One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Dodgers Stadium Renovation: Design Team Selected!
Dodger Stadium during off-hours (Photo by sfxeric via the LAist Featured Photos pool)
Fans of L.A.'s Big Blue, your team's Chavez Ravine digs are destined for a new look. The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected Ashton Design to do a renovation of the historic baseball stadium.
The Baltimore-based firm made the announcement themselves on their site blog, revealing two members of "team Ashton," Jonathan Han and Ronnie Younts, have already been doing some preliminary walk-throughs of the venue.
The Dodgers hired Janet Marie Smith specifically to oversee the project; she came on board in August, and has worked with Ashton Design previously on renovation projects in Camden Yards (Baltimore), Fenway Park (Boston), and Turner Field (Atlanta). Ashton Design has some experience on the West Coast, since they've previously done work for Pasadena's famous Rose Bowl.
Still, it's a whole new ball game, says Ashton Design:
Dodgers Stadium, a mid-century modern stadium, offers a new set of challenges and a unique history that our designers are very excited to tackle! The renovation will be a multi-year project and fans can expect a more engaging and enjoyable experience in the future.
So are drastic changes expected for the stadium? Nah. In August, Dodgers President Stan Kasten said of Smith's vision:
"She kind of likes that retro '50s feel that this ballpark has, that really no other ballpark has. And no other ballpark has the palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains. These are the things she would like to build on."
Sponsored message
But there will be improvements: Kids' areas, more bars and restaurants, relaxation areas, history displays, interactive areas — the kinds of things you find in modern ballparks," added Kasten.Work is likely to get underway in the winter.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
