The Dodgers have announced the promotion of Janet Marie Smith to Executive Vice President of Planning and Development.

“Janet has done a tremendous job leading our improvement projects over the last nine years, embracing every nuanced challenge and incorporating Dodger history at every turn. Dodger Stadium has always been the most beautiful place in the world to watch a sporting event, and now it has the modern amenities to match that beauty,” said Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten. “From day one, our priority has been to have the best facilities in sports, and under Janet’s leadership, we’ve completely reimagined what’s possible at Dodger Stadium from a business, baseball, and fan experience perspective. The Dodgers and our fans are fortunate to have her.”

Smith originally joined the Dodgers in 2012 as a Senior Vice President, Planning and Development and immediately began work on a large scale project that involved the removal of the Field Level seats and an extensive excavation to construct new home and visiting clubhouses, batting cages, weight rooms, as well as the installation of the new hexagonal HD DodgerVision boards. During subsequent years, her team worked to create entrance plazas, tiered seating, and bar areas overlooking the bullpens, widen concourses, renovate restrooms, enhance concession stands and install children’s play areas throughout the ballpark.

In 2020, the Dodgers completed their latest project, which created a new “front door” to Dodger Stadium with two acres of food and entertainment offerings in the new Centerfield Plaza and renovated Pavilions, while also improving ballpark circulation through the addition of elevators, escalators, and bridges.

Beyond the large scale projects, Smith oversaw the design and installation of the Jackie Robinson statue in 2017, and her touches and attention to detail can be found throughout the ballpark with the large retired numbers, oversized bobbleheads, repurposing of historical artifacts and art displays that provide great photo opportunities for Dodger fans.

Smith, the highest-ranking woman in the Dodger organization outside of ownership, also oversaw the extensive renovation and expansion of Campo Las Palmas – the club’s home in the Dominican Republic – in 2017. The campus now includes state-of-the-art baseball training facilities among its 10 buildings, which house 96 players, 19 coaches and support staff. It also features four classrooms, social areas and a community field for little league play – part of the organization’s commitment to serving the local community surrounding the complex.

Prior to joining the Dodgers, Smith worked for the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves, overseeing the design and construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the preservation and improvements at Fenway Park, and the transformation of the 1996 Olympic Stadium into Turner Field in Atlanta. She also oversaw the development of Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena), home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. She later returned to the Orioles to oversee the complete renovation of Ed Smith Stadium, the club’s Spring Training facility in Sarasota, FL, and supervise renovations on Camden Yards, which set the standard for a new wave of ballparks when it opened in 1992. Smith has also consulted on countless venue projects throughout sports.

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(Article courtesy of LA Dodgers)

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