Opening Day presented by Bank of America kicks off "A Whole New Blue"
LOS ANGELES - Opening Day at Dodger Stadium presented by Bank of America is Monday, April 1 and will launch the club's season-long "A Whole New Blue" theme generated by the club's ambitious offseason program to strengthen the team and implement enhancements to iconic Dodger Stadium. Pregame ceremonies on Opening Day will feature extensive entertainment and traditional Opening Day festivities. Entertainment will begin at 12:15 p.m. and auto and stadium gates open at 10:00 a.m. Opening Day is sold out. The Dodgers will face longtime rivals, the World Champion San Francisco Giants, in their season opener at 1:10 p.m.
Opening Day pregame highlights will include the unveiling of two new high-definition video boards with a historical look back at Dodger Stadium's scoreboards leading into "A Whole New Blue" season-launching performance by the Blue Man Group. Dixieland and Mariachi bands located in new plaza areas throughout the ballpark will provide live entertainment for fans entering Dodger Stadium gates.
A pregame recognition of the Dodgers' 1963 and 1988 Championship seasons is planned, with this season marking the 50th and 25th anniversaries respectively of each milestone. A special Opening Day video chronicling the journey of the Opening Day first-pitch baseball will feature notable Los Angeles athletes and celebrities. The first pitch baseball's journey will conclude with the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium.
The United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard stationed at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow will present our nation's colors riding on Palomino-colored wild mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management's Adopt -A- Horse program. One hundred fifty uniformed personnel from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard will unfurl a giant flag on the field during the national anthem. Additionally, all fans seated in the Right and Left Field Pavilions will participate in an interactive card stunt during the game, a first for Dodger Stadium.
For the third consecutive season, the Dodgers will pay tribute to the men and women of our nation's Armed Forces by honoring a "Veteran of the Game." Opening Day's veteran of the game is United States Marines Corps Corporal Fernando Salazar of Monterey Park. Salazar joined the Marine Corps in 2000 and served as a machine gun squad leader with Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 4th Marines during Operation Enduring Freedom and RCT I, the first group to enter Iraq for which he was awarded the Navy Achievement medal with a Combat V for Valor, which can only be issued during a time of war.
Opening Day will feature several new Levy Restaurant concession items offering something for every Dodger fan, including choices from classic ballpark fare to unique specialty items, to gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Alongside fan-favorites at the stadium such as the Farmer John Dodger Dog, new to Dodger Stadium concessions are LA Taqueria (Reserve Level) and Elysian Park Grill (Two locations on Reserve level and Top of Park). LA Taqueria will offer items including Fish Tacos and Street Style Carne Asada and Pork Carnitas Tacos. Elysian Park Grill will offer a Dodger Blue Heaven Burger, Kids Grilled Cheese, Santa Fe Turkey Burger and the new Brooklyn Dodger Dog, an east coast take on the classic Dodger Dog. Loaded Dog Concessions are back with several new options and vegetarian-friendly items include the Veggie Dog. Soft serve, garlic fries, kid-friendly items and ICEE will be available on the Reserve, Top Deck levels and throughout the stadium. More than 30 items are priced at $6 or less.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy all Opening Day festivities. Auto gates and stadium gates will open at 10:00 a.m. and fans at the game will receive Opening Day Magnet Schedules presented by Bank of America. The Dodgers recommend use of the many transportation alternatives that serve Union Station and that will connect them to the Dodger Stadium Express. The shuttle service includes a dedicated bus lane on Sunset Boulevard from Union Station to Elysian Park Avenue. Dodger game day tickets will be honored as payment to ride the bus service and the shuttle will operate starting at 9:45 a.m. through 45 minutes after the game.
Official Team Merchandise Stores locations - left and right field tent stores, Top of the Park and Reserve - will now open 2 hours prior to game time. All other locations will open 90 minutes prior to game time. The Reserve level third base side store has been enhanced extensively and will offer merchandise for all ages. There are several season-long in-store promotions that make Dodger Stadium the most affordable retail location to purchase Dodger merchandise.
For the first time, there will be several carts that will assist in transporting the disabled, seniors and families with young children from the parking lots to the ticket gates. There will also be gate greeters to assist fans with questions as they enter stadium gates in addition to ambassadors at parking gate entrances. Additionally, family restrooms have been added and there are now dedicated fan service locations throughout the stadium. Fans are also reminded that in an effort to keep Dodger Stadium family-friendly, tailgating is prohibited and alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in Dodger Stadium parking lots. Anyone in violation of this policy may be asked to leave the premises, be subject to citation or arrest by LAPD and/or be banned from future events at the stadium.
While Opening Day is sold out, fans can secure tickets to 2013 regular season games by visiting www.dodgers.com/tickets or by calling 323-DODGERS. The Dodgers' first homestand of the 2013 regular season includes a Hooded Sweatshirt presented by Coca-Cola (4/3 vs. SF, 7:10 p.m.), Friday Night Fireworks presented by Denny's (4/5 vs. PIT, 7:10 p.m.), Matt Kemp Replica Jersey presented by Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and Viva Los Dodgers Day presented by Chevrolet, State Farm and Time Warner Cable (4/7 vs. PIT, 1:10 p.m.).
An all-time organization record has been set as 31,000 full season equivalent seats have been sold to date. Dodger season ticket options offer one of the best values in Los Angeles and all of sports with season tickets starting at $6 per ticket. Mini plans start at $11 per ticket. More information on season tickets can be found by visiting www.dodgers.com/seasontickets.
The official hashtag of Opening Day is #OpeningDayLA. #OpeningDayLA content will be promoted across the Dodgers' official social media platforms including: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Google + and Pinterest. The Dodgers are taking part in a Thunderclap, the first-ever crowd-speaking platform that allows a single message to be mass-shared. When 2,013 fans sign up and at 1:00 p.m. on April 1, "It's time for Dodger baseball! #OpeningDayLA" will be released by the masses. Fans can also tweet their best video rendition of "It's time for Dodger baseball!" via the Vine app for a chance to win a baseball signed by Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully.
The Dodgers' season opener against the Giants will be televised locally on PRIME TICKET and nationally on ESPN. The Dodgers' radio broadcast is on AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles and in Spanish is on Univision America KTNQ 1020 AM.