Dodgers Blue Heaven: Opening Day Tailgating Near Dodger Stadium could be a Hassle

Monday, March 30, 2015

Opening Day Tailgating Near Dodger Stadium could be a Hassle

I don't think anyone should be surprised there will be some new parking/tailgating related restrictions put into place for Opening Day near Dodger Stadium this year.

As you know, tailgating at Dodger Stadium is restricted, so fans head to adjacent Elysian Park to party before games. This usually isn't a big deal for most games, but on Opening Day it can be a nightmare. The place gets flooded with fans, and as a result the revelry can become a nuisance. For those who live nearby (namely the neighborhoods near Scott and Morton Avenue in Echo Park) it is an undesired disruption.

Check out Cecilia Padilla-Brill's article at The Eastsider for more information:

“There’s going to be zero tolerance for tailgating on Opening Day,” announced Council District 1 Field Deputy Melinda Alatorre at last week’s Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council meeting. “I don’t know how to express it enough. LAPD is bringing all of the resources that they possibly have to try to maintain the tailgating activity in the park as well as in the neighborhood.”

(Screen Grab from djace21 youtube video)

From what I understand, there was a huge party in neighborhoods near Dodger Stadium last year. Folks partied all morning and afternoon, drank alcohol and urinated in front of people's homes and in the streets, and there was an impromptu parade on Scott Avenue. Needless to say, it was a madhouse.

As a result, there will be "No Parking" signs along a stretch of Stadium Way known as "Avenue of the Palms." Also, several streets will have two-hour parking restrictions that both tailgaters and residents will have to abide by. So far, only four different thoroughfares have the two-hour restriction, but I suspect every residential street in the area will eventually face the parking limit.

The map at the very top shows the currently announced parking restrictions. More details will be announced later this week that will likely include more streets. BTW, these restrictions will only exist for Opening Day.