The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their last day of the offseason by formally introducing Mookie Betts and David Price during a press conference that was staged in center field at Dodger Stadium.
The players, along with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts, sat with their backs to home plate and facing a Dodger Stadium pavilion that remains under heavy construction.
At the time of unveiling the logo for the 2020 MLB All-Star Game, the Dodgers additionally announced a $100-million renovation of Dodger Stadium. The project is adding a plaza in center field, two new sports bars, new children’s play area, five elevators, four escalators, and “home run seats,” among other amenities and upgrades.
“Entertainment-wise, we are going to start building a two-acre entertainment plaza. This plaza will have a new front door for our stadium, because we don’t really have one,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said at the time.
“And we’re going to have a lot of new food offerings; a beer garden for craft beers; a history display all throughout; a kid’s field right behind the outfield wall; we’re going to have a midway of games and interactive exhibits, both high-tech and low-tech, social media; two separate sports bars with views into the bullpens.”
On Thursday, the Dodgers released additional updated renderings and a simulated flyover video of Dodger Stadium. While the goal remains to complete all renovations by Opening Day (March 26), some elements will be unveiled and added during the first few homestands.
Moreover, the renovated pavilions and center field plaza will not be accessible during the exhibition Freeway Series (March 23-24), as finishing touches are completed.
[LOOK: Complete history of renovations and upgrades at Dodger Stadium]
Betts and Price were given a firsthand look at the progress being made before departing for the airport to take a chartered flight to Glendale, Ariz.
“It was a treat to take someone around who has known the opposite of this stadium (layout),” Dodgers senior vice president of planning and development Janet Marie Smith told DodgerBlue.com after guiding Betts and Price on a tour.
Fenway Park is part of Smith’s incredible portfolio, and it of course is where Betts and Price called home for several seasons.
While Kasten and Smith eagerly await fans being able to experience new features and amenities, they are equally as proud of preserving the historic feel and sight lines at Dodger Stadium — the third-oldest ballpark in the Majors.
Further details of the renovation, including food and beverage concepts and interactive experiences, will be announced as Opening Day approaches.
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