Chavez Ravine Recommendations?

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.

• 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.

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.

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).

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.

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…