Elton John Concert at Dodger Stadium Faces Massive Traffic Issues, Fans Miss Start of Show
The Dodgers do a lot of great bobbleheads. They also sometimes do some that make you scratch your head a little bit. When the Dodgers announced they were doing an Elton John bobblehead last season, a friend of mine posted on Facebook:
“Ok am I missing something? Just heard on the radio Dodgers are having an Elton John bobblehead night. Aren’t these giveaways supposed to help bring people in? Is Elton John the key? I would think Bad Bunny bobbleheads would sell out quick, but not Elton John.”
As it turns out, yes, she was missing something. The bobbleheads were at least partially to provide publicity for Elton’s upcoming concerts at Dodger Stadium. But what about her assumption that there’s not much crossover between Dodger fans and Elton John fans?
Well, that might have been accurate, based on reports about the traffic getting into the first of three weekend concerts on Thursday night. The number one rule of Dodger Stadium is: It’s impossible to get there on time. If you’re not at least an hour early, you’re going to be at least an hour late. But the concert attendees must have missed the memo.
According to this report, the concert had been going for over 30 minutes and the camera showed hundreds of cars still trying to get into the parking lot. At a typical Dodger game, you have some fans taking the bus from Union Station, a lot of people using rideshares, quite a few utilizing the free or cheap parking outside the actual parking lot, and several using scooter rentals to scoot into the parking lot. In addition, you have a lot of families coming into the stadium in one car.
As Desmond Shaw notes on the video, it looks like quite a few more cars than for even a sellout Dodger game. Concertgoers of “Elton John fan” age apparently aren’t as likely to utilize those alternate options to keep from parking in the lot, and not a lot of entire families are going to see Elton John together. So in the end, you probably had a lot of cars with just a 60-something husband and wife in them. There are only 16,000 parking spots at Dodger Stadium, with more than three times that many seats inside the stadium. The math just doesn’t work out with two people per car.
Hopefully, everyone eventually got to see the concert. If you were there, tell us about your experience in the comments. And if you’re going to either of the upcoming concerts this weekend, plan ahead!
Hope everybody enjoyed @eltonofficial ! Now comes the fun part of getting out of the @Dodgers Stadium parking lot ????? pic.twitter.com/WcjJgtblkT
— Desmond Shaw (@RoadSageLA) November 18, 2022
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My friend and I bought tickets for this concert in April of 2022, so we planned ahead to make a day of it. We arrived at 5:30 after picking up some food at a favorite take out place and ate in our car in the parking spot. Yes we sat in traffic before and after the concert, but we expected it and planned for it. No stress, just had fun!
It was an amazing concert and Elton John still has a great voice and puts on a great show! I’m so glad that we went.
Enjoyed the Elton John Concert last night. We go to Dodger games quite often so we know to get there early for parking. Same for the concert parking was a bit pricey $50 purchased on line. We got there about 6:30 which to some us a bit early, but by the time you park, walk in find your seat grab a drink or something to eat time goes by quickly. Did see quite a few cars coming in well after the concert started..didn’t see any shuttle buses. So plan to get there a little early and you should be fine.
I am going on Sunday and plan to use Uber. Anyone have experience with that last night? Wondering how was it after the concert? I went to SoFi recently for a concert and waited almost an hour for an Uber.
My husband and I were at last nights concert. We got to Dodger Stadium a little before 6. We got a cocktail, found a short line for mercy, ate some food and then just people watched. We know how hard getting into Dodger Stadium can be and we wanted no stress. We left after the last sine and got out of the parking lot in 2 minutes. Go early, no stress!
We are going Sunday and trying to figure out what time to leave Pasadena. We already have parking.
So, being a Dodger fan living in Bakersfield, I’m no stranger to leaving my house way earlier than the games start. Yesterday was no different. I got to the stadium about 45 minutes after the parking lot opened. There was no traffic, to the point that I started questioning if I was going to the right place at the right time. It also meant that I got to park very close to the exit and got out of the stadium very quickly.
It was a clusterf*ck. There was zero traffic planning. We left from a restaurant 4 miles away – at 6:45- and arrived after 8:45PM. The gates were quick at that point, but the second disaster was with the ushers. People were wandering aimlessly trying to find their seats in the dark. And there was zero help from ushers. Really disappointing.
Not a fan of bobbleheads, let alone a non baseball one at a baseball game.
That said, in spite of that I think he’s an outstanding musician and performer. I saw him ~50 years ago and I’d like to see him again. But without a bobblehead.
Given the insane service fees tacked onto the tickets (far more than Ticketmaster) one would have expected a better-run operation. The mention of wrist bands was buried within the email. People were told to enter by any gate but there was no signage directing one to the field entrance, let alone to the wrist-band check in area. EJ fans would have happily taken a shuttle from Union Station if it had been offered and/or sufficiently publicized.
As we are partial season ticketholders we know exactly where we want to enter, where to park, and what time. The concert was amazing. We were out of the parking lot in approximately 15 minutes. I think us being familiar helped with everything. Those that aren’t probably struggled a bit. The key? Get there early. Take your time strolling around. Have fun!
Lena, I’m going on Sunday. Would love to hear your tips on where to enter, where to park, and what time to arrive 🙂
We use the Scott Avenue entrance gate. If the concert begins at 8 p.m. as it did Thursday evening, get there by 6:15/6:30. If you get there early enough you will be close to that exit. If possible park facing the direction of the exit so you are not having to back out and turn around etc. Take note of exactly where you parked because we saw many very confused, wondering around, using the car alarms to try to find their cars! Get your parking paid ahead of time. There is a no cash policy for parking and inside the stadium. Clear bags only, about the size of a gallon storage bag.
If you enter at the mid field pavilion area you may have long lines waiting for the merchandise booth. There is merchandise inside too so try to enter at some of the other entrances to avoid that possible backup.
With the updates they have done at Dodger Stadium you can enter anywhere and walk completely around. There are stairs and several elevators (which are easier to use if you are early).
Good luck and enjoy! Thursday was amazing!
Dan, we use the Scott Avenue entrance. Get there at least an hour and a half early. Prepay your parking and remember the no cash policy at the Stadium. If possible park close to the exit, facing towards the exit to avoid backing out of space and turning around, etc.
Avoid the mid field pavilion entrance if possible because there is a merchandise booth there with long lines. Use one of the other entrances if you can. Go inside as there are booths all around the stadium.
The earlier you get there the easier it is to use the elevators if you want to avoid stairs. The escalator behind the home plate area doesn’t go to the top decks if that is where your seats are located.
Have fun! Thursday was amazing and I am sure Sunday will be too! I plan on watching it on Disney Plus Sunday.
We use Scott Avenue entrance. If you get there by 6 you should be close to the exit from Scott. Prepay parking. There is a no cash policy for parking and the entire stadium.
If early, it is easier to use the elevators if you wish to avoid stairs.
We entered at the Pavilion entrance (mid field) as the stage is located there. You may see some long lines but those were for the merchandise booth. There are booths inside too.
Good luck and enjoy! Thursday was amazing!
Going on sunday. any tips for lot F in terms of exiting the parking lot? wondering how what part of lot F I should park at as it looks like it can be accessed through the Golden State Gate (off Academy Road), Stadium Way Gate (which Lena has provided her experience (Scott Ave) or even the Sunset Gate which is the most common way to enter and already kinda know about that experience.
I’m getting there early, but more concerned about the exit experience. Are all gates opened for exits ad I was a bit confused by the Dodger email i received today as it only outlined exit plans from only the Downtown Gate, Sunset Gate and Academy Gate? Appreciate any help or advice from those that have gone or are going tonight! Be safe everyone.