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Go See the Dodgers and Do it Right!
updated: Jul 10, 2010, 8:30 AM

By Marc Liberts

In addition to being avid travelers, my wife Stacy and I are also avid sports fans. My wife is a life-long Los Angeles Dodger fan, and we decided to treat ourselves to a 7 game mini-season ticket package this year. We decided to try the mini-season ticket package because: (1) we always wanted to sit in the Baseline Box seats; and (2) we liked the fact that being in the Baseline Box seats entitles you to an all-you-can-eat buffet in the Dodger's Baseline Box Club; and (3) they were offering deep discounts on the tickets AND free preferred parking for all 7 games. So far, we've been to 4 of our 7 games, plus we've purchased tickets separately for a number of other Dodger games as well. Here are my suggestions, lessons learned, and do's and don'ts.

I've been going to Dodger games since the late 1970's, including many of their playoff games and World Series games. I was actually at Game 1 of the 1988 World Series when Kirk Gibson hit the miracle home run off Dennis Eckersley of the Oakland A's to win game 1. I've sat in every section of the stadium, including the top deck, reserved section, club level, loge, and field. Back in the old days, it was easier to know where you would be sitting because the tickets were simply labeled whatever level + section + row + seat you were in. Now, there are dozens of different names of sections to sit in. For example, if you want loge level seats, you have to decide between Loge Box VIP, Loge Box MVP, Infield Loge Box, and Loge. If you want field level seats, there are over 9 different categories to choose from! Overall, it can get very confusing. One good place to get acquainted with the various sections and levels is www.StubHub.com. They are ticket re-sellers who have an excellent map of where each section is. I find it helpful to look there first, before I try buying tickets directly from the Dodgers website to see approximately where my seats are.

LESSON LEARNED: research a good map of Dodger Stadium and know exactly where your seats are before you buy!

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After having been to so many games, I've become a bit of a prima donna when it comes to where I'm going to sit. The first rule of thumb to observe is that tickets in sections with ODD numbers are on the Dodger's side (3rd base line), and are always in the shade first. This can be extremely important during the hot summer months, because the being in the shade greatly improves the overall experience. Also, being in a section on the EVEN side (1st base line - visitor's side) means being in the sun until at least 7:00 PM with the sun setting right over home plate, thus making viewing difficult or worse.

LESSON LEARNED: be in an ODD numbered section!

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Sitting in the Top Deck or in the Pavilions (outfield bleachers) is the most affordable way to see a game. However, you are really far away from the action. In the Top Deck, you generally have a good view of the entire field, but the players look like ants. In the Pavilions, you are lower, but home plate is so far away that it is almost impossible to see the ball and the batter. Also, the heavy drinkers and hard-core fans tend to be in the Top Deck and Pavilions, and these sections aren't always the most family-friendly sections.

The outfield Pavilions (wood bleacher seats) are an affordable way to see a game. The Right Field Pavilion is now called the "All You Can Eat Pavilion". They serve Dodger Dogs, nachos, sodas, and peanuts. Considering the fact that a Dodger Dog will set you back about $6.00 and a Coke will set you back about $5.00, and considering the fact that a single ticket in the "All You Can Eat Pavilion" will only set you back about $35.00, it's easy to imagine yourself eating your way even over the course of a game! If you get lucky and get in a middle to low row in the pavilions, you're in home run ball territory. However, you are as far away from home plate as possible, and seeing the game is difficult at best. Another perk of being in the pavilions is that the players usually throw their warm-up balls to the fans after every half inning. However, the pavilions are notorious for loud, drunk, boisterous fans. Be ready to have beer spilled on you, and watch out for fights and rowdy fans in this area.

LESSON LEARNED: if you sit in the bleachers, go for the "All You Can Eat Pavilion" and get the lowest lettered row seat you can find.

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The Reserved section is the next tier down below the Top Deck. Generally, the middle of each Tier is section 1, with odd numbered sections going up on the 3rd base line, and even numbered sections going up on the 1st base line. If you are in the Reserved section, you want to be in any section with a number less than 15 or you're too far down the lines to get a good view of the game. In addition each section has about 26-40 rows of seats. The row closest to the bottom is usually row A, and the letters rise and you go up. If you're in the Reserved section, you want to be somewhere between row A through row J. Anything higher than row J in the Reserved section tends to be too high to see well. A perfect seat in the Reserved Section would be Reserve - Section 1 - Row A. An average seat would be Reserve - Section 15 - Row J. A terrible seat in the Reserved section would be Reserve - Section 52 - Row X (putting you near the home run pole all the way down the 1st base line in the sun all day). The Dodgers have created "Bleacher Beach" and "My Town" sections in the Reserved level all the way at the ends (Sections 57 & 60). "Bleacher Beach" and "My Town" have special perks including food, beverages, and special gifts. Check the Dodger's website for more information. Just know that you are sitting all the way at the back of the stadium, as far away from the action as you can be. When the Santa Barbara Airbus does their trip to Dodger Stadium, their seats are usually in Reserve Section 5 - rows E-L (pretty decent Reserved seats).

LESSON LEARNED: if you sit in the Reserved section, you want a section with an ODD low number (section 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9), and a low row letter (row A - J), preferably.

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Over the years, I've come to appreciate the Loge section as the best place to see the game and snag a foul ball. The loge level is the 1st tier above the field-level seats. I've sat in almost every section and I've found the best and worst seats. Many of the best Loge level seats are taken by season ticket holders, and the best seats are very difficult to get. The best loge seats are in row A. If you get row A, you're in the front row, and there is absolutely nothing in front of you. Also, you're in prime foul ball territory. Any Loge level seat below row J is fine. The center of the Loge section is 101 with the odd numbers ascending up the 3rd base line in the shade, and with the even numbers ascending up the 1st base line in the sun. Anything below section 135 is good, and anything below section 115 is great, and anything below section 109 is awesome. Anything above section 140 is suspect, and anything above section 150 is horrible. The fans are generally well behaved in the good sections, and this is an excellent place to see a game if you like to see all the action from behind the plate.

LESSON LEARNED: get Loge seats, odd numbered sections below 135, and any row lower than J.

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The field level seats are the closest to the action and the pricing reflects the quality of the view. The Dodgers added about 10 rows of seating on the field and decreased the foul territory around the bases accordingly and moved the dugouts closer to the bases. When you watch TV and see the typical shot of the batter and pitcher from center field, you're looking at the Dugout Club seats which cost $500-$700 per seat. You do get an over-sized seat within the first 10 rows of the field between the dugouts and free food and a waiter. However, the pricing tends to preclude all but the very wealthy, very famous, or very foolish. For $275 - $150 per seat, you can get tickets further down the line in the Baseline Boxes. These box seats are situated between the dugouts and foul poles, from the field up 7 rows. You get your own box of 4 seats, plus a small table with a small ledge, plus access to the Baseline Box Club for an all you can eat buffet including salads, a carving station, hot dogs, ice cream, and sodas and a full bar. Nicer still, the club has exclusive bathrooms that are always clean and rarely have lines. Also, the club stays open for 1 hour after the game, and is air-conditioned and has many large screen TV's. And, the players tend to come over for brief moments sign autographs for the kids in these sections.

Overall, for the price you are getting a very good seat, free food, and a very cool experience. However, the view from these seats is somewhat compromised by the fact that you are so low on the field that it is difficult to see the plate, and the fact that the 1st base coach and sometimes umpires can be standing right in between you and the batter. Beyond these premium seats are the rest of the field level seats. The best ones are in the middle (section 1) all the way down to about section 25. Anything higher than section 25 is getting too far out in the outfield to see the plate decently. Also, anything from row A - M is acceptable. Rows M-V are just OK, and rows W-X-Y-Z are under the loge tier (which I found very irritating). If you sit in any of the good field seats, you must keep your eye on the ball at all times because foul balls come screaming in without much notice. I've seen more than a few people bloodied by a foul ball because they had their heads turned away from the action. Recently, a young girl suffered a fractured skull from a foul ball right near where I sit. So, exercise extreme caution and bring a glove.

LESSON LEARNED: if you can stomach the price, the Base Line Box Seats are an excellent experience. If not, excellent field level seats are located in odd sections from 1 (best) to 25 (past the Dodger dugout past 3rd base), or even sections if you can stand the sun.

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The gates generally open 2 hours before game time, and my wife and I always arrive before the gates open. If you get there early, the Dodgers open the walls in center field and allow you to stand and try and catch home run balls during batting practice. We almost got one last game. If you go, beware that many fans will risk life and limb diving for balls, so exercise caution in this area. I've found that standing up at the front of the fence is the worst place to stand. Step back about 10 yards and watch the home run balls ricochet off people's hands and drop gently on the ground! Also, you can generally go to your seats about 90 minutes before the game starts to watch batting practice. This is another decent opportunity to get a ball if you're in the pavilions or on the field level and down the lines near the foul poles.

LESSON LEARNED: get there about 2 1/2 hours before game time and check out the open center-field area to snag home run balls hit in batting practice and stand back about 10 yards back from the fence.

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Believe it or not, Dodger Stadium is only 100 miles from Santa Barbara. Depending on traffic, we've made it there in less than 90 minutes. It takes about 2.5 hours in normal traffic, and can take more than 3 hours in heavy traffic. Coming home takes less than 2 hours for night games. Parking is OK but costs $15.00. In the past, you could pay and then pretty much drive around the parking lots and park anywhere. Now, if you have non-preferred parking, they direct you into the lots. Upon exit, the general parking lots are closed until the preferred parking lots have had a chance to exit. That can be a bummer, but generally lasts less than 20 minutes. When we go, we take 101 to 134 to 5 South and then exit at Stadium Way. An easy drive when traffic is moving.

Tickets can be obtained directly from the Dodgers on their website. If you can't find the seats you want on the Dodger's website, www.StubHub.com has lots of tickets available at many different prices. These tickets are being sold by season ticket holders and others, and generally the best seats can be found at StubHub. However, you will pay a premium price, and StubHub charges processing fees as well. As I've said before, I'm a prima donna when it comes to my seats. If I'm going to drive 100 miles each way into Los Angeles, spend the day, and lots of money on food, parking, and gifts, I want a good seat in the shade!

If you need advice about seats or anything else Dodgers, feel free to email me at marcliberts@gmail.com and I'll be happy to answer your questions.