So, I went to my first Dodger game the other night. An old college buddy of mine, Schultzie, brought his wife, sister and progeny down the coast, and treated me to a ticket out at Chavez Ravine to see Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants.
I've been to maybe 50 ball games in my life, the vast majority at Yankee Stadium. My experience is that people either love Yankee Stadium, or they hate it. Personally, I always loved the experience. It didn't get any better than 50,000 rabid fans, on a crisp, sunny Saturday, in the House that Ruth Built, caring WAY too much. The pinstripes, the Yankee Franks, the Bleacher Bums, you can't beat it. Others can't stand it. The Bronx, the profanity, the arrogance. I remember a former colleague of mine at Estee Lauder. Originally from Seattle, he was all agog about going to "The Stadium" for the first time. Came in the next day. I said, "How'd you like it?" He said, "That place is a dump!" Coming from Seattle and their modern stadium, he, like many, is of the, "sushi at the ballpark/day care for the kids behind centerfield/baseball as a backdrop" set. So where would L.A. fall?
I live about 9 miles from Dodger Stadium, but it took me about 50 minutes all told, what with traffic and parking. Still, I was there with plenty of time, as my buddy and his clan were held up by traffic all the way up in Santa Barbara. New to the place, on a BEAUTIFUL night, I figured I'd amble around the grounds for a while. But you know what, let me back up a second. Just driving to the ballgame is something I hadn't done in YEARS. NO ONE drives to Yankee Stadium. No one smart, anyway. I lived in midtown, on the east side. I'd walk to the subway, and like 25 minutes and 3 express stops later, I'm there. Door to door. Here, I was treated to the combo platter of rush hour, and ball game traffic. Still, all in all, not bad. Until I got to the parking lot, that is. FIFTEEN smackers later, I parked the car in the lot behind the outfield and started my promenade.
The stadium itself, though one of the older ones, is pretty attractive, I'd say. The back is more or less open, with large palm trees adorning the exterior. It never reains either, so it's always perfect for baseball. It's odd though, in that it feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. By that I mean, most big cities I've ever been in, you can very readily see the stadium from the highways and such. Dodger Stadium though, is in a ravine, like up on a semi-mesa even, and remarkably INconspicuous until you are on the paid grounds.
Next big difference for me was, whilst milling about, who walks by me, but noneother than Paris Hilton. (I swore I wouldn't name drop, but a) people seem to like it, and b) it's pertinent to my story of contrasts.) Seriously, that doesn't happen at Kansas City Royals' games. In New York, it's more likely going to be, I don't know, James Gandolfini. And better still, much to my pleasant surprise, when they confirmed her presence on the Jumbotron, she was mercilessly booed.
I've been to maybe 50 ball games in my life, the vast majority at Yankee Stadium. My experience is that people either love Yankee Stadium, or they hate it. Personally, I always loved the experience. It didn't get any better than 50,000 rabid fans, on a crisp, sunny Saturday, in the House that Ruth Built, caring WAY too much. The pinstripes, the Yankee Franks, the Bleacher Bums, you can't beat it. Others can't stand it. The Bronx, the profanity, the arrogance. I remember a former colleague of mine at Estee Lauder. Originally from Seattle, he was all agog about going to "The Stadium" for the first time. Came in the next day. I said, "How'd you like it?" He said, "That place is a dump!" Coming from Seattle and their modern stadium, he, like many, is of the, "sushi at the ballpark/day care for the kids behind centerfield/baseball as a backdrop" set. So where would L.A. fall?
I live about 9 miles from Dodger Stadium, but it took me about 50 minutes all told, what with traffic and parking. Still, I was there with plenty of time, as my buddy and his clan were held up by traffic all the way up in Santa Barbara. New to the place, on a BEAUTIFUL night, I figured I'd amble around the grounds for a while. But you know what, let me back up a second. Just driving to the ballgame is something I hadn't done in YEARS. NO ONE drives to Yankee Stadium. No one smart, anyway. I lived in midtown, on the east side. I'd walk to the subway, and like 25 minutes and 3 express stops later, I'm there. Door to door. Here, I was treated to the combo platter of rush hour, and ball game traffic. Still, all in all, not bad. Until I got to the parking lot, that is. FIFTEEN smackers later, I parked the car in the lot behind the outfield and started my promenade.
The stadium itself, though one of the older ones, is pretty attractive, I'd say. The back is more or less open, with large palm trees adorning the exterior. It never reains either, so it's always perfect for baseball. It's odd though, in that it feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. By that I mean, most big cities I've ever been in, you can very readily see the stadium from the highways and such. Dodger Stadium though, is in a ravine, like up on a semi-mesa even, and remarkably INconspicuous until you are on the paid grounds.
Next big difference for me was, whilst milling about, who walks by me, but noneother than Paris Hilton. (I swore I wouldn't name drop, but a) people seem to like it, and b) it's pertinent to my story of contrasts.) Seriously, that doesn't happen at Kansas City Royals' games. In New York, it's more likely going to be, I don't know, James Gandolfini. And better still, much to my pleasant surprise, when they confirmed her presence on the Jumbotron, she was mercilessly booed.
A nice little touch for me was when I came across a monitor showing the game, since my friend was late. Who do I hear, but Vin Scully and his buttery smooth, classic broadcaster voice, only THIS time, I'm a part of the action he's painting such a beautiful picture of. He's like the Phil Rizzuto I grew up with, except he makes crystal clear sense.
Once inside, taking in the game itself, a couple of bullet points stuck out. First of all, just like I'd heard, the crowd is fashionably late (read: 2nd or 3rd inning). HOWEVER, I can now cut them a bit more slack on that one, having now seen just how much traffic has to squeeze into such a small amount of road, all during rush hour. They also leave very early, to which there is no excuse. If you don't care about the outcome of the game, don't go in the first place.
New York fans pride themselves on their knowledge of the game. They know when to cheer, when to boo (except with A-Rod), and appreciate the nuances. More than anything, I was floored when in the middle of a close game with their arch rival (this is L.A.'s version of Yanks-Red Sox), with Barry Bonds, the greatest player of my lifetime at the plate, two men on base, the crowd was FIXATED on the beach ball bounding in the stands. That was all I needed to know.
Overall, it was a pretty nice experience. It's a lovely facility. Very civil. Completely family friendly. And like most things out here, completely without edge, which, depending on your tastes, is a good thing or a bad thing.
