The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their march toward repeating as National League champions and a second consecutive appearance in the World Series with an Opening Day matchup at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants.
Thursday’s game is the start of a four-game Opening Series, with two of the games set for national TV broadcasts. ESPN has exclusive rights for Opening Day, and the network will also televise the finale as part of their Sunday Night Baseball programming.
The series opener and Friday’s game are both sold out, while tickets remain for Saturday (6:10 p.m. PT first pitch) and Sunday (5:37 p.m.).
Dodgers probables for the series are, in order, Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, Kenta Maeda and Rich Hill. The Opening Day start is Kershaw’s eighth, which sets a Dodgers franchise record.
Ty Blach, Johnny Cueto, Derek Holland and Chris Stratton are scheduled to take the ball for the Giants.
Throughout the Opening Series, the Dodgers will celebrate their 60 yeas in Los Angeles and include a special tribute to recognize the 30th anniversary of the organization’s last World Series team.
Parking at Dodger Stadium throughout the regular season is $25 at the gate and available for $15 by way of pre-paid. Also available is $5 parking in Lots 13 and 14, which are located on Stadium Way, adjacent to the Los Angeles Fire Department training center. A free shuttle will be available for disabled fans. The lots will open to the public at the same time as the other Dodger Stadium parking lots.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and take advantage of rideshare, pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation options.
With Uber, fans can get dropped off at any of the five entry gates during pregame. Once the game is over, fans can head to the dedicated Uber Zone in Lot 12 to meet their driver and be on their way in no time.
The Dodgers have dedicated pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes leading into all entrances, as well as new lights, signage and circulation patterns on resurfaced parking lots. The Dodger Stadium Express from Union Station has two stops, behind the pavilions and at the Top Deck.
There is also improved pedestrian connectivity to the 76 Station, Lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, F, K and Auto Gates C, D and E, and dedicated Metro and taxi areas along the existing center field straightaway with striped pedestrian zones for loading and unloading.
The Dodger Stadium Express will be available in two options: Union Station and the Dodger Stadium Express South Bay. Dodger Stadium Express Union Station and Dodger Stadium Express South Bay services are free of charge with a gameday ticket.
For Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, Dodger Stadium Express Union Station service will be provided every 10 minutes, starting three hours prior to first pitch, and run approximately every 30 minutes throughout the game. Fans traveling from Union Station without a ticket will pay a regular one-way fare of $1.75.
The Dodger Stadium Express South Bay service will be provided every 20 minutes, starting three hours before game time, with the last bus leaving Harbor Gateway Transit Center at first pitch. Those traveling from the South Bay without tickets will be charged $2.50. Fans will be dropped off in Lot G by the right field pavilion. Return service begins after the end of the seventh inning, with the last bus departing 45 minutes after the final out or 20 minutes after a postgame event.
Fans can also board the Union Station bus at Broadway and Cesar Chavez, a short walk from the Chinatown Gold Line Metro stop.
- Thursday, March 29, 4:08 p.m. PT first pitch
- Auto and stadium gates open at 1 p.m. PT
- Opening Day pregame ceremonies begin at approximately 3:30 p.m.
- National anthem due to be performed by Pia Toscano at 3:52 p.m.
- Kirk Gibson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at 4 p.m.
- Proceeds from the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s 50-50 raffle to benefit the Kirk Gibson Foundation, which raises money and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease
- Magnet schedule presented by Bank of America (first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance)
- Friday, March 30, 7:10 p.m.
- Kirk Gibson Special Edition Bobblehead presented by Bank of America (first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance)
- Postgame Friday Night Fireworks
- Saturday, March 31, 6:10 p.m.
- National League Championship Ring Ceremony (fans encouraged to arrive early for 5:30 p.m. ceremony)
- Sunday, April 1, 5:37 p.m.
- Ceremonial First Pitch: Chloe Kim – USA Olympic Snowboarding Gold Medalist