Although the Dodgers have been slipping a bit on the field as of late, after their hot start to the 2012 season, the new ownership of the Dodgers seems to have injected new life into the team overall. The attendance for the games is up and things look like they’re heading in the right direction for the franchise.
It also appears that the Dodgers ownership group intends on injecting some new life around the ballpark as well. There’s a plan in the works to spend $100 million dollars to modernize Dodger Stadium and the surrounding area.
Expansion plans include home and visitor’s clubhouses, Wi-Fi areas and the possibility of a museum could be added over the next three years. I think the museum would be an excellent touch to the ballpark considering the heritage the Dodgers franchise has both in Los Angeles and Brooklyn.
Dodgers Plans For the Future
Team President Stan Kasten mentioned that “I would like to do even more, add features like all modern stadium structures have”. Where these are admitted to be “a sizeable project” this new Dodger ownership is being very aggressive in their pursuits to bringing an aging stadium into the new millennium.
One aspect in the proposed projects I find interesting is the desire incorporate newer buildings, including kid’s areas, bars and restaurants. All of this is to be done without interfering with the view of the San Gabriel Mountains.
To go along with this is the area surrounding Dodger Stadium, Kasten said that their “near-term development opportunities include retail and a larger entrance plaza. This sort of expansion was a prime target of the previous ownership but had to scrap it when their money problems became too much for the franchise.
Some of the Dodger fans believed that this was the main reason for the McCourt’s involvement in the Dodgers and that team matter became secondary.
Improvements Will Take Time
The expansion program is quite aggressive and will entail a significant amount of time and money.
They are asking for patience on the part of the Dodger faithful during this project and like most projects of this size, will take some time.
They seem to have their ducks in a row and know exactly what they want to do. The Dodger fans have been very vocal on the priorities they’d seen from the previous owner and all that I’ve spoken with are very excited about the Dodgers future.
The Guggenheim Partners investors will begin work at the end of the 2012 season. The Dodger fans are all hoping that this season ends sometime in November rather than early October as with the McCourt’s. Time will tell Dodger faithful, time will tell.
As a baseball enthusiast myself, one of my goals for the new future is to take in a Dodgers game at their stadium. I’ve always wanted to try a Dodger Dog as a part of my LA experience. I may just hold off for a bit and check out the new digs at the same time.
Good luck Dodger Fans, sounds like you’re in for some good times at the old ball yard or should I say new ball yard?
