The Los Angeles Dodgers will play their season opener Monday at a sold-out Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres amid efforts to prevent tailgating and unruly behavior.
Los Angeles Police officers will patrol the area to enforce the no tolerance policy for drinking in public or in parks. The LAPD and Dodger organization is also reminding the public that tailgating is prohibited in Dodger Stadium parking lots.
Parking will be prohibited on Avenue of the Palms (Stadium Way) between Scott Road and Academy Road from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking will be limited to two hours on the following streets in an effort to prevent tailgating:
— Scott Avenue between Echo Park Avenue and Elysian Park Drive;
— Morton Avenue between Echo Park Avenue and Academy Road;
— Academy Road between Morton Avenue and Elysian Park Drive; and
— Portia Street between Sunset Boulevard and Scott Avenue.
Academy Road will be one-way heading into the stadium from Morton Avenue to Stadium Way.
Portable toilets, hand washing stations and additional garbage bins, funded by the Office of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, will be placed “in the area in an effort to maintain quality of life in the neighborhood on opening day,” O’Farrell said.
“Last year, I heard loud and clear that tailgaters had occupied the neighborhood as early as 7 a.m. and that any and all spaces were taken until the end of the game,” said O’Farrell, whose district includes a portion of the neighborhood surrounding Dodger Stadium, but not the stadium itself or the area closest to it. That area is represented by Councilman Gilbert Cedillo.
“While I can appreciate that the City of Angels is a baseball town and that there is a decades-long tradition of celebrating this annual springtime event, I want to make sure my constituents do not suffer the consequences of a few unruly fans.”
Opening day is one of the most congested days of the season at Dodger Stadium as more fans than usual drive alone to the game, as many begin their days at work, then drive directly to the stadium.
The team is encouraging fans to carpool, arrive early, use rideshare and car service vehicles and utilize transportation alternatives that serve Union Station and will connect them to the Dodger Stadium Express, which will operate starting at 10 a.m., with service provided every 10 minutes.
The pickup spot has been moved to near the front of the station, near the taxi zone adjacent to Alameda Street. Fans can also board the bus at Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, near the Chinatown Gold Line station.
Passengers are dropped off at in center field, behind the pavilions, and at the top deck, Lot P.
The fare is free for fans with tickets and $1.75 for fans without a ticket.
Dodger Stadium Express bus service will be available from the Harbor Gateway Transit Center throughout the season for the first time. The service will begin two hours before the game and every 15 minutes thereafter.
Riders will board at Bay 9 with their game tickets covering the travel cost. Those without tickets will be charged $2.50.
Buses will drop off passengers in Lot G by the right field pavilion. Return service begins five minutes after the last out and continuing for 45 minutes in five-minute intervals.
Shuttle service from the Harbor Gateway Transit Center was offered for the Dodgers’ two National League Division Series home games last season, attracting about 6,000 people, according to Rick Jager of Metro.
A taxi loading and unloading zone is located along the outer edge of Lot G. Rideshare and car service vehicles will be allowed to enter Dodger Stadium through Sunset Gate A.
Rideshare and car service vehicles will be issued a special colored dash placard and be able to dorp off passengers inside Lot 12. Once passengers are dropped off, rideshare and car service vehicles will be required to exit through the Sunset Gate A.
After the game, rideshare and car service vehicles will be permitted to enter Sunset Gate A to pick up passengers in Lot 12.
In an attempt to reduce congestion, dedicated prepaid lanes have been added for fans purchasing parking passes in advance. Parking is $10 when purchased in advance at dodgers.com/parking and $20 at the gate. Preferred parking is available for $35 and $50 at the gate.
New security guidelines will be in effect, following procedures mandated by Major League Baseball. All fans will go through walk-through magnetometers or be subject to hand-held metal detectors.
Fans are being encouraged to arrive early to minimize wait times. Fans will not be required to remove their belts, shoes, jackets, wallets, keys or coins before walking through the metal detectors.
All bags will continue to be checked upon entry to Dodger Stadium. Fans are encouraged to minimize the amount of items they bring into the stadium. Only bags with dimensions that comply with Major League Baseball’s standard of 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches will be admitted.
Fans will be asked to place large metal objects such as cellphones and sunglass cases on screening tables before walking thought the metal detectors.
Fans with strollers, in wheelchairs or with medical devices that set off metal detectors will be offered an alternative screening method.
The new security guidelines resulted from a recent study of best security practices and Major League Baseball’s work with the Department of Homeland Security to elevate and standardize initiatives across the sport.
Auto gates and stadium gates will open at 10 a.m. Pregame entertainment will begin 10 a.m., pregame ceremonies at 12:25 p.m., with 2014 National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw throwing the first pitch at 1:10 p.m.
Live music will be offered throughout the stadium from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. DJ Lady Sha will perform in the left field reserve level; The Trip in the right field reserve level; the Angel City Dixieland Band throughout the reserve level and The Blue Agave, a mariachi act, and DJ Adam in the right field plaza.
A magician will also provide entertainment in the left field area.
The famed Budweiser Clydesdales will make a special appearance at 12:30 p.m. in Dodger Stadium’s parking lots.
The rhythm and blues singer Tinashe, who attended Crescenta Valley High School and had a recurring role on the CBS comedy “Two and a Half Men,” will present a pregame concert at 12:25 p.m., singing her Billboard Hot 100 hit “2 On” and her current single, “All Hands on Deck.” She will also sing the national anthem.
Representatives of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force will present the colors. Members of the U.S. armed forces will unfurl a giant flag in center field, a display in the shape of the United States.
The U.S. Navy will conduct a flyover with two Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets by VFA-122, a fleet replacement squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
U.S. Air Force Staff Senior Airman Stephen D. Hudson of Rialto, will be honored as the Veteran of the Game. Hudson was the winner of the Dodgers annual Veterans Day Batting Practice contest.
Hudson was deployed to Kuwait in 2011 and received an Army Achievement Medal for his deployment. He is stationed at Edwards Air Force Base.