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MLB Power Rankings: Top 30 stadiums of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The sun sets over Wrigley Field during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The sun sets over Wrigley Field during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 12, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Dodger Stadium before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Dodger Stadium before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Dodger Stadium

  • Year Opened: 1962
  • Capacity: 56,000
  • Defining Features: Chavez Ravine, dugout level seats, wavy outfield roofs, innovative parking design

Dodger Stadium is the third-oldest active MLB stadium, and the oldest on the West Coast. It was designed and constructed just before the rise of the characterless multi-use concrete bowls. The stadium is constructed in beautiful Chavez Ravine on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles, and offers striking views of the surrounding hills. Unfortunately, its location and the ever-present LA traffic can make it difficult to get to games on time, and it is not uncommon to see the bowl gradually filling up by the third inning.

With an official capacity of 56,000, Dodger Stadium is the largest stadium in the big leagues today. A local ordinance caps the capacity at the original 56,000, and every time the Dodgers want to add seats to one location of the stadium, they must remove seats from a different area. The actual seating capacity today is slightly less than 56,000, but ownership will not provide an exact number. The seats are different colors by level, giving an interesting look when empty.

The Dodgers were the first team to include dugout-level seats in their stadium. Owner Walter O’Malley got the idea after seeing similar seats in Tokyo during a goodwill tour while the Dodgers still played in Brooklyn. These seats are now often occupied by A-listers. The outfield features two sets of pavilion bleachers topped by wavy roofs. The parking lots that surround the stadium feature a unique tiered design. Fans park in different levels based on the location of their tickets.

Dodger Stadium is tirelessly maintained — everything from the paint to the landscaping to the seats. Despite its advancing age, the park does not feel over 50 years old.

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