Shortly after the Los Angeles Dodgers were granted the 2020 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, they unveiled plans for a Dodger Stadium renovation project that was to be completed during this past offseason.
The renovations mostly are being done behind center field, notably adding social and eating areas for fans. They are also installing more elevators and making it possible to walk all the way around the stadium, which has never previously been the case.
The original plan was for the construction to be complete by the time the Dodgers took the field for Opening Day in 2020. Unfortunately, that never happened as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shut everything down in the middle of Spring Training.
Construction has been deemed an essential business in California during this difficult time, so although the Dodgers had the option to halt their renovations given the season isn’t starting any time soon, they continued working as opposed to putting everything on hold.
Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten did note construction crews are smaller in numbers and scheduled differently in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Dodgers otherwise haven’t given many updates on the renovations since the pandemic started, but Micah Muzio provided a nice view of everything that is going on through his helicopter. It’s easy to see the new structures in place behind the center-field wall, which are expected to be food and bar areas, but it is also clear that there is still work to be done.
Given the circumstances, it is unlikely that MLB has an All-Star Game in 2020, and if they do, there certainly won’t be any fans in attendance. The last time Dodger Stadium hosted the Midsummer Classic was in 1980, and it appears they will have to wait a little longer before doing so again.
The 2021 All-Star Game is already scheduled for SunTrust Park in Atlanta, but no one has been awarded 2022 yet, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see that go to the Dodgers to presumably make up for this season.
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