Opening Day is more than just another baseball game. Opening Day is… well… Opening Day. It is Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and every other National – an increasingly International – holiday wrapped up into a single day.

Oh sure, there are opening days for football, hockey, basketball, soccer, auto racing, and all that, but utter the words “Opening Day” in a crowd, and the sport for which it is intended to celebrate immediately comes to mind; or at least it should. If it does not, you are probably hanging around with the wrong crowd. In fact, someone on Twitter recently posted that if you mention the words “Opening Day” to a potential new girlfriend or boyfriend and they reply with “Opening Day for what?” they are definitely not for you.

For true Dodger fans, Opening Day is every conceivable holiday wrapped up into a single day.
(Photo credit – Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

All kidding aside, Opening Day truly is a big deal for real baseball fans. However, it most certainly requires a bit of planning in advance, or what should be a wonderful celebration of the new baseball season can very quickly turn into a nightmare … especially when it comes to transportation to and from Dodger Stadium and even more so parking.

While most ‘professional’ Dodger fans have their own secrets and family traditions when it comes to Opening Day, those unfamiliar with what to expect might be in for what could turn into a miserable and frustrating day. To help remedy such unpleasantries, the Dodgers PR staff has compiled some suggestions to make Opening Day 2018 the event and experience that it is meant to be. Here they are:

Fans coming to Dodger games this year are once again encouraged to take advantage of alternative forms of transportation, with Dodger Stadium’s wide array of rideshare, pedestrian, bicycle, public transit and parking options.

For games where a capacity crowd is expected, fans should plan ahead and arrive early to ensure that they’re in their seats by the start of pregame ceremonies and first pitch. More information on parking and transportation options at Dodger Stadium can be found online at Dodgers.com/Transportation.

The new season will bring the following:

PARKING

Fans are encouraged to participate in the Pre-Paid Parking program by purchasing their parking in advance in Dodgers.com/Parking to assist in traffic flow and expedite movement through the auto gates. Advance parking prices will be $15 and parking at the gate will be $25 in 2018.

The team will continue to offer $5 parking in Lots 13 and 14, which are on Stadium Way, adjacent to the Los Angeles Fire Department training center, a short walk east of the main Vin Scully Avenue-Gate A entrance to Dodger Stadium. A free shuttle will be available for disabled fans. The lots will open to the public at the same time as the other Dodger Stadium parking lots.

RIDESHARE

Uber is the preferred ride of the Dodgers. With Uber, fans can get dropped off at any of the five entry gates during pregame. Once the game is over, fans can head to the dedicated Uber Zone in Lot 12 to meet their driver and be on their way in no time.

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS, BICYCLE LANES & IMPROVEMENTS

The Dodgers have dedicated pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes leading into all entrances, as well as new lights, signage and circulation patterns on resurfaced parking lots. This is of particular help to fans parking in lots 13 and 14, as well as those taking the Metro Nos. 2 and 4 buses on Sunset Blvd. and crossing from the Metro Gold Line in Chinatown. The Dodger Stadium Express from Union Station has two stops, behind the pavilions and at the Top Deck, Lot P.

In addition to the increased transportation options for 2018, fans will also notice the improved ring road circulation, the improved roadway foundation and surface, improved pedestrian connectivity to the 76 Station, Lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, F, K and Auto Gates C, D and E and dedicated Metro and taxi areas along the existing center field straightaway with striped pedestrian zones for loading and unloading.

The Stadium Way Gate B (formerly Scott Avenue) is open and is a fifth entry gate into Dodger Stadium. Fans on Vin Scully Avenue and Stadium Way are encouraged to access Gate B from Stadium Way, where there is direct access to lots 1, 2, 3 and all premium parking. Access to the gate is only from Stadium Way and is not permitted from directly through the Echo Park neighborhood on Scott Avenue.

In an effort to continually improve access to Dodger Stadium and improve ridership on the Metro bus lines service, the pedestrian loading area in centerfield has been reconfigured to provide a dedicated area with uniform pedestrian lighting.  This is similar to the pedestrian entrance at Gate A leading to Vin Scully Avenue, where many fans walk to the popular #2 and #4 Metro buses serving Sunset Blvd., Santa Monica Blvd. and Cesar Chavez.

DODGER STADIUM EXPRESS

The Dodger Stadium Express offers two express services to Dodger Stadium: The Dodger Stadium Express Union Station and the Dodger Stadium Express South Bay. Dodger Stadium Express Union Station and Dodger Stadium Express South Bay services are free of charge with a Dodger game-day ticket. For Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, Dodger Stadium Express Union Station service will be provided every 10 minutes starting three hours prior to the start of the game and runs approximately every 30 minutes throughout the game. Fans traveling from Union Station without a ticket will pay a regular one-way fare of $1.75. The Dodger Stadium Express Union Station has two stops on site—in center field, behind the pavilions and at the top deck, lot P.

The Dodger Stadium Express South Bay service will be provided every 20 minutes starting three hours before game time, with the last bus leaving Harbor Gateway Transit Center at game time. Those traveling from the South Bay without tickets will be charged $2.50. Fans will be dropped off in Lot G by the right-field pavilion. Return service begins after the end of the 7th inning, with the last bus departing 45 minutes after the final out or 20 minutes after a post-game event.

Fans can also board the Union Station bus at Broadway and Cesar Chavez, a short walk from the Chinatown Gold Line Metro stop. Complete details on the Dodger Stadium Express services, route information and helpful tips from Metro can be found by visiting www.Metro.net/dodgers or by calling 323.GO.METRO.

I’ll see you on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium!

GO DODGERS!