LA Dodgers opening weekend: Renovated stadium, sweep and White House visit

​The Los Angeles Dodgers commenced their 2025 season with a series of victories that not only showcased their athletic prowess but also underscored their enduring cultural significance in the city of Los Angeles while also starting important conversations in the Latino community around community representation and what players should stand for. From international games in Tokyo to a triumphant home opener at the newly-renovated Dodger Stadium, the team's early successes and possible White House visit have started their season on both exciting and complex terms. 

Triumphant start in Tokyo

The Dodgers opened their season with a historic two-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome in Japan. This event marked a memorable homecoming for two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who captivated fans by hitting a home run in the second game. 

Japanese pitchers played pivotal roles, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto securing the win in the opener and rookie Roki Sasaki making his debut in the second game. Notably, this series featured the first time in Major League Baseball history that Japanese pitchers started on Opening Day, highlighting the global reach and influence of the sport. 

It would be a missed opportunity here to not highlight the cultural impact these Japanese players have had in Los Angeles, from its instant impact in Little Tokyo, to a renewed little league team to Chicano muralist Robert Vargas’ iconic mural on Ohtani. 

Home opener highlights

Returning to Los Angeles, the Dodgers continued their winning streak by sweeping the Detroit Tigers in a three-game series. The home opener was particularly electrifying, with Shohei Ohtani leading the team to a 5-4 victory. In the seventh inning, Ohtani hit his second home run of the season off a 95 mph sinker from Brenan Hanifee, igniting cheers from a star-studded audience that included Tom Hanks, Magic Johnson and Rob Lowe. Johnson, part-owner of the Dodgers, celebrated enthusiastically, while Hanks was seen high-fiving and expressing that he had predicted the home run. 

The subsequent games saw the Dodgers demonstrating their dominance and organization. 

I was at the second game sitting behind third base at the packed Dodger Stadium. Before the game, the players also received their World Series rings, with Anthony Banda, Miguel Rojas, Kike Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez being the Latino players on the roster receiving their rings and garnering some of the loudest roars in the room. 

It was during the last few innings where  the Dodgers traded runs with the Tigers to lead into an extra inning, where Will Smith hit an RBI that began the team’s momentum into a walk-off home run by Mookie Betts to end the game. 

In the final game of the series, they secured a 7-3 victory, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit. Tigers pitcher Reese Olson started strong but eventually struggled, giving up a key home run to 2024 World Series MVP Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers' bullpen performed dominantly, preventing any substantial Tigers' offense post the early innings.

Stadium renovations and fan experience enhancements

In preparation for the 2025 season, Dodger Stadium underwent significant renovations aimed at enhancing the fan experience and modernizing the facility. The organization invested approximately $100 million to update Level One of the stadium, including a comprehensive renovation of the clubhouse for the player’s comfort. These improvements were completed in time for the start of the season, ensuring that both players and fans benefit from the upgraded amenities. ​

Additional enhancements include the installation of new high-definition video boards in left and right fields, offering a 66% larger active viewing area while preserving the iconic hexagon shape and letting fans have a better look at kiss cams and in-stadium games and a bigger opportunity to see themselves on that iconic Jumbotron. 

A state-of-the-art sound system has been implemented to provide a more enjoyable audio experience, minimizing echoes and sound migration outside the stadium. Furthermore, a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi network and cellular antenna system has been introduced to support cell-phone and internet connectivity, enhancing communication for fans and media covering games at Dodger Stadium. ​

The Dodgers have also focused on sustainability by instituting measures toward energy efficiency. Upgrades include the installation of new water valves, low-flush fixtures, waterless urinals, hand-dryers to eliminate paper waste, automatic faucets to control water flow and new power and lighting energy-efficient systems. These initiatives reflect what they call the organization's commitment to environmental responsibility. 

Food truck and the expansion highlight: Birria!

To cater to the diverse fanbases, the Dodgers have introduced new food items throughout the stadium. Offerings range from a Birria Burger featuring a beef angus patty with birria and a cheese quesadilla on a potato bun, to Original Takoyaki—deep-fried octopus balls topped with sushi sauce, kewpie mayo, seaweed and bonito flakes. These culinary additions aim to enhance the overall game-day experience for attendees. ​

White House invitation sparks controversy

Following their 2024 World Series victory, the Dodgers received an invitation to visit the White House—a tradition for championship-winning teams. However, for a team deeply embedded in a city where Latinos make up nearly half the population, this visit is not without controversy. Many fans in onlinemedia comment sections have expressed discontent with the idea of the team accepting the invitation, given the political climate and recent federal policies on immigration and border enforcement that have disproportionately affected Latino communities.

For some, the potential White House visit is seen as an implicit endorsement of an administration that has been criticized for its handling of immigrant rights, especially in a city where many fans have personal or familial ties to these issues. The tension is further heightened by Los Angeles’ recognition as a sanctuary city, often at odds with federal immigration policies.

Social media has been a crucial sounding board, with calls for players to boycott the visit, similar to past instances where athletes have declined invitations as a form of protest. 

The individual team players have yet to make public statements about whether they will attend.