Boys would love to see a Baseball Game while at DL..Suggestions??

[hookem81]

We are from Chicago and are big baseball fans too. I have three kids. We have taken many trips to DL and like to take in a ball game when we are out there also. We have been to Dodger, Angel, and Padre games.

As everyone has said, the Angels are extremely close and easy to get tickets to. It is a good experience. Of course, all the California baseball experiences will be much less intense than the Big Apple. I have taken the family to Dodger Stadium and was blown away by it. It is a terrific and magical setting - parts of it will remind you of the old Yankee Stadium. I was advised several years ago to avoid going to a Giants-Dodgers game and that turned out to be good advice. We saw them play the Brewers and it was a relaxed atmosphere

The Padres stadium is very cool. It is a long drive from Anaheim though, but I'm glad we went.

 

[DharmaLou]

AT&T Park in San Francisco is the best ballpark in MLB, although that may be a bit out of the way

Based on your post I'm assuming you want to minimize travel time to the park, so Petco Park in San Diego is probably out as well, as it's around a 2 hour drive away. It is a gorgeous park, though, the best in Southern California. The fans are pretty tame, the prices are relatively cheap, and it just fits into the city well. Not the most exciting of teams or park effects, though (most pitcher-friendly park in the majors - you're not going to see many, if any home runs).

I'd recommend Angels Stadium (of Los Angeles of Anaheim), because it is so close that you'd hardly lose any time at DL at all, and because it's in a relatively safe area. Plus, you'll see Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, which should be fun.

Don't go to Dodger Stadium. There's a reason some call it Chavez Latrine: it is a dump. The area isn't safe, the ballpark itself isn't safe (see: Bryan Stow), and it'll take you a few hours just to get to LA in rush hour traffic and then getting out of the parking lot is a pain. Oh, and Dodger Dogs are highly overrated.

Really, if you are okay with either Petco or Angels Stadium, I'd also recommend looking at their respective schedules for who they're playing or even if they're at home. That could instantly make the decision for you if one of the teams is on the road, or if a NY team is visiting.

I dunno, I've been to just about all of the ballparks and the SF ballpark doesn't make top 5.

Dodger Stadium is a must-see. It's the 3rd oldest ballpark in the majors and very well kept up. (the PP is obviously a SF fan - I'm not a fan of either team, so I have no bias that way). The ballpark is no less safe than any other stadium in baseball, and if you go to NYY games, it's no less safe than that. It's not in a bad neighborhood (in fact it's not in a neighborhood at all)

The fan that was hurt was a random attack. Don't let a biased fan ruin what could be an awesome experience for you.

Angels Stadium is close to DLR, and I have been there many times too.

You'll have fun wherever you go!

 

[woody73]

. . . the Bryan Stow incident. I'm sure now there's beefed up security, especially in the wake of that . . .

Yeah, they doubled the security force and now have two former mall cops.

Woody
Los Angeles

 

[Malcon10t]

The fan that was hurt was a random attack. Don't let a biased fan ruin what could be an awesome experience for you.

I don't think it is a biased fan. I think it is looking at police reports, fights shown on Youtube, fight reports, etc... I would not feel comfortable as an out-of-towner going to Dodger Stadium.

ANgel Stadium/Petco Stadium, I wouldn't have the same fear.

 

[MrsMears]

FYI: ART (Anaheim Resort Transit) travels to the Angels stadium, Routes 14 &15.
http://www.rideart.org/route-map/

 

[DharmaLou]

I don't think it is a biased fan. I think it is looking at police reports, fights shown on Youtube, fight reports, etc... I would not feel comfortable as an out-of-towner going to Dodger Stadium.

ANgel Stadium/Petco Stadium, I wouldn't have the same fear.

Very biased. I have been to games at both stadiums and I have seen SF fans harass others as well. I have never felt unsafe at a Dodger game. I don't think all the "celebs" would go to games if there was such a safety concern.

Every fan base base has great fans and jerk fans. The jerk fans are always the minority. Use common sense and you'll be fine.

 

[jlmarr]

... I think that everyone is right and the Angels would be the best choice for this trip.

Here's the Angels schedule:

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=ana#y=2012&m=7&calendar=DEFAULT

Of course if they're out of town then you'll need to consider other options. Personally I don't have a problem with Dodger Stadium other than the drive.

I do like Giants Ballparks but that's 400 miles away!

 

[spellhex]

Very biased. I have been to games at both stadiums and I have seen SF fans harass others as well. I have never felt unsafe at a Dodger game. I don't think all the "celebs" would go to games if there was such a safety concern.

Every fan base base has great fans and jerk fans. The jerk fans are always the minority. Use common sense and you'll be fine.

I do admit I am biased, since my experience was probably not the same as the vast majority's between being a Giants fan and the heightened tensions in the rivalry at the time. And, like I said, the security has probably been beefed up since I've gone (especially since the McCourts are no longer in charge). But I've gone to plenty of hockey and college football games as an away fan and had never had the same negative experience.

I didn't mean to insinuate that all Dodgers fans were horrible and you're guaranteed to have a bad experience there, although I can definitely see how my original post can be construed that way. I just meant that if I had the choice, I would stay away from Dodger Stadium because of the experience that I had there.

I do stand by my comment about Dodger Dogs, though. Definitely not the best thing I've had at a sports game, haha.

 

[TwingleMum]

There are sport rivalries that make going to a game a chancy thing. As I said an Islander - Ranger Hockey game is not somewhere I would take my kids. My kids are huge Islander fans (poor things LOL). The crowds get too 'excited' and its not something I want to expose my kids to. So its a good idea when you are not familiar with an area to ask people who's opinions you trust. And I must say people on the Dis on the whole are always willing to be helpful and give you good advise. I would like to go to a Dodger game for the sense of history and of course they really are a New York Team lmao my Father still talks bitterly about the bums moving to the left coast. But for this trip and the fact the boys are still pretty young (10, 8,8) I think Angels would be a better fit this trip. But I look forward to seeing more of California and visiting other ball parks in the future.

 

[laujasero]

We are going to a game at Anaheim, one at Dodger Stadium and one in Oakland at the end of the month. We would love to go to a game in San Fran., But tickets are cheap.

We have been to numerous angel games and were they during All Star Weekend a couple years ago. We have our vehicle their and find parking in and out real easy. Our kids love going to games

Like PPs have stated going to a Stadium with the visitor teams jersey on...You have to be ready for the trash talk.

Later

 

[Sully14]

I am a New Yorker. I go to Yankee and Mets games, I go to Giants and Jets, and was once a season ticket holder for the Rangers...back before they cleaned up the Garden. (I have seen bad fan behavior and I won't take my kids to Jets games) I am going out to CA in August; will see the Dodgers Aug 7 for Koufax bobblehead nite, and the Angels Aug 10th. I have been to both stadiums in the past, seeing the Yankees in Anaheim. I also saw the Mets last year in San Diego (about a 75 min trip with no traffic).

Angels Stadium is the most fan friendly place I have been of the approx 20 MLB stadiums I have been to. As an out of towner, make sure you stop by their customer service office. Back in 2004, they gave my sons 2 new Angels hats if they promised to take off their Mets and Yankees hats ! Only about 3 miles from Disneyland on Katella Avenue, I would definitely go there if had the choice of which place to go while in CA.

Dodger Stadium is one HUGE traffic hassle. The fans are not as bad as the media says; Philly is much worse ! Then again I wore a Brooklyn Dodger shirt and they were playing Colorado....but I have seen much worse behavior in Philly. I just wish they had a late AMTRAK train back to Anaheim after a Dodgers Game. The last train leaves Union Station at 10:10. That means leaving in the 7th inning to catch the Dodger Shuttle to Union Station. Can't they have ONE late train? Say, leaves Union Station 45 minutes after game ends?

Since it looks like I will have to drive to Dodger Stadium from DLR, does anyone have the best route to take?

 

[woody73]

. . . Since it looks like I will have to drive to Dodger Stadium from DLR, does anyone have the best route to take?

Take the 5 Fwy (Santa Ana Fwy) north.
Merge onto the 101 Fwy (Hollywood Fwy) north.
Take the Alameda St. exit, right (north).
Go to Philippe's (1001 N. Alameda) for an original French Dip Sandwich, and see the Dodgers memorabilia on display. Link
From there, take surface streets to Dodger Stadium.

Woody

 

[Sully14]

If I took the train, people told me to make sure I stop at Philippe's too ! I've never been there; I was also thinking of finally going to Pink's. Is that worth the stop? My family has been going on vacations to DLR since '96.

 

[laujasero]

I would recommend Pinks. Our family was there a couple years ago, planning to go again this summer. I see Philippe might have to be a stop.
Thanks

 

[Brady's Mom]

In our family's opinion Phillipe's is way overrated and over priced.

We are die hard Giants fans at our house and our DDIL is a die hard Dodger fan. She and our son have been to numerous Dodger games at Dodger Stadium and each worn their team jerseys and neither have had any problems. DH and I have been to Giants/Dodgers games at the 'Stick and seen Dodgers burned in effigy. There are rabid fans at any ballpark.

Angels Stadium sounds like a good fit for your family for this trip. I hope it works out for you and you all have a really great time.