MINOR PROBLEMS, MAJOR SOLUTIONS

There is a saying…if you are not a part of the solution then you are a part of the problem. I recently wrote a blog that was critical of the new policies put in place at Dodger Stadium. It occured to me the blog consisted of a lot of gripes about the new protocols, but I didn’t provide much in the way of solutions. Can they do it better? Of course they can. Were changes needed? Yes, they were. For years we have been going more and more in the direction of a fully digital society. This is nothing new. The Coronavirus has necessitated a host of changes in our everyday lives and has quickened our pace towards that digital society. You look at some of the new ways business and liesure is conducted post COVID and you have to scratch your head and say, “Why weren’t we doing that before?” Many of the changes will be permanent. Some will be temporary until we can find a better way of doing it. But things will change, and we will simply have to adapt to the changes.

Change can be hard to accept. Older generations were raised a certain way and are comfortable with the status quo. When change comes, they are slow to accept but succeeding generations accept those changes as commonplace. Anybody born after the mid 1980’s grew up with a PC, and later a laptop, in their homes. Landlines were replaced by cell phones in the 1990’s. Anybody born from the mid 70s on grew up with computers and cell phones as a part of their everyday lives. Many Boomers are still finding it difficult to accept and integrate those changes. Currently, the internal combustion engine is being replaced by the electric car and self-driving cars are apparently just around the corner. Kids growing up today will accept those changes as commonplace. I, for one, am going to find it very difficult, for awhile at least, to be in a car that drives itself to wherever it is I want to go.

Anyway, changes are coming to Dodger Stadium. Change actually started in 2018 when the ownership spent $100 million in renovations, mostly around center field. This included the ability to walk completely around the stadium on the inside. Additional restrooms, enclosed bars with views into the bullpen, and enhanced seating. A new center field pavilion with a beautiful bronze statue of Jackie Robinson sliding into home, a roster of gold glove winners, and huge rings commemorating World Series Championships. The Dodgers had planned to unveil this in 2020 and were slated to host the All-Star game, but we all know what happened in 2020.

After a delay of more than one year Dodger Stadium finally opened to the public and full capacity seating on June 15 of this year. While the new center field area is extremely enjoyable, I feel there is one thing lacking. That would be a museum. Something to showcase the history of the ball club, both here and in Brooklyn. It should be chock full of memorabilia, autographed bats and balls, programs, maybe a little theater highlighting great moments in Dodger’s history. It could include a Dodgers Hall of Fame with bios on Tommy, Sandy, Vin, Fernando, and Jackie among many others. They could charge admission and maybe offer a discount if you purchase admission with a game ticket.

In my prior article I complained about driving into the Stadium. Getting into Dodger Stadium has never been easy. Now they have eliminated paper tickets. The new requirement is to prepay for your parking pass online and have your phone scanned at the gate. We went to a Sunday afternoon game and the gal in the booth was having a difficult time scanning the phones due to glare from the sun. I also went to an evening game where glare from the sun should not be an issue. In both cases the process was extremely slow and bottlenecking at the gates. I think the Dodgers should take a cue from Inn N Out Burger. Have someone in each lane with an electronic clip board pre-scanning all the phones. That way when you pull up to the gate all the attendant has to do is hand you a card designating in which lot you are to park. This should streamline the whole process and get people into the stadium that much quicker. For the Dodgers that means more opportunities for the fans to spend money at the concessions.

There were also changes at the gate as you walk into the stadium to your seats. Women are now required to have clear handbags. My first reaction to this was “well this is BS”. I have had a chance to think about it. This is more of a post 911 reaction than a post COVID reaction. For twenty years women have had their handbags searched whenever they enter a sports venue, concert, fair, anywhere there is a large crowd. It is something they have come to expect and to accept. How long does that take? Fifteen or twenty seconds? If a woman has a clear bag, with just the bare essentials, security can take a quick glance and pass her through. What is that? Five or ten seconds? I did the math. If 10,000 women show up at the stadium (a conservative estimate) with handbags to be scanned, and a clear handbag saves ten seconds each time, that saves an amazing twenty-seven-man hours at the gate. It will take some getting used to, but I think it is a change for the good in the long run.

Like with parking, ticketing is now all digital. You order tickets online and when the order is complete the tickets are held in the ballpark app. It’s a free app and just a new way of doing business. I can see most venues that accept paper tickets switching over to something similar in the next couple of years. When you arrive at the venue, they simply scan your phone and away you go. Much more efficient.

I bitched about ticket prices but that one, I think, is falling on deaf ears. After all, as fans we want a winning organization and the Dodgers have spoiled LA in that regard. But all those multimillion-dollar ballplayers have to get paid, right? Now I could complain about the fact that professional athletes are grossly overpaid. It is ridiculous that players are now getting contracts worth almost half a billion (yes, with a B) dollars. I think that will also fall on the same deaf ears. And really, we, as fans, enable this gross imbalance of salaries. Honestly, I’m a machinist and if my employer offered to retain me for ten years at $370 million I’m going to take that, so you can’t fault the players. The owners simply pass it along to the fans at the box office, merchandising, and television revenue. As long as we keep buying tickets and laundry soap, they are going to keep raising player salaries. I do think the Dodgers can and should bring back the all-you-can-eat right field pavilion. It was a fan favorite and, as previously stated, at the insane concession prices they are making plenty of profit.

Let’s talk about the concessions. The prices have gotten out of hand. They now charge $17.50 for a beer. Maybe there is an ulterior motive for this. There have been several incidents in the parking lot after games in recent years. Whether or not alcohol had anything to do with this is open to speculation. So perhaps the $17.50 price is to act as a discouragement to over imbibe. But $10 for a soft drink?! Okay, you get a souvenir cup, but I don’t want the cup. Except I don’t have a choice. How about a wrist band for a free refill. I worked in fast food in my youth, and we were always told to push the drinks, especially iced tea, which is essentially water. That’s where they make most of their profit. Unless they hook me up to a soda fountain with an IV, they can give free refills of that $10 soda all day long and still show a profit. No straws! I’m fine with that. That is a lot of plastic going into the oceans. Multiply that by 81 games and 30 teams and, yeah, I can see the argument.

Now here’s an idea that will not only make the fans happy but should increase profitability. Last game I went to I got in the concession line in the first inning. I didn’t get my food until the end of the third inning. With an inning taking, on average, 20 minutes I was in line for an hour. I don’t spend that much time in the drive thru at Inn N Out Burger. How eager do you think I was to go through that again? It’s all about getting them in and out, pun intended. If a restaurant has slow service, and it takes 1-1/2 hours to process a table, they will only process a given table four times in a six-hour shift. But if they can process a table in one hour, that’s six times they will process the same given table in the same shift, which should equate to a 50% increase in sales. So put some more people back there. Have a couple of guys just filling drinks, making sure the girl at the register doesn’t have to do it herself. Have someone looking over her shoulder and filling the order as they go. By the time the order is placed, and payment is accepted, the order should be 90% complete. Next please! People, especially those with kids, would be going through the concessions three and four times. How much for the extra staff? Let’s say they hire 500 additional employees all making minimum wage, $15 an hour. They work three hours. That’s 1500 hours or $22,500 in salaries. The Dodgers average about 40,000 fans per home game. That means that slightly more than half the fans in attendance need to take advantage of the quicker service and go through the concession lines an additional time and spend $1. Yes, just $1 and that extra $22,000 in salaries is covered. And let’s face it, there is nothing on the menu for $1. The Dodgers have just provided part time, temporary jobs for 500 people and maybe another 100 at the parking entrance. they are serving the community. They have a happier fan base that isn’t complaining about the long concession lines. Those fans are almost surely spending more money at the concessions to offset the $30,000 in additional salaries. How much does Clayton Kershaw make when he pitches? He probably has $30,000 in loose change he lost in the cushions of his couch. And maybe the Dodgers could surprise everyone and do something that is never done…drop their prices 10%-15%. I can dream, can’t I?

The only other issue I have is with the condiment stations, they’re gone! Were they messy? Yes! Were they unhealthy? Maybe. I never got sick, and I’ve never heard of anybody else getting sick. I need onions on my dog. I don’t have a solution for this one. The condiment station is part of the overall experience. I know I espoused change as being inevitable, but can’t we leave just a couple of things old school? Do we really want our children to accept that when they go to a baseball game, they squeeze ketchup and mustard (and maybe relish) out of little plastic packets? That hot dogs don’t come with onions? Is that really baseball? Does anybody out there have any ideas? We need to save our condiments.

Well hope you enjoyed. Maybe somebody in the Dodger front office will see this and take it to heart. Yeah really! I don’t have that kind of following. Sigh! As always, leave comments. Looking forward to what you have to say. And remember, until next time always aim for the fences.

baseball, foul ball, hit-3916407.jpg

112 thoughts on “MINOR PROBLEMS, MAJOR SOLUTIONS”

  1. Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d
    ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or
    maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa?
    My blog goes over a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other.
    If you might be interested feel free to send me an email.
    I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!

    My website forum.m2clasic.ro

  2. I wanted to follow up and allow you to know how really I appreciated
    discovering your site today. I’d personally consider it a
    good honor to operate at my place of work and be able to make use of the tips discussed on your web-site and also be a
    part of visitors’ comments like this. Should a
    position regarding guest author become on offer at your end, you should let me
    know.

    My web page Yec Keto Reviews

  3. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you
    knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading
    your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

    my web-site: Keto Speed Diet Reviews

  4. I wish to point out my admiration for your kindness supporting persons that require assistance with your situation. Your real commitment to getting the solution across
    turned out to be definitely significant and have in most cases
    made others like me to realize their objectives.
    Your amazing interesting hints and tips implies a whole lot to me and even further to my office workers.
    Warm regards; from each one of us.

    Feel free to visit my blog :: WifiLift Reviews

  5. Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re
    using? I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a difficult time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
    P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

    my site :: True Keto 1800

  6. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if
    you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that
    automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping
    maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything.
    I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your
    new updates.

  7. Howdy, i read your blog from time to time and i own a
    similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam
    responses? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
    I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any assistance
    is very much appreciated.

    Feel free to visit my blog post … http://www.aniene.net

  8. Great paintings! That is the kind of information that are supposed to be shared across the net.
    Shame on Google for not positioning this put up upper!
    Come on over and seek advice from my website . Thank you =)

    Check out my web-site … Quincy

  9. Thanks a lot for being my own teacher on this area.
    My spouse and i enjoyed your current article greatly and most of
    all cherished the way in which you handled the issues I regarded as being controversial.

    You’re always really kind to readers really like me and let me in my living.

    Thank you.

    Stop by my site: Maximum Recall Pills

  10. Hi there excellent website! Does running a blog similar to
    this require a lot of work? I have absolutely no understanding of coding
    however I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, should you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I understand this is off subject but I just
    had to ask. Cheers!

  11. I just couldn’t go away your site prior to suggesting that I extremely loved the
    standard info an individual provide in your guests? Is gonna
    be again often in order to check up on new posts

  12. Today, while I was at work, my sister stole
    my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive
    a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83
    views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  13. I like what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and exposure!
    Keep up the good works guys I’ve added you
    guys to my personal blogroll.

    Here is my page :: Vigalix

  14. Very good blog! Do you have any suggestions for
    aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
    Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress
    or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m
    completely confused .. Any ideas? Thanks a lot!

  15. I’m pretty pleased to discover this page. I need to
    to thank you for ones time for this wonderful
    read!! I definitely liked every bit of it and i also have you
    saved to fav to check out new things on your web site.

  16. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished
    to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your blog
    posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I hope
    you write again soon!

  17. Hi there, I do think your web site could possibly
    be having browser compatibility issues. Whenever I take a look at your site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues.

    I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up!

    Other than that, fantastic website!

    Look at my blog post :: Reneaux Serum

  18. I enjoy you because of your entire labor on this web page.

    Gloria loves participating in investigation and it’s really obvious why.
    A lot of people notice all concerning the dynamic medium you create great things by means of this web blog and as well
    as foster participation from visitors on that issue and our own daughter is really understanding a lot of things.
    Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year.
    You are conducting a very good job.

    my web page … Derma Ella Advanced Skin Care

  19. Thank you for some other informative website. The place
    else may just I get that kind of info written in such an ideal method?
    I’ve a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out
    for such information.

  20. Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your site in internet explorer,
    may check this? IE nonetheless is the market chief and a large element of other folks will pass over your excellent writing because
    of this problem.

  21. I’m not sure why but this website is loading extremely
    slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or
    is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem
    still exists.

  22. Nice post. I used to be checking continuously
    this blog and I am inspired! Extremely helpful info specifically the final part :
    ) I maintain such information much. I was looking for
    this particular information for a very long time.
    Thanks and best of luck.

  23. Hi there are using WordPress for your site platform?
    I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my
    own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your
    own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!

  24. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to
    say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
    After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!

  25. Hi, Neat post. There is a problem together with your website in internet explorer, may test this?

    IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a huge component of other people will pass over your wonderful writing because of
    this problem.

  26. After looking at a few of the blog posts on your site, I truly appreciate your
    technique of writing a blog. I bookmarked it to my bookmark webpage list and will
    be checking back soon. Take a look at my website too and let me know your opinion.

  27. We stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I might check things out.

    I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking at your web page repeatedly.

    Here is my web site; Keto Optimum Nutrition800ws.net SEO TEAM
    – Keto Optimum

  28. Hello there, I discovered your web site by means of Google while looking
    for a related topic, your site got here up, it looks good.
    I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
    Hi there, just turned into aware of your blog via Google, and found
    that it is really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels.
    I will appreciate for those who continue this in future.
    Many other people shall be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

  29. Ηmm is anyone else havіng proƄlems with the images on this bloɡ loading?
    I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
    Any suggestions would be greatly apprеciated.

  30. Greetings! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where
    I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and
    I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!

    Feel free to visit my web page :: Pharma Pure Keto

  31. hello there and thank you for your info ? I?ve definitely
    picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this site, since
    I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it
    to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?
    Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very
    frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality score if advertising
    and marketing with Adwords. Well I?m adding
    this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much more of your respective intriguing content.

    Make sure you update this again very soon..

    Also visit my web blog; Herbal Pro Relief

  32. Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
    A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out.
    Please let me know where you got your design.
    Appreciate it

    Take a look at my web-site … forum.m2clasic.ro

  33. of course like your web site but you need to check the spelling on several of
    your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling
    issues and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality nevertheless
    I will definitely come back again.

    1. This is a good example of the brain dead spam I get. Aside from the fact I know how to spell I run all my posts thrrough spellcheck. You have obviously never read a single post. If so, then show me five examples of spelling errors. Also, you are using a fake email address so what does that say about you?!

  34. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your weblog.
    You have some really great posts and I believe I would be a good asset.
    If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some content for your
    blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me
    an email if interested. Regards!

    Also visit my website … Captive Skin Care

  35. Everything is very open with a precise explanation of the issues.
    It was truly informative. Your site is useful.
    Many thanks for sharing!

  36. I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or
    blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I
    finally stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i’m happy to exhibit that I’ve an incredibly
    good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed.
    I so much undoubtedly will make sure to do not forget
    this site and provides it a look regularly.

    Also visit my blog post; Cool Wave Portable AC

  37. Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article!
    It is the little changes which will make the most important changes.
    Thanks a lot for sharing!

  38. You truly make that seem quite simple with your demo but We all find this sort of matter
    to be actually an issue that I think Let me never get pleasure from.
    It seems too complex and intensely broad to me. I am looking forward for your impending
    post, I’ll try to get utilized to it!

  39. certainly like your web site however you have to test the
    spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it
    very troublesome to tell the reality however I will
    definitely come back again.

  40. This design is incredible! You obviously know how to keep a
    reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was
    almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job.
    I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
    Too cool!

  41. Thanks for some other magnificent post. The place else may anybody get that type of
    information in such a perfect means of writing?
    I’ve a presentation next week, and I am at the look
    for such info.

    Here is my blog … Benito

  42. It’s amazing to pay a visit this website and reading the views of all friends concerning this paragraph, while I am also eager of getting experience.

  43. Wow, superb blog structure! How lengthy have you been blogging
    for? you made running a blog look easy. The total glance of your web site is wonderful, let alone the content!

  44. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.

    In any case I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I am
    hoping you write once more soon!

  45. Tremendous things here. I am very happy to look
    your post. Thank you a lot and I am having a look
    ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?

  46. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this
    website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz reply as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out
    where u got this from. thanks a lot

  47. Terrific work! That is the type of info that are meant to be shared around
    the net. Disgrace on the search engines for no
    longer positioning this put up upper! Come on over and seek advice from my web site .
    Thank you =)

  48. What’s up to all, how is the whole thing, I think every one is getting more from this website,
    and your views are pleasant in support of new viewers.

  49. Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I came to look
    it over. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be
    tweeting this to my followers! Exceptional blog
    and wonderful design and style.

    My web site – atolyesi.net

  50. Greate post. Keep writing such kind of info
    on your site. Im really impressed by it.
    Hello there, You’ve performed an incredible job.

    I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends.
    I am confident they will be benefited from this web site.

  51. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what
    all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?

    I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% sure.

    Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Kudos

  52. This is a very good tip particularly to those fresh
    to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate information… Thank you for sharing this one.
    A must read post!

  53. Asking questions are in fact nice thing if you are not understanding
    something fully, except this piece of writing presents
    pleasant understanding even.

  54. Greetings! Quick question that’s entirely off
    topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My blog looks weird when browsing from my iphone.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might
    be able to correct this problem. If you have any recommendations,
    please share. Appreciate it!

  55. We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.

    Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job
    and our whole community will be grateful to you.

  56. You have made some good points there. I looked on the internet for more info about the issue and found most people
    will go along with your views on this site.

  57. I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this
    post was great. I do not know who you are but
    definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  58. You actually make it seem really easy with your presentation however I find this
    topic to be actually one thing which I feel I’d never understand.
    It sort of feels too complex and extremely broad
    for me. I am having a look ahead on your next post, I
    will attempt to get the hold of it!

    My page – Keto Speed Diet Reviews

  59. Heyɑ! I just ԝаnted to ɑsk if you ever have any trouble with hackers?
    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up ⅼosing
    a few months of hard woгk due to no back up. Do you
    have any metһоdѕ to ρrotect against hackers?

  60. It’s perfect time tߋ make some plans for
    thе lօnger term and it’s time to be happy. Ӏ have
    learn tһis ⲣuЬlish and if I may I desire to rеcommend you s᧐me fɑscinating issues or tips.
    Mаybe you could write next articles relating tо this article.

    I want to read even morе things about it!

  61. Good Ԁay! I could һave sworn I’ᴠe viѕited tһis website before
    but after going through a few of the articlеs I realized іt’s new to me.
    Anyhow, I’m certainly pleased I discovered it and Ι’ll
    be book-marking it and checkіng back frequently!

  62. Hoᴡdy supeгb blog! Does runnіng a blog like this take a laгge amount of work?

    I have absolutely no undеrstanding of codіng however I was hoping to ѕtart my ߋwn blog soon. Anyway, should you havе any suggestions or tecһniques for new bl᧐g owners please share.
    I know this is off topic nevеrtheless I simply had to ask.
    Kudos!

  63. I know thiѕ if off topic but I’m looking into starting
    my own bⅼog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup?
    I’m assuming having a blߋg liҝe yours wouⅼd cost a pretty penny?
    I’m not veгy inteгnet smart so I’m not 100% positive.
    Any suggestions or advice would be greatly apprecіated. Kudos

  64. great sսbmit, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sectоr don’t realizе thіs.
    You should proceed your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base
    already!

  65. Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell and
    gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell
    to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside
    and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go
    back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell
    someone!

  66. Can I simply say what a relief to discover someone that actually
    understands what they’re discussing over the internet. You
    certainly realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
    More people have to read this and understand this side of the
    story. I was surprised that you are not more popular because
    you surely possess the gift. quest bars http://tinyurl.com/49u8p8w7 quest bars

Comments are closed.