Dodger Stadium Opens Tonight for First Time in 2014

The Los Angeles Dodgers will play at Dodger Stadium for the first time in 2014 tonight, facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in an exhibition game.

It will be the initial chance for fans to experience changes the team has made to attempt to reduce congestion around the stadium.

The team has added parking spaces; reopened the Scott Avenue entrance; restriped many lots; modified circulation patterns; improved signage; and added bike racks to encourage fans to bicycle to Dodger Stadium.

During the regular season, a general parking pass purchased in advance will cost $10, $5 less than when purchased upon entering the parking lot.

"We have been examining ways to improve our traffic flow at Dodger Stadium," team President Stan Kasten said last month when the pricing plan was announced. "We feel one of the best ways to expedite movement through the auto gates is for fans to have a prepaid parking pass when they arrive at Dodger Stadium. Transaction times will be improved."

General parking for the games tonight and Friday will be $10. Auto gates, the left field and left field loge gates will open at 5:10 p.m. with all stadium gates opening at 5:40 p.m. for the 7:10 p.m. games today and Friday.

The Dodger Stadium Express bus service will be in operation tonight and Friday, beginning to pick up fans 90 minutes before the game at the Patsaouras Bus Plaza adjacent to the east portal of Union Station. The buses continue to Dodger Stadium via Sunset Boulevard and Cesar Chavez Avenue.

In addition to the westbound dedicated bus lane on Sunset Boulevard, an eastbound dedicated bus lane on Sunset Boulevard has been added in an attempt to provide for a quicker departure of buses.

In an attempt to accommodate fans from Orange County for the games tonight and Friday, Metrolink will offer its Rail Series service from Orange County to Union Station. Fans can take Metrolink trains 609 or 689 for a $7 round trip. A special late-night train will depart from Union Station for Orange County one hour after the last pitch.

More information on the Metrolink service is available online at metrolinktrains.com/railseries.

--City News Service