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4ARedOctober · 04-03-2006, 08:41 PM

Dodger Stadium....is a hole.

It is very obvious this guy is a Dodger fan.......sorry but Dodger Stadium is a hole with bad food and rude fans......it is very difficult to get from one level to the next once in the stadium......the parking here is so bad it takes hours to get in and out sometimes....but don't hang out with the wrong colors on or you may get jumped.....and you are guaranteed to get jumped in his favorite seats in the left field bleachers if you are wearing the wrong colors...seen it happen too many times.

CaliDave · 04-04-2006, 12:49 AM

I agree.. Dodger stadium needs to be torn down.
I feel bad for the season seat holders that had tickets for 30 years.. then the new owners put new seats in front of them.

horrible baseball business sense

JWC · 05-13-2006, 12:15 PM

I have been to all of the Stadiums and some of their predecessors such as the Murph ( SD Padres ), LA Memorial Colosseum ( Dodgers in 1959-60 ). My favorite is Pac Bell ( SBC or will they rename it to AT&T ) in San Francisco. Not only is it a great ball park and location but was built without one dime of the tax payer's money but instead with private funding. My least favorite is Oakland. Great team but lousy park. The park is old, poor location, and you sit a long way for the action. They keep trying to move the team to San Jose which makes a lot of sense but the Giants keep blocking the move as their Class A team, the SJ Giants are there and the Giants have some kind of exclusivity deal. If they did move the team to San Jose, attendance would sky rocket.

short · 05-13-2006, 12:49 PM

Very timely.

I'll be buying tickets to an Angels game this week as we just arrived at Newport Coast Villas. I am reasonably sure I will not I will not be able to get tickets behind home plate.

We have only been to a few Dodger games over the years so we are not very experienced at ticket buying.

Any preference here for 1st baseside or 3rd baseside?

Short

T. R. Oglodyte · 05-13-2006, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by JWC

I have been to all of the Stadiums and some of their predecessors such as the Murph ( SD Padres ), LA Memorial Colosseum ( Dodgers in 1959-60 ). My favorite is Pac Bell ( SBC or will they rename it to AT&T ) in San Francisco. Not only is it a great ball park and location but was built without one dime of the tax payer's money but instead with private funding. My least favorite is Oakland. Great team but lousy park. The park is old, poor location, and you sit a long way for the action. They keep trying to move the team to San Jose which makes a lot of sense but the Giants keep blocking the move as their Class A team, the SJ Giants are there and the Giants have some kind of exclusivity deal. If they did move the team to San Jose, attendance would sky rocket.

PacBell is my favorite baseball. Safeco is a very fine park, but when you go PacBell you realize that Safeco just missed being what it could have been. If PacBell is home run into McCovey Cove, Safeco is a home run to left field. Still very nice and still gets the job done, but not quite the same satisfaction.

4ARedOctober · 05-13-2006, 02:59 PM

Go Angels

Short check your pm.....I have tickets behind home plate for you but up higher....will take care of you....call me.

They did rename Pacbell to SBC and now to AT&T....still plan to go see the Angels play there in June!!!!

Agree that Oakland Alameda Network Associates is terrrible....at least this year they covered the top deck for baseball season.....they could not even sell out their playoff games if you can believe that. I heard that CSCO was giving up some of their land in Freemont so the A's could build a new stadium...but that is a bad neighborhood too but at least would be new digs.....I agree the place to go would be toward Silicon Valley.

A'S, FREMONT NEAR DEAL Fans -- not city -- likely to feel biggest void

By Chris Metinko
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

The Seals were iced. The Silver and Black once found Los Angeles more enticing. Even the city's basketball team has refused to take its name. Through the past four decades, the one constant on the Oakland sports landscape has been the Athletics.

Now, that seems to be ready to fall.

"The A's have a wonderful history here in Oakland," said Oakland Councilman Larry Reid, a member of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, which controls the stadium the A's call home. "However, there is not the political will to use public money to help finance a new stadium. The only option they have is to look at Fremont."

The A's are said to be in the final stages of negotiating to build a new ballpark in Fremont just off Interstate 880. Co-owner Lewis Wolff started his search outside Oakland after saying the city likely didn't have the land available to build a mixed-used development that would include a stadium, homes and retail.

However, not everyone in Oakland is ready to pack up the balls and bats quite yet.

"Oakland is committed to the A's," said Ignacio De La Fuente, Oakland City Council president and mayoral candidate. De La Fuente said he believes there are many problems with the A's planned site in Fremont, including transportation and environmental concerns. "At the end of the day, I believe the A's will stay here."

Experts say the move is unlikely to have much affect on the city's coffers, but instead will be felt by the fans who bleed kelly green and gold.

Frank Martinez, 48, of Vacaville grew up in Oakland and remembers when then-owner Charlie Finley brought the A's to town from Kansas City after the 1967 season. While known for his gimmicks and marketing -- Finley introduced orange baseballs, Charlie O. the Mule mascot and a mechanical rabbit that gave baseballs to the umpires -- Finley also made the A's into winners, claiming three straight World Series titles from 1972 to 1974 and cementing the teams' relationship with the city.

"It would mean a lot if they left," said Martinez, as he tailgated outside the Coliseum before an A's game this week. "I remember the Charlie O. days and the rabbit that would come out of the ground. ... It just doesn't seem right (if they leave). It would be a big deal if they went to Fremont."

Gary Commick, 54, of Pleasanton agreed a move out of Oakland would feel odd for a franchise that has such a strong tradition in the city.

"They're part of Oakland," Commick said. "I would still support them because I'm an A's fan, but I would prefer they stay in Oakland."

While the A's may be part of Oakland emotionally, experts question how much any professional sports franchise is part of a city's overall economy.

"I would expect any impact on Oakland's economy to be small," said Andrew Zimbalist, a professor of economics at Smith College in Massachusetts and author of "In the Best Interests of Baseball?"

Zimbalist said a move such as the one the A's are contemplating -- where a team is going from a large city to a suburb half as populated -- is unusual. But, because of the proximity of the two cities, he would anticipate little effect on the local economy.

Phil Porter, a professor of economics at the University of South Florida, said little of what people pay for a ticket to go to a sporting event stays in the city itself. Using baseball as an example, he said approximately 60 percent of the price paid goes to pay players' salaries. Because most players don't live in the cities where they play, that money is lost to the community. The remaining 40 percent goes to the owner, who uses much of it to pay off large loans they have taken out from national banks, meaning again the money leaves the local market.

"Sports teams are not economic engines," Porter said. "Teams love to tell people they bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy. But the fact is there is no proof that is true. The money people spend on baseball is discretionary income. If they didn't spend it on baseball, they would spend it on other activities. Those other activities are likely to keep more of that money in the local economy than Major League Baseball is."

Even the jobs created by professional sports at stadiums are seasonal, unskilled and generally do not pay well, experts said. And unlike some teams and their parks -- like the San Francisco Giants and AT&T Park -- the A's play in an industrial area of Oakland with no foot traffic and little to do near the stadium after the game. All of that minimizes the impact the A's leaving would have even in the immediate neighborhood of the Coliseum.

Councilman Reid, whose district includes the Coliseum property, said he has not been contacted by any businesses in his district concerned about losing the A's.

Oakland could be the biggest winner of all if the A's actually do move to Fremont, according to Porter, the economics professor.

"If the A's keep the name 'Oakland' when they move, Oakland gets the best of all worlds," Porter said. "They don't have to spend millions to build a stadium, they don't have to give up land for a huge stadium that would be vacant for all but 81 days a year, and they would still keep the name recognition."

Some fans seem to understand the economic realities and even see potential benefits of a move.

"It would be nice to get to go to a new stadium," said Brian Wise, 27 of Concord, as he enjoyed a beer in the Coliseum parking lot before an A's game this week. While Wise said he'd prefer the A's stay where they are, he understands a new stadium would increase the team's revenue through luxury boxes and higher attendance. That would allow the team to stop losing star players such as Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon to big-market clubs like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

"They have to start signing their good, young talent," said Kevin Burgess, 26, of Antioch, who was getting ready to take in the game with Wise. "It happens year after year. They always lose somebody."

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...s/14534995.htm

4ARedOctober · 05-16-2006, 02:07 PM

An opposing view of Angel Stadium in rebuttal to the orig article Dodger fan author

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Fan: Big A still has legs
An Angels fan extols the virtue of the Big A

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister...le_1137116.php

By DAN HEBERT
Register Reader

EDITOR'S NOTE In early April, Gary Warner, Travel Editor for the Orange County Register, wrote a story about visiting the five major-league ballparks in California. The article prompted more mail than any other story so far this year, mostly from Angels fans who perceived a bias in favor of Dodger Stadium over Angel Stadium. This is a dirty, heinous, but perhaps ultimately true allegation. With the Angels traveling – get it? traveling – this week to Chavez Ravine for a “road” series against the Dodgers, we thought we’d renew the argument in the Travel Section. Of the many letters and phone calls, we picked Dan Hebert of Irvine to present the Angel Stadium case because he’s thoughtful, funny and, unlike other e-mailers, letter writers and callers, he doesn’t use words that can’t appear in a family newspaper, especially on a Sunday. Here’s Mr. Hebert’s point-by-point rebuttal.

Baseball book: Comparing "The Dodger Way to Play Baseball" to "Nolan Ryan: The Road to Cooperstown" is 180 degrees off base. The Dodgers long ago forgot how to play the Dodger way, and the Angels are now MLB's most enthusiastic and effective proponent of sound, fundamental baseball as espoused in the Dodger Bible. Nolan Ryan is long gone, as are all the managers who mistakenly cut him loose.

Pre-ballgame eats: I have been to Philippe's, and it is a great old sandwich joint. But trying to go there before a Dodgers game is a logistical nightmare due to parking problems and crowds. Better allow an hour. Give me an hour before an Angels game and I could get you in and out and of any number of first-rate places near Angel Stadium. How about Zov's Bistro in Tustin? The Tulsa Rib Company in Orange? Gustav's Jagerhaus in Anaheim?

Food within walking distance of the stadium: Angel Stadium wins hands down here, with options from The Catch to JT Schmid's. Dodger Stadium has nothing unless you are a mountain goat.

Food inside the stadium: No advantage either way as both stadiums offer poor options. But Angel Stadium concessions are cheaper across the board, and they let you bring in outside food in reasonable quantities. (Note: The Angels say individuals can bring in limited outside food. No drinks except for bottled water.)

Parking

odger Stadium's location may be scenic, but getting in and out of the parking lot is a nightmare, and there are no options. Angel Stadium not only has much better access to its main parking lots, but there is a wealth of other parking options in the area at street-parking lots close to the stadium. Dodgers fans leave early because if they don't they will be stuck in the parking lot for an hour or more. Angels fans have options.

Best seating: The problem with the bleacher seats in Dodger Stadium is that they are physically cut off from the rest of the stadium, trapping patrons in the seats or in the claustrophobic areas underneath. By contrast, Angel Stadium allows full access to the entire stadium from the bleachers. This alone makes the right-field seats at Angel Stadium far superior to any bleacher seats at Dodger Stadium.

Ticket prices: Angels tickets are cheaper across the board.

Kids games:Citing the "overpriced" kids games behind the outfield bleachers as a reason to stay away from bleacher seats in Angel Stadium is just plain dumb. What is wrong with kids having fun at the game? My kids have immensely enjoyed these games for years, and it gives us a nice break before or during the game. Any Angels fan worth his salt knows that these games are virtually free when you pay $12 to join the Kids Club. This gives your child three game tickets, 50 game tokens and other benefits.

Architecture:So Angel Stadium shares some design features with Dodger Stadium. So what? Angel Stadium took the best from many ballparks and melded all into a functional and crowd-friendly ballpark with great sight lines. We love the entrance area in front of the stadium, and my kids never cease to marvel at the "big hats and big balls and big bats."

Whom to cheer: When noted jerk and former Giant Jeff Kent is the Dodger of choice, you know you have a problem. By contrast, the Angels have one classy longtime veteran after another, from Tim Salmon to Garret Anderson to Darin Erstad to Adam Kennedy.

Throw in the best manager in the game, Mike Scioscia, and Angels fans have many worthy objects of our affection.

4ARedOctober · 05-16-2006, 02:15 PM

More info on what a hole Dodger Stadium has become under the Boston Parking Lot guy

From the Los Angeles Times
BILL PLASCHKE
Waiting Is the Hardest Part at Stadium
Bill Plaschke

May 14, 2006

The slowest person at Dodger Stadium is not Olmedo Saenz going to first or Grady Little going to the mound.

It is the concession lady going for the nachos.

She. Sighs. She. Shrugs. She. Walks. To. The. Other. End. Of. The. Counter.

It is the top of the third inning, I'm standing in a field-level line, there are 11 people ahead of me and the painfully loud rumors of a baseball game somewhere behind me.

She. Chats. With. Another. Concession. Lady. She. Walks. Back.

It's the bottom of the third inning, and now there are eight people ahead of me, and the only Dodger I have seen in 15 minutes is a dude wearing a Bill Mueller jersey crying, "How can you be out of beer lids?"

She. Frowns. She. Shrugs. She. Reaches. For. The. Chips.

It's the top of the fourth inning and I'm almost at the front of the line, and it's comforting to hear everyone still talking excitedly about the game, until you realize, they're talking about the Clipper game in Phoenix, which they can see just as well from here.

She. Stares. At. The. Computer. She. Stretches. Her. Finger.

It's the bottom of the fourth inning and finally, I've been served. The hot food is cold and the cold food is sweating, but I pump my fist and head for the condiments line.

Where. Eight. People. Wait. In. Front. Of. Me.

Welcome to the ravine at the Ravine, the black hole into which thousands disappear for long stretches each night, their ominous last words often being, "I'm going to get a Dodger Dog."

Welcome to Levy's Lost World, horrendous nightly concession lines that shed a new harsh light on old baseball favorites.

"Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I never get back?"

Good.

Because around here, you might not.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It would seem that the most important numbers in a Dodgers' recent victory against the Houston Astros would be the 9-6 final score.

For the 33,595 who actually attended the Wednesday night game at Dodger Stadium, though, the important numbers may have been different.

Like, maybe 25?

That's how many minutes I stood in a food line even though the stadium was at just 60% capacity.

Or, perhaps, 1 1/2 ?

That's how many innings I missed while trying to buy food amid the third-smallest crowd at the stadium this year.

I can't imagine what it would be like during a sellout.

Actually, I can, having heard from fans this season who have gone missing, worrying their friends and family by leaving their seat in the second inning and not returning until the fifth.

"These have become the slowest lines ever," said fan Jim Orland, sweating next to me that Wednesday night. "Standing here turns a thoroughly enjoyable evening into something very different."

Something frustrating, as you hear the unexplained cheers and strain to see the tiny television.

Something angry, as you realize you have missed 20% of the game standing in a stinking line.

Something really angry, when the guy in front of you pulls out a credit card, and the concession lady explains that the credit card machine is broken.

It has become the biggest Dodger Stadium mystery since somebody ran off with Kirk Gibson's home run ball.

In recent years, the stadium has grown by only 1,000 seats, yet the lines have seemingly grown by 1,000%.

In its 44-year history, the stadium has accommodated more than 125 million fans, yet it suddenly can't handle the dozen people standing in front of you in the beer line.

Now that the McCourts have replaced all the seats, the No. 1 stadium complaint is those lines.

The No. 1 stadium amazement is that they can't get it fixed.

"Is there room for improvement? Absolutely," said Dodgers vice president Marty Greenspun. "We are working with the Levys to make it happen."

That seems to be the problem.

Working with the Levys.

When Frank McCourt bought the team in 2004, he rid himself of the tortoise-like Aramark folks and allowed Levy Restaurants to expand its concession reach from the premium seats to the entire stadium.

It was a huge break for the growing firm.

But, since then, Levy has been purchased by Compass Group, the world's leading food service company.

And we all know what happens when that happens.

Levy did $470 million worth of business in 2004, but I missed three batters Wednesday while a counter worker counted the single bills in her cash register.

Levy now serves 73 sporting venues, including Staples Center, but on Wednesday one Dodger Stadium stand ran out of Dodger Dogs.

Levy also serves the Kentucky Derby's Churchill Downs, and at its slow rate, the race will soon be "the most exciting twenty-two minutes in sports."

"I always think we could be quicker," said Scott Goldberg, regional director of operations for Levy Restaurants.

Then what's stopping you?

"Our hands are tied sometimes," he said.

How can it be any harder than when Arthur Food Services efficiently served Dodger Stadium folks for nearly three decades?

Goldberg talked about the small size of the concession stands. "They're not the largest stands," he said.

Well, that hasn't changed.

He talked about the difficulty in transporting food when there are only two elevators running from their eighth-floor warehouse. "Very slow elevators," he said.

And that's changed?

The McCourts have added more carts along the concourses and opened a pleasant Loge Terrace this season, but there's only so much they can squeeze into this aging box of a ballpark.

There are laws and ordinances against hot dogs and beer being sold by roaming vendors, so they can't fix that, either.

"We are still focused on improvement," said Greenspun.

But how?

The McCourts gave Levy a 15-year lease, so Dodger fans may be stuck with them for a while.

The only option is to complain, complain, complain.

There is clearly more room behind the concession stands for more vendors. There are clearly ways for workers to provide quicker service.

And why did a fan have to grab a manager the other night and demand that a collapsed cup of soda be removed from the counter where it had been dripping for an entire inning?

And if complaints don't work, threaten the Levy folks with banishment to a place where they will be booed even more: the Dodger bullpen.

In 1991, Peter O'Malley dismissed Arthur Foods after 29 years of service because he said he wanted to "expand the menu."

Well, that dream has been realized. The Dodger menu now includes nightly helpings of heel-cooling, toe-tapping frustration.

Levy runs out of everything else, why can't they run out of that?

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...ilities-sports

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