The Sights And....Well, No Sounds...of a Baseball Game

I am proud to say that America's long nightmare is over.

Len got to go back to a baseball stadium.   Actually, twice.   I was at the Dodger opener when they got their World Series rings on Friday.   And then, on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, it was just plain good baseball.   Clayton Kershaw versus Max Scherzer.   With a cozy COVID-limited crowd of 15,000.   

For most of us, this was the first time we would get to see the 120 million dollar renovation to Dodger Stadium.  Remember that?   We were supposed to see that in April 2020.   A year later, it finally became a reality to most of us.

The glory of the renovation is that you now can walk completely around the stadium.  All the stands and levels are connected with ramps and elevators.   In some cases, this was the first time I have seen the stadium from the bleacher seats.

Here's a quick pictorial view of an average baseball Sunday.

My first time ever sitting in a bleacher seat.  Not a bad view.   This was an hour before game time, so most of the 15,000 were elsewhere.

The center field gate is now the front door to the stadium so that's where all the new stuff is situated.   Like this Shake Shack which will likely be open when there are more fans and money to be made.

There's a brand new studio out there which is where the SNLA pre-game and
post-game shows will emanate.

And there's, of course, a Dodger blue fire truck.   Hey, why not?

And, of course, a new Dunkin' Donuts outlet.   Because you can't wait to have a cup of coffee with a barbecued sausage.

This team has waited a long time to hang some World Champions signage.  And right next to it is one of three new elevator banks in the stadium.

In the distant outreaches of the parking lot, you can see COVID-19 vaccine stations still up.   That's where I got my two shots of Moderna.

The lines to the men's room are going to take a little longer for a while as we practice socially distanced peeing.

This is the first time I literally stood right next to the batter's eye in center field.

They really control the pod seating.  Most seats are cordoned off by that heavy duty plastic strapping.   

But that allows you to stretch out comfortably.   Here I am covering two whole rows from my temporary seats on the first base line.  As you can see, the press box is also not immune to distancing.

Was this an ideal baseball Sunday?  No.  Only about a third of the concession stands are open.  Only a few souvenir stores are open.   You have to buy everything with a credit card.   Hot dog condiments are in those rip-apart packets.  And it looks particularly feeble when a wave goes through a stadium with so many empty sections.  Kiss Cam has been replaced by Mask Cam.   And the simple act of donning that thing has gotten very stale.

But it will all be back before you know it.  At least we have it in some shape or form right now.

And, by the way, there wasn't a cardboard cutout to be found.

Dinner last night:  Chicken and prosciutto tortellini.