The bottom line on the Baseline Box Seats at Dodger Stadium: You'll dig it
You may never get an invite to sit in one of the Hollywood Bowl-type Baseline Box Seats that the Dodgers offer at Dodger Stadium -- those yellow sectioned-off areas that stretch between the dugout and taper down to the foul pole.
But if you do, take this as a piece of advice: drop what you're doing and take advantage of it.
Likewise, if you ever decide to pay for one of those seats -- maybe it's a special birthday, and you want do it up right -- once you get over the sticker shock, you're going to decide it was all worth the experience.
Given the opportunity to share a box with the family recently, I can say I have sat closer to watch a game, but I don't think I've had a more unique chance to feel as if I was almost on the field with the players, able to tap the third-base ump on the shoulder to ask if he'd like a drink, or give a shout to third base coach Larry Bowa to see if he'd toss that foul ball that just dribbled down to him.
Where to start?
Let's get past the cost of it.
A seat by itself: $225.
A seat with access to the VIP club: $285.
And even though the seats are in the enclosure of four to a box, individual seats can be purchased in either one, two, three of four (versus a season seat holder who has four for each game).
More infomation on the pricing, as well as season seat packages, go to this link on the team website.
About the seats:
The table in front includes (if it's a day game) packages of sun screen, an usher willing to help you out with whatever you may need (can you take our picture?) and far more leg room that you'd ever need. Under the tables is also a shelf to store things you want to keep out of sight. The usher will also watch your stuff if you go and come back later -- not that you'd expect anything to be stolen, but it's a nice thing to know.
About everything else:
The club access adds a dimension that most high-end theatres and sporting stadiums and arenas tend to offer in some form or another, it's just taken Dodger Stadium a few years to catch up. Coming on the field level, you'll note the clubs on both the first- and third-base sides, tucked in next to the general concession stands recently remodeled (like the Canter's Deli, with those hard-to-ignore $11 corned beef and pastrami sandwiches or turkey french dips).
Get there early enough to enjoy the buffet (part of the deal) after picking up a program and game notes. In the air-conditioned setting, the food's free (the drinks aren't, so that's $7 for a beer, $11 for a glass of wine, and specialty coctails and martinis go from $10 to $12).
The buffet isn't for wimps -- despite the choices of things like (on this day) pineapple glazed ham at the carving station with dried cherry chutney, cavatappi pasta with cherry tomatoes and spinach in alfredo sauce, vegetable fritatas, grilled citrus salmon next to the piles of Dodger Dogs, Hot Louisiana Sausages and bags of peanuts. They're offered on plates, or carry-out trays to take to the seats. The food stays out until the sixth inning before the fruit and cookies come out for later innings. There's always the soft-serve ice cream machine. Fountain drinks are free flowing (would recommend a real ice tea machine instead of the stuff out of the spickets) and even Nescafe Frothe and Ice Java machine.
While eating, there are more than a dozen flat-screen TVs, most tuned into different sporting events.
Hold on, let's do less talking and more visualizing with the photos, starting with the nice vibe from the retro decor that's all around the club area:
==The retro decor goes all the way down to the bar stools:
About the coctails:
Suck down the "Fernandomania!" -- Sauza Conmemorativo and Grand Marnier shaken with a splash of sweet and sour and OJ, served with a salted rim and lime. Do that early. Then, before the trip home, stop back at the bar (it stays open at least a half hour after the final pitch) and try out the "Perfect Game" -- a blend of DiSaronno Amaetto, Dekuyper Triple Sec and OJ with a little cream. It's like drinking ice cream.
==OK, let's get outta here and back to the game -- the seats are heating up:
Some of the rows of cushioned seats are actually a little bit under field level. And the crazy thing is that a ball flying down the third base line can actually make you twist around and look behind your shoulder -- and it will still land fair.
==That's the view from our seats on that particular day ... reach out and touch Nomar:
==And a look over at the Dodger dugout -- with everyone back in the shade, and an usher using an ice bag to keep cool:
==Too hot? Get back to the club, the AC is blowing for a reason:
==Relax, have a cold one, and watch a few innings on the flat screens and listen to Vin Scully describe it:
A kid walking by with his dad, who's taking him to the bathroom, suddenly stops and stares at the game on the TV monitor.
"The game looks better here than it dos outside," he says.
For once, the kid was right.
==Did we mention the cool '50s style look?:
Dave Siegel, the Dodgers' go-to man for premium seat sales, said the objective of the Baseline Boxes were to lure "the true baseball fans. Their seats are literally on what used to be the part of the playing field. It's been a huge hit with not only the fans who want to conduct business at Dodger Stadium, but also the die-hard fans who just want an incredible view of the game."
There is another perk attached: Those who spend enough on these get to do things like take batting practice on the field and get one-on-one time with Dodger coaches and players.
All in all, worth the couple hours of watching people look into the club at you and wonder: How do I get a piece of that first-class treatment? If you've ever got a chance to be rinkside at a hockey game, or baseline at a basketball team, it's not a hard sell to get someone to buy into these.
==More info on the Baseline Box Seats, at this link on the Dodgers' home page.
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