-date=August 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824094132/http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/LA/|url-status=dead}}</ref> That record has since been broken, with no rainouts since April 17, 2000, 1,471 consecutive games through October 3, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dodger Stadium rainouts are very rare|date=7 April 2015|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/7/8363333/dodger-stadium-rainout-history|access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref>

===Seating===
Dodger Stadium has never increased its seating capacity, and was the only current MLB park (through 2005) that had never done so, due to a [[Special-use permit|conditional-use permit]] that limits Dodger Stadium's seating capacity to 56,000. Whenever higher-revenue lower seats were added, some in the upper deck or pavilion were removed to keep the number the same.<ref name="Cathedrals">{{cite book|last=Lowry|first=Phillip|title=Green Cathedrals|url=https://archive.org/details/greencathedralsu0000lowr_u1c9|url-access=registration|year=2005|publisher=Walker & Company|location=New York City|isbn=0-8027-1562-1}}</ref> Through the sale of standing room only tickets, the Dodgers' 2009 home opener drew 57,099 fans, the largest crowd in stadium history. Following a number of incidents in the early 1970s in which fans showered [[Cincinnati Reds]] left fielder [[Pete Rose]] with beer, bottles, cups, and trash, the sale of beer was discontinued in both pavilions. Beer sales were reinstated in the right field pavilion in 2008, when that section was converted into the [[All-you-can-eat seats|All You Can Eat Pavilion]]. Fans seated in that section can eat unlimited hot dogs and peanuts and also have access to free soft drinks. There is a charge for beer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/thelife/news/story?id=6559938|title=An MLB guide to all you can eat|first=Rick|last=Paulas|date=18 May 2011|access-date=8 July 2014|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

With the retirement of the original [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] and [[Shea Stadium]] in 2008, the park reigned as the largest capacity ballpark in the Majors.

As of 2010, there are a total of 2,098 club seats and 68 luxury suites. Both of these amounts will increase once the renovations are complete,{{when|date=June 2022}} with the necessary offset to comply with its conditional-use permit.

Due to renovations made in the 2012–2013 offseason, the current maximum capacity of Dodger Stadium is less than 56,000, although the team's president, [[Stan Kasten]], refuses to provide an exact number.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-0811-dodgers-notes-20130811-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Bill | last=Shaikin | title=Dodgers take aim at 4-million home attendance | date=August 10, 2013}}</ref> A 53,393 attendance is considered a sellout.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=Dodgers|author=Los Angeles Dodgers|number=378406052506529792|date=13 September 2013|title=Tonight's crowd of 53,393 represented the largest paid attendance in @MLB this season and was the No. Dodgers 24th sellout of 2013. Thank you.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cincinnati 5, Dodgers 2: Reds Cool Off L.A.|first=Al|last=Montano|url=http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_23735654/cincinnati-5-dodgers-2-reds-cool-off-l|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]|date=July 25, 2013|access-date=July 25, 2013}}</ref> The high water mark since the renovations is 56,800 in Games 3, 4, and 5 of the [[2008 NLCS]].<ref name="2008NLCS">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200810120.shtml |title=2008 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Game 3, Phillies at Dodgers, October 12|website=Baseball-Reference.com }}</ref> The team's 2013 media guide and website still report the capacity as 56,000.<ref name="cap"/><ref>{{cite web |title=2013 Los Angeles Dodgers Media Guide|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/130794163/2013-LAD-Media-Guide|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|access-date=October 5, 2013|page=1}}</ref>

Dodger Stadium achieved record paid attendance during the 2024 season with 3,941,251 spectators.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Birmingham |first1=Keith |title=Dodgers Break Franchise Record For Dodger Stadium Attendance |url=https://dodgerblue.com/dodgers-franchise-record-dodger-stadium-attendance/2019/09/23/ |access-date=3 August 2021 |publisher=dodgerblue.com |date=23 September 2019}}</ref>

===Field dimensions and "pitchers' park" reputation===
[[Image:Dodger Stadium at Night - September 2002.jpg|right|thumb|Dodger Stadium in 2002]]

==== Historical reputation ====
For various reasons, Dodger Stadium has long enjoyed a reputation as a pitchers' park. The park has been home to 13 [[no-hitter]]s, including two [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect games]] (by the Dodgers' [[Sandy Koufax's perfect game|Sandy Koufax in 1965]] and by [[Dennis Martínez]] of the former [[Montreal Expos]] in {{mlby|1991}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=Dodger Stadium no-hitters |url=https://www.nonohitters.com/dodger-stadium-no-hitters/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=NoNoHitters.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Pitchers such as [[Sandy Koufax]], [[Don Drysdale]], [[Don Sutton]], [[Fernando Valenzuela]], and [[Orel Hershiser]] became superstars after arriving in Los Angeles. In addition, players have [[hit for the cycle]] just twice in Dodger Stadium ([[Jim Fregosi]] in 1964 and [[Orlando Hudson]] in 2009).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cycles Hit in Current Major League Ballparks |url=https://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/ballparks/cycles.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=www.baseballpilgrimages.com}}</ref>

At first, the relatively deep outfield dimensions were a factor, with the power alleys being about {{convert|380|ft}}. Home plate was moved {{convert|10|ft}} toward center field in [[1969 in baseball|1969]],<ref name=":0" /> but that move also expanded foul ground by {{convert|10|ft}}, a tradeoff which helped to offset the increased likelihood of home runs caused by the decreased field dimensions.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Night games at Dodger Stadium are said to be particularly pitcher-friendly due to the so-called "[[marine layer]] effect." According to the marine layer theory, as the sun sets, the surrounding air at Dodger and Angel Stadiums cools quickly due to the ocean climate, becoming more dense. As a result, deep fly balls that might otherwise be home runs during the day instead often remain in play becoming outs. Although [[Torii Hunter]] estimated that the marine layer can decrease fly ball distance by 15 feet, two researchers concluded in 2017 that while "the marine layer has a statistically significant effect on flyball distance [in [[Petco Park]] and [[Oakland Coliseum]]] ... [t]he effect size is around six feet," and Dodger Stadium's marine layer effect was close to zero.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kagan |first=David |last2=Mitchell |first2=Chris |date=2017 |title=The Effect of the Marine Layer on Fly Balls |url=https://physics.csuchico.edu/baseball/Pubs/MarineLayer.pdf |journal=The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2017 |pages=1, 5–6}}</ref> From 2022 to 2024, Dodger Stadium's night-game home run park factor was 126 (i.e., the stadium inflated home runs by 26%), the second-highest in MLB.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 2024 (Night) |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2024&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=Night&rolling=&sort=12&sortDir=desc |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Dimensions ====
Although the distance to center field has been marked at 395&nbsp;feet since 1973, it is still actually {{convert|400|ft|m}} to center, as has been the case since 1969. Two {{convert|395|foot|adj=on}} signs that were erected in 1973 are to the left and right of dead center.<ref name="Cathedrals" /> However, curvature of the fence between the posted distance signs is not exactly radial from home plate, thus the distance from home plate directly to center field is most likely {{convert|5|ft}} farther than the posted {{convert|395|ft|m}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dodger Stadium |url=http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/DodgerStadium.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Clem's Baseball}}</ref> {{As of|2025}}, the center field distance of {{convert|395|ft|m}} is indicated at straight away center field.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerry Carpenter flies out to center fielder Andy Pages. {{!}} 03/29/2025 |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/kerry-carpenter-flies-out-to-center-fielder-andy-pages |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

With the opening of [[Citi Field]] and the demolition of [[Shea Stadium]] in 2009, Dodger Stadium became the only stadium with symmetrical outfield dimensions remaining in the National League.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vickars |first=Sam |date=April 2019 |title=The Irregular Outfields of Baseball |url=https://thedataface.com/2019/04/sports/baseballs-irregular-outfields |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=The DataFace}}</ref> The only other symmetrical field is [[Kauffman Stadium]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors and the Air |url=https://baseball-analytica.com/posts/2022-05-13/park-factors-and-air |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Baseball Analytica}}</ref>

==== Transition from pitchers' park to neutral venue ====
{{Multiple image
| total_width       = 400
| image1            = Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California (2483470368).jpg
| alt1              = Dodger Stadium in 2000
| image2            = Dodger Stadium - September 11, 2024.jpg
| alt2              = Dodger Stadium in 2024
| footer            = Dodger Stadium in 2000 (left) and 2024. Note the change in foul territory that took place during the 2004-05 offseason.
}}
Following the 1968 "[[1968 Major League Baseball season|Year of the Pitcher]]," MLB issued league-wide changes to favor batting, including lowering the height of the pitcher's mound.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clair |first=Michael |date=2015-12-03 |title=Four stats that showed why baseball had to lower the mound after 1968 |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/why-was-the-mound-lowered-in-1968/c-158689966 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> In addition, the Dodgers moved the diamond about 10 feet (3 m) towards center field, which was partially credited for generating 46 more home runs than the prior season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=1969 Dodger Team History |url=https://www.walteromalley.com/dodger-history/team-histories/1969/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Walter O’Malley : Official Website |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to MLB's park factor database, Dodger Stadium decreased offense by 6% from 1997 to 1999 (the first year data was reported), making it the most pitcher-friendly park in MLB during this period. However, the park actually inflated home runs by 3%, and achieved the low park factor primarily by deflating doubles (by 21%) and triples (by 45%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 1999 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=1999&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> This effect has been attributed to the stadium's uniform outfield walls and relatively small "corners" near the foul poles. The extremely short outfield walls near the foul poles also make some balls that would bounce off the wall in other parks go for home runs.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Following the [[2004 Major League Baseball season|2004 season]], the Dodgers' then-owner [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]] installed 1,600 high-priced field level seats, shrinking Dodger Stadium's foul territory from 30,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. The team noted that the dimensions of the fair territory had not been changed and predicted that the stadium would remain a pitchers' park.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaikin |first=Bill |date=2005-03-27 |title=Stadium Revamp Is Fair Game |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-27-sp-dodstadium27-story.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> From 2005 to 2007, MLB ranked Dodger Stadium as a balanced park, with an exactly average park factor. The stadium continued to depress doubles and triples, but inflated walks by 7%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 2007 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2007&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> However, from 2008 to 2010, the stadium returned to its original status as a pitchers' park, decreasing total offense by 7%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 2010 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2010&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> [[FanGraphs]] noted in 2018 that many other teams had been shrinking their foul territory, although Dodger Stadium still has less foul territory than most MLB ballparks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawchik |first=Travis |date=2018-01-30 |title=Ballpark Playing Surfaces Are Shrinking in a Surprising Way |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ballpark-playing-surfaces-are-shrinking-in-a-surprising-way/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=FanGraphs Baseball}}</ref> Since park factors are based on MLB averages and not absolute values, a league-wide decrease in foul territory would by definition make Dodger Stadium's limited foul territory look more pitcher-friendly.

From 2022 to 2024, MLB ranked Dodger Stadium as a balanced park once again. Although the stadium depresses walks and most types of hits, it inflates home runs by 22%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Factors Leaderboard: 2024 |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2024&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling= |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=baseballsavant.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, [[BetMGM]] stated that Dodger Stadium's 395-feet centerfield distance was the third-shortest in baseball, behind only [[Fenway Park]] and [[Oracle Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLB Stadiums With Deepest Outfield Walls |url=https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/mlb/mlb-stadium-with-deepest-outfield-walls-bm15/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=BetMGM |language=en-US}}</ref>