Chavez Ravine Recommendations?
I am a Cubs fan in San Jose, California, and I will be coming down to Dodgers Stadium for playoff game #3. I have never been to Chavez Ravine. Are there any local Cubs fans, or Dodgers fans looking in, who could give recommendations for where to eat, drink, rent a hotel room? Any good sports bars near the stadium?
I will be flying in to Burbank airport Saturday at noon, flying out Sunday at noon - so I could get a hotel room anywhere between there and the stadium. It just has to be decent, since I don't expect to spend a lot of time there. A fellow Cubs fan from Santa Barbara will be driving in and meeting me.
Thanks in advance!
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Nothing really within walking distance
Dodger Stadium is built in a little park area, which is where the Chavez Ravine name comes from. The park is surrounded by parking lots and can’t be easily reached by foot. The area on the southwest side of the park, (near the Elysian Park Ave. entry) where you could in theory walk, is a little dicey residential area. The rest of the stadium is surrounded primarily by park.
The park is pretty cool for a picnic, but I am not sure what the parking is like, what the rules on drinking are, etc.
There is no tailgating allowed on Dodger Stadium property. They also don’t allow people to bring signs in to the ballpark. They say that they don’t like to block the view of the other fans.
There is a bar near the campus called the Shortstop. I have never been there, but the google reviews are generally positive, though it is likely to be pro-Dodgers. Little Tokyo is a short cab ride away. Other options would be to find a place in Burbank, Glendale or Hollywood and make your way to the stadium from there.
Hotels are a dime-a-dozen. As much, or as little as you want to spend. You might consider Glendale or Burbank as a base. Both provide easy freeway access to the Stadium.
In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this? -Oysterband
Plan on paying for parking.
The hotel selection isn’t very good either, unless you want to pay a lot to stay downtown somewhere.
If you plan on wearing Cubs gear to the game, be aware of your surroundings. The Dodger fans are the worst that I’ve EVER been around. Don’t be surprised if you have food thrown on you, cursed at, etc…I saw them throw full water bottles at Giant fans, even though they could be considered “elderly.”
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
There are likely to be a lot of Cubs fans there.
Safety in numbers, etc.
Plus, I don’t think Dodger fans hate the Cubs the way they hate the Giants. That’s almost as nasty a rivalry as Yankees/Red Sox.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Dodger fans aren't nasty - just obnoxious
They will throw stuff at you if you wear the other team’s colors, and the ushers will conveniently look the other way.
Never, but NEVER, put ketchup on a hot dog.
Let's hope MLB security puts a stop to this.
I know there will be extra security in all ballparks for the playoffs.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I can't speak for playoff games
But I probably went to 15 games there last season and they all involved terrible behavior from Dodger fans. Truly the worst I’ve ever seen, at any sporting event.
I asked LAPD to help me out when I was being harassed and they didn’t do a darn thing. So I’d say, I’ll believe it when I see it.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Were you in the bleachers?
Because I’ve never had a problem at Dodger Stadium. In fact, I’ve been welcomed many times and people have been very friendly.
I do hear the bleachers are different, especially at night.
by Josh Timmers on Sep 30, 2008 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep.
I’ll say I’ve been going to Dodger games since I moved here in 1994. ALWAYS wear my colors and have NEVER had one thing thrown at me.
I don’t sit in the bleachers but I take excpetion to the blanket statements written above, especially since I have a whole 180 degree experience over a decade and a half.
And I’ll be stragith up: I’ve seen WAY more obnoxious fans at Wrigley than I ever have at Chavez – I do not sit in the bleachers.
Besides the obvious - Go Irish.
Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.
Why would you take exception...
….to me just passing along if my past experiences?!
While I will agree every stadium has their bad apples, Wrigley included, the type of things I saw at Chavez are way worse. At least at Wrigley the security will enforce the rules, the same is not true for Chavez.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
The worst incident I had was 10 rows up from 3rd base
I did go to a lot of games and stay in the bleachers, the all you can eat section was particularly worse, despite not serving alcohol.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
I've never had a problem with Cubs gear
Now if you wear Giants stuff, yeah, that stuff happens. But I’ve been to Chavez Ravine many times and the only fans who seem to get threatened are Giants fans and sometimes Padres fans. The serious stuff is more gang-related—someone recognizes someone from a rival NorCal gang by their Giants clothing. But they don’t mistake goofy tourists for gang-members
by Josh Timmers on Sep 30, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I got some of the gang stuff
B/c of wearing my Cubs hat backwards…..there is no excuse for that
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Parking
Also, get there early. Parking can be a nightmare. Park in a space near the exit and walk towards the stadium.
In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this? -Oysterband
I've been really worried about parking.
Last time I was at Dodger Stadium was in 1988. Got lost, then was driving around in circles, finally had to bribe one of the parking attendants $20 (and $20 was real money in ’88!) to give me a space.
I hope it’s better now.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
The parking....
…was changed last year. I still thought it was TERRIBLE, but all the Dodger regulars I talked to said it was leaps and bounds better than the years before.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
My $0.02
• Stay at one of the motels/hotels by Burbank Airport. Nothing really between there and the stadium in the way of accommodations.
• From Burbank Airport to Dodger Stadium – get on Interstate 5 South past Griffith Park and the LA Zoo, then exit at Stadium Way. Follow all the signs and cars to Dodger Stadium.
• Since the game will end around 10pm, some of the quaint little eateries close to the Ravine like Phillipe’s will already be closed. How well does your friend from Santa Barbara know LA? If he/she knows the area and you don’t mind going a bit out of the way, there are some classic eats within a few miles. You can try Tommy’s (chili burgers) on the corner of Rampart and Vermont, or Pink’s Hot Dogs in Hollywood on the corner of Melrose and LaBrea.
Never, but NEVER, put ketchup on a hot dog.
by CaliCub on Sep 30, 2008 12:52 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Barney's Beanery
If you are a fan of old school rockers, this place is full of history. Old hangout of Jim Morrison, last place Janis Joplin was seen alive, etc…
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Make sure you go the Rampart/Vermont Tommy's...
during daylight hours…and Pink’s is over, over, over rated. You’d be better off going south into Buena Park, south of Knotts Berry Farm, so you can go to — Portillo’s! (It’s on Rampart and Vermont, not Beverly, I Believe)
And, Olvera Street State Park (LA’s birthplace, across from Union Station) is also a great little place to visit to get some good Mexican food. In fact, I’d go there over any place near Dodger Stadium. Phillipe’s is also no big deal. I had so many people tell me to go there for a tasteless roast beef sandwich. All it has is atmosphere.
I believe the Dodgers have also instutited a shuttle service from Union Station.
And, I have never — never had any issues at Dodger Stadium with fans. Never. I just never see what you people are talking about. I’ve been going to Dodger Stadium for 20 years.
All the problems are in SD.
Barney’s on Santa Monica Blvd is a great idea, FYI.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Sep 30, 2008 1:09 PM CDT reply actions
My wife is still begging to go back to Portillo's in Buena Park :-)
Never, but NEVER, put ketchup on a hot dog.
Stay in Burbank
There are a lot of hotels in the area… not so much around the Stadium.
Make sure you get there early and park. They can sell out of parking spaces since it is a playoff game. If the 5 freeway is jammed you can drive through Griffith Park and take the surface streets. I live in Burbank and drive to work near Dodge Stadium everyday and I take this route which can sometimes be faster than the freeway.
As for Dodger fans… I have never had problems being harrassed by them. Most of the time I am surrounded by a lot of Cubs fans. Dodger fans are pretty cool and leave you alone.
If you get a Dodger dog, pay the extra money to get the Super Dodger Dog. It tastes much better than the original.
Have never had a problem
in close to 30 years of attending Cubs/Dodgers games in Dodger Stadium. The Cubs are well represented by fans when in LA. so perhaps the safety in numbers applies here. Also I have always been fortunate to have seats in Field Level or Loge, perhaps as the seat price/quality goes down so does the quality of the fan.
Parking is $15, arrive early it gets congested. As previously stated no tailgating and security does enforce the no alcohol rule in the parking lot.
Has anyone ever used the “Dodger Shuttle” from Union Station? Is the free service worth it, what does parking cost in and around Union Station?
Are there any plans for BCB’ers to get together before or after the game(s).
"Only lazy minds think baseball is dull" - Bernie Lincicome
by alwayshappy2bacubsfan on Sep 30, 2008 1:12 PM CDT reply actions
Also..
The no sign rule applies to flags as well. One time between innings I lifted a Cubs flag, security promptly confiscated it and gave me a claim ticket to pick it up following the game.
"Only lazy minds think baseball is dull" - Bernie Lincicome
by alwayshappy2bacubsfan on Sep 30, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Fan Problems
I grew up going to Dodger Stadium, despite being a Cubs fan. Back in the late 80’s, early 90’s, I would hop into my car, drive 20 minutes down the freeway, park outside the Stadium Way gate, walk into the stadium, buy an 8 dollar bleacher ticket, then in the seventh inning, would walk back into the main stadium and watch the last two innings from the lower deck.
Back in the day, the bleachers were a little rowdy because they were the cheap seats. No alcohol was served, but people could sneak in their flasks with little challenge.
My last couple of trips to Dodger Stadium have been negative experiences because of the fans. I went to a game while wearing a Cubs jersey with my name on it and I was booed, had food thrown at me and ice as well. This is NOT friendly rivalry stuff. It is verbal and physical assault.
IMHO, it stems from a combination of the gang-banger mentality and the post-Raider fan crowd. It is very much an “us-against-them” attitude in the cheaper seats.
In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this? -Oysterband
Sorry to hear that.
I lived in SoCal from 1990 to 1994 and religiously attended Cubs games at Dodgers Stadium. Never had a problem inside the park, and always managed to find great seats for a buck or two over face while walking in from the parking lot. No point in having tickets in hand when you can pick up great seats at the door.
Too bad things have changed, and I know well what you mean with regard to the Radier mentality. Football games were always “interesting” at the Coliseum, and with the Raiders long gone, I guess these morons gravitated to Chavez Ravine. Too bad.
"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns
Thank you for your post
I was beginning to think I was the only one who had bad experiences there. To be honest, I can sometimes bring it on myself, but as an Iowa boy who just moved to LA, I was far to intimidated to do anything beside clap when the Cubs did well.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
THANKS TO ALL!!
Thanks a lot for the recommendations and warnings. This was very helpful.
It’s all helpful, but thanks especially to CaliCub for some very specific recommendations…

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