While the Los Angeles Dodgers are playing toward winning their first World Series since 1988, another franchise drought will undoubtedly come to an end. After years of planning and behind-the-scenes work, the Dodgers were awarded the 2020 MLB All-Star Game.
The Midsummer Classic was lest held at Dodger Stadium in 1980. The Dodgers used the event to unveil ‘DiamondVision’ above the left-field pavilion, which at the time was a state-of-the-art video screen.
That since has been replaced with a 1080p video board, and an accompanying one above the right-field pavilion. While those figure to remain intact, Dodger Stadium will see other changes before the 2020 All-Star Game is played.
“The next two years will be very active for us,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said. “I also think it will be a good time for us to maybe do our next set of upgrades, renovations and additions to Dodger Stadium.”
Kasten anticipated having full details on forthcoming changes in about a year’s time. “But we will start having things to announce about some of the upcoming plans that we have,” Kasten added.
But with that, the team won’t completely overhaul the look or feel of what Kasten described as “the most-beautiful venue ever built to play or watch the game of baseball.”
In the years after completing their record $2.15 billion purchase of the Dodgers, the Guggenheim ownership group has invested more than $150 million toward Dodger Stadium upgrades. There have been changes to the concourse levels, as well as to the visitor’s clubhouse complete with the addition of a weight room, and upgrades to the Dodgers’ weight room and side of the stadium.
In the meantime, the Dodgers will send a contingent to observe how the Washington Nationals host the 2018 All-Star Game, and the Cleveland Indians next year. Though, that’s not to suggest they may be out of their element.
“We’re Los Angeles,” Kasten said. “We know how to throw parties, we know how to host big events, and you can bet the party here in two years will be extraordinary.”
