The Los Angeles Dodgers will play in front of a crowd of fans at Dodger Stadium Friday for the first time in more than 530 days.
And what a home opener it'll be for the storied franchise and its fans.
Players and coaches will receive their 2020 World Series rings and the team will raise its championship banner before the game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. The last time fans were in Dodger Stadium for a game was Oct. 19, 2019, which also was a game against the Nationals.
Here’s what to know about Friday’s home opener for World Series champions. The first pitch is set for 1:10 p.m.
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It’s Been a While
The game will be the first with fans at Dodger Stadium since Oct. 9, 2019, when the Dodgers lost to Washington, 7-3, in Game 5 of a National League Division Series in a game best-remembered for Clayton Kershaw allowing home runs on consecutive pitches to Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto in the eighth
inning to tie the score, and former Dodger Howie Kendrick hitting a tie-breaking 10th-inning grand slam off Joe Kelly.
Ring in the New Season
Basketball legend Magic Johnson and pioneering tennis champion Billie Jean King will be among those raising the banner, Dodger broadcaster Jaime Jarrin tweeted. Jarrin will also be a participant. Johnson and King are both part of the Dodgers' ownership group.
Who’s Gone?
The members of the 2020 Dodgers who left the team via free agency or trades -- Kike Hernandez, Joc Pederson, Pedro Baez, Alex Wood, Jake McGee, Adam Kolarek, Dylan Floro, Josh Sborz and Terrance Gore -- will be presented with their rings throughout the season, a team official told City News Service.
Good as Gold
Continuing the tradition of recent World Series champions, the Dodgers will wear special-edition jerseys and caps for the three-game series against the Nationals, featuring gold-outlined logos, a World Series champions patch and a gold VII on the sleeve in recognition of the franchise's seven championships.
The jerseys and caps will go on sale exclusively at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers Clubhouse stores throughout the Los Angeles area and Dodgers.com starting at noon before a broader release on Monday.
Get Your Own
A set of the special edition game-worn jerseys will be auctioned on Dodgers.com/auctions with net proceeds benefiting B2B Safe, an initiative of Baby2Baby to provide 10,000 emergency COVID-19 care kits to children who do not have the option of social distancing when they are living in overcrowded
conditions or are experiencing homelessness. Baby2Baby is a Los Angeles-based mega diaper bank and nonprofit organization that provides essential items to children in need across the nation.
Pandemic Rules
While being in the orange tier under the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy allows 33% capacity at baseball stadiums with suites limited to 25%, the Dodgers initially expect to host around 15,000 fans for their games at 56,000-seat Dodger Stadium, nearly 27%, allowing for distancing between seating pods, a team official said.
The following changes and rules implemented at Dodger Stadium in response to the coronavirus pandemic:
- All tickets will be issued digitally and scanned at ballpark entrances from a mobile device.
- Fans will be seated in physically distanced pods of two to six people, with unused seats cordoned off.
- Social distancing will be encouraged throughout the stadium, with limited capacity in elevators, restrooms and other indoor areas.
- Visual markers, signage and queue lines will be in place throughout Dodger Stadium to ensure compliance, facilitate traffic flow and prevent congestion areas.
- Fans are requested to refrain from congregating when visiting the concourse, follow all posted signage and direction from Dodger Stadium staff.
- Only clear bags measuring 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches, or about the size of a one-gallon freezer bag, will be permitted inside.
- Backpacks, coolers and large purses will not be permitted, with the exception of medical bags or diaper bags.
- All purchases inside the stadium will be cash-less and contact-free. For those who need them, cash-to-card kiosks will be located throughout the stadium so people can load cash onto prepaid Mastercard debit cards.
- Parking must be purchased in advance.
- Face coverings will be required for everyone age 2 and older, and can only be removed by people eating or drinking at their seats. Neck gaiters, bandanas and masks with valves do NOT qualify as face coverings.
- Face coverings should fully cover the mouth and nose and fit snugly against the sides of the face so there are no gaps.
- The stadium and parking lots will be completely smoke-free, including a ban on electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.
- Parking lots will have reduced capacity. Following the home opener, they will open 90 minutes before the game with stadium gates opening one hour before the game.
Team officials said hand-sanitizing stations will be located throughout the stadium, and additional staff will be on hand to clean high-touch areas. Bathrooms will have reduced capacity and be outfitted with contact-free soap and towel dispensers.
Plexiglass dividers have been added to merchandise locations and other areas of interaction.
Fans are encouraged to visit Dodgers.com/FanSafety to familiarize themselves with all the changes to the fan experience at Dodger Stadium entering 2021.
Photos: Dodger Stadium Renovations Will Dazzle Fans
What’s New?
The game will also be the first for fans to experience a series of stadium improvements, including the creation of Centerfield Plaza, renovations to the Left and Right Field Pavilions, bridges to connect the new pavilion standing room decks to the rest of the stadium and a new sound system.
Game Preview
The game is matchup between the two most recent World Series champions, although that is coincidence. The 2021 schedule was announced July 9, more than three months before the Dodgers' six-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays gave them their first World Series championship since 1988.
Walker Buehler will start for the Dodgers while fellow right-hander Joe Ross will start for the Nationals.
