Upon entering Dodger Stadium fans encounter a stadium featuring five seating levels, all extending from the left field foul pole to homeplate and to the right field foul pole, except for the top deck. The stadium was constructed in the hillside with parking lots surrounding the facility allowing fans to enter the stadium on the same level as their seats. Located just a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium is located in the valley of Chavez Ravine. Not only was Dodger Stadium home to the Dodgers during their inaugural first year, but it was also the home of the Los Angeles Angels who played here for three seasons before moving to Anaheim in 1966. On Apthe Los Angeles Dodgers played their first game at Dodger Stadium against the Cincinnati Reds when over 52,000 fans packed the five level structure. Construction began Septemand was originally to open in 1961 but landslides and lawsuits delayed construction by a year. In 1958 Los Angeles provided 352 acres of land in Chaves Ravine to the Dodgers in exchange for the team financing and constructing a new stadium. The Dodgers initially played at the Los Angeles Coliseum, a 90,000 seat stadium built for the 1932 Olympics. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and the Giants to San Francisco. The New York Giants, who played at the Polo Grounds, were unsuccessful in constructing a new ballpark in New York and decided to move the West Coast along with the Dodgers following the 1957 season. Officials here and in San Francisco sought to attract a professional team to their respective cities. During the 1950s cities on the West Coast were experiencing population booms including in Los Angeles. Politicians in the city prevented O’Malley from constructing a ballpark here leading him to evaluate other options. In 1950 Walter O’Malley purchased the team and began to seek a new ballpark for the Dodgers in Brooklyn. The Dodgers franchise was originally located in Brooklyn, NY where they played at the iconic Ebbets Field for 44 seasons. While it is the third oldest ballpark behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, one would never know as the stadium has been renovated several times throughout its history while maintaining its charm. With a background that includes swaying palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains there is no other ballpark that you could be at other than Dodger Stadium.
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