Last night three friends and I went to Dodger Stadium to see
the Dodgers lose again. But we enjoy being under the stars and munching our hot
dogs, so even if they lose we win. We arrived at the gate, showed the attendant
our electronic parking pass and proceeded into the stadium area. That was
exactly three minutes to seven. We had 13 minutes to get to our seats. In fact,
we could see our seats from the parking lot. They were behind home plate but
way above the plate area, yes, nose bleed seats.
We proceeded to get into the traffic that would take us to
the lot were needed to get to. Lot P. Normally, we would just drive around the
park, pull into Lot P and walk into the stadium down a very steep set of stairs
to our seats. Of course there would be a stop to get Dodger Dogs as walking up
the stairs to get them would be a cardiac adventure. So, in addition to the
Dodger Dogs a pit stop was in order. Simple, yes! Except that we spent an hour
in traffic, in the park, to get to Lot P. It was 8:04 pm when we entered The ticket
gate. We missed the first three innings
and the first four runs that the Dodgers had score in some time.
It was fireworks night so they blocked off two or three large
parking lots. As a result there was
intense grid lock in the park. Like the Dodgers didn’t know that there would be
a lot of people coming to the game. The Dodgers were taken by surprise. The
organization that boasts the largest attendance of any major league team was
not prepared – or they didn’t give a crap as long as you paid outlandish ticket
costs, and parking cost that compare with your mortgage payments. The game was
a sellout which they knew long in advance. So, they decided to reduce the
parking capacity. What! planning? They had traffic going in every direction but
the one direction that would take you to your lot.
I have a new car and enjoy riding in it. “Riding” being the operative
word - not standing still for an hour or
worse, not seeing the game I paid to see
and not enjoying the brief success that the Dodgers had while inching along,
while the whirling Darvish tried in vain to pitch a winning game.
When we finally got into the stadium I went to Fan Services
and they gave me a form to fill out that would have taken 30 minutes. So, I
opted to take the form with me and send it in after I get home except they don’t
have where to submit the form on the form. They really don’t want to hear any
criticism after all, they are the Dodgers.
We missed a third of the
game and as it turned out to be the best third of a game in some time. For most
Angelenos, there is no TV coverage, no Vin and an organization that doesn’t
care enough to prepare. When you decide
to come to the park, pay the outrageous ticket price, the $7 for a coke, $7.50
for a bottle of water and $12.00 for a beer, you would think that the Dodgers
would prepare to accommodate their fans. The expression that a fool and his/her
money are soon parted must be the mantra for the Dodgers.
It took more than 30 minutes to get from the freeway to stadium
gate and an hour in the parking areas to get to the lot where we would have
access to our seats. What fun – NOT! 
Our seats were near the bottom of the section – good seats
except if we wanted a drink during the game it was like climbing Mount Everest to
get to the concession stands, or the rest rooms. The whole six innings (what was the remainder
of the game) not one vendor came into this section. There was an exception, the
fifty/fifty guy pedaling tickets. It appears that some form of gambling is allowed
at the stadium, but the biggest gamble is parking.
Two weeks ago I was in New York for the US Open. We took the
US Open shuttle from Central Park to Flushing Queens - a notoriously crowded route under the East
River. We did It in less than an hour. Good thing the Dodgers were not playing
there we would have missed the first round. If you care and you plan you can accommodate the
anticipated crowds. Obviously the Dodger don’t give a rat’s ass about the fan.
A few years ago the Dodgers were floundering. Loved it. There were less people at the park, shorter
food lines. – much more fun. Half price
Wednesdays made taking the grandkids to a game was not going to be a life
changing financial experience.
My point is that going to a game should be a fun experience.
Yell at the umps. Boo the players state your opinions as to who should be in
the lineup and cheer the good moments like the one we missed when Turner hit
the home run. Not getting aggravated standing still in a road way to get to a parking
lot. Not having a kid tell you that you can’t park there, or having no one try
to sell you an ice cream bar because vendors don’t go to the “cheap seats”.
The Dodgers have found a way to take the pleasure out of
what should be a fun experience.
That is my take - you
decide!
