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Dodger Stadium /
Los Angeles Dodgers / 2012
| Opening | Opening Day 2012 |
| Owner | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Planning/Architecture | Johnson Fain and HKS |
| Cost | Expected to be $500 million |
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced a multi-faceted ballpark improvement plan that will bring the most modern amenities to Dodger fans while preserving the tradition of the historic venue, first opened in 1962. The improvements, anticipated to be completed by Opening Day of the 2012 season, are designed to protect Dodger Stadium's place as the home of Los Angeles baseball for the next 50 years.
Dodger Stadium is the
second-oldest facility in the National League, and
when Yankee Stadium is torn down after the 2008
season, the Dodgers will have the third-oldest
venue in all of baseball. Because it was designed
for a very different era, Dodger Stadium is
currently bursting at the seams and unable to
deliver many of the modern amenities and
experiences that fans have come to enjoy and
expect at ballparks around the country. The
modern-day space requirements for technology,
concessions, storage, and office space could not
have been envisioned by architects five decades
ago.
"We're creating a new stadium without tearing down
the old," said Dodger owner Frank McCourt. "That
may take more effort and more resources, but we're
talking about Dodger Stadium. This stadium sits in
the heart of Los Angeles and in the hearts of
Angelenos. The Dodgers are a world class
organization, a world class brand and a franchise
with a history of courage and vision. What we're
announcing today honors that history by protecting
and modernizing Dodger Stadium and making sure
that it lives on and thrives for the next 50
years."
The renowned architecture and planning firms of
Johnson Fain and HKS lead an accomplished team of
designers on this ambitious project that features
the following components:
-
Dodger Way -- A dramatic, new tree-lined entrance will lead to a beautifully landscaped grand plaza where fans can gather beyond center field. The plaza will connect to a modern, bustling 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 ballpark 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-degree views spanning the downtown skyline and Santa Monica Bay, the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains, and the Dodger Stadium diamond.
This renewal plan
comes on the heels of extensive ballpark
improvements since Frank and Jamie McCourt became
stewards of the Dodgers in 2004. Past improvements
include replacing nearly all of the seats in the
ballpark bowl; planting a new playing field and
upgrading the warning track; renovating the
concourses with updated concessions and other
amenities; and reconfiguring ballpark parking.
As a result of these extensive improvements, the
ballpark will become a destination for fans all
year long and a place where, especially on game
days, families can go early and stay late. Dodger
Stadium will be a place to visit year-round to
shop, dine and play.
"We hope to deliver all the modern amenities and
conveniences of new ballparks, while protecting
and preserving the greatest and most romantic
venue in professional sports," said Dodger
President Jamie McCourt. "Families will have a
reason to come early and stay late any day of the
year. Getting to the ballpark will be easier and
spending time at the ballpark will be more
comfortable and more fun."
As part of the ambitious ballpark project, the
Dodgers will "Think Blue and Act Green." The
ballpark will become as environmentally
responsible a baseball ballpark as there is in
America. The Dodgers plans reflect the
environmentally-sensitive practices supported by
the Natural Resources Defense Council in their
"Team Greening Program," a collaboration with
Major League Baseball. The new facilities will be
designed to meet silver "LEED" sustainability
standards.
The renovations call for planting trees around the
ballpark and a focus on conserving water as well
as promoting recycling and other environmental
initiatives. The Dodgers will use the latest
technologies to save millions of gallons of water
each year. Recycling measures include
post-consumer waste recycling, and recycling
materials that will be removed throughout the
building process. The Dodgers will use native or
drought-resistant plants for landscaping and,
where possible, energy efficient bulbs in all
ballpark and scoreboard lighting. Other
environmental practices will include installing
energy efficient appliances in all kitchen and
concession facilities, and purchasing building
materials and items used in concession kiosks that
are made from recycled or quality, durable
products.
The ambitious ballpark improvement plan also
addresses the need for operational enhancements
including completing the concourse
transformations, started this year with the Field
Level Concourse, to include new restrooms,
concession facilities and improved kitchen areas
so food for fans and guests can be prepared in a
fast and convenient manner. In addition to the new
Dodger Experience museum, new buildings will
include the ultimate Dodger retail store and a
central ticketing facility for fans. Above these
uses, there will be room for Dodger-related office
space and work areas for onsite security
personnel, Dodger operational staff and the
Dodgers Dream Foundation. Parking improvements
include two terraced parking structures on either
side of the ballpark that will replace existing
surface parking, along with below-grade parking
under the two new plazas.
"We commit to embodying the vision and spirit of
this storied Dodger franchise," Frank McCourt
said. "We're keeping this wonderful ballpark where
it is, and providing more gathering places in the
heart of Los Angeles. When completed in 2012,
Dodger Stadium will continue to reflect the world
class history and future of this storied
franchise."
Environmental
Standards
The new construction will meet Silver LEED
standards and within the existing ballpark, the
Dodgers are implementing sustainable measures that
will lower energy use, conserve millions of
gallons of water and promote recycling.
Modern operational enhancements to the ballpark include:
-
New warehouse storage and reconfigured concession facilities beneath Dodger Way, for food preparation and distribution to serve fans more quickly
-
Storage facilities for a wide array of souvenir items bearing the Dodgers name
-
A central ticketing facility and lounge area
-
Two new terraced and landscaped structures on either side of the ballpark, as well as subterranean parking, to ensure no decrease in total parking
-
Facilities for Dodger-related activities including work areas and office space for onsite security personnel, Dodger operational staff and the Dodger Dream Foundation.
More information can be found at the Los Angeles Dodgers website.
The view toward
downtown, during the day (above) and at night
(below).
This should be a
breathtaking view from the new center-field
entrance.
The Green
Necklace will transform acres of parking lots into
a landscaped outdoor walkway connecting the plaza
and promenade to the rest of the ballpark.
The Top of the
Park is a large-scale outdoor plaza featuring
breathtaking 360-degree views spanning the
downtown skyline and Santa Monica Bay, the Santa
Monica and San Gabriel Mountains, and the Dodger
Stadium diamond.
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