Dodger Stadium hosts largest crowd since 2019 for Shohei Ohtani’s bobblehead night
It's Shohei Ohtani's bobblehead night and Dodger Stadium has never witnessed a crowd so large this season. The Dodgers opened their four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at home on Thursday. The game ended 7-2 in the Red's favor, however, it was a memorable night for Ohtani and the team since they decided to give away bobbleheads to fans.
The stadium was packed as the first 40,000 fans got Shohei Ohtani's bobblehead. Ticket sales soared as each fan was eager to get their hands on their favorite player's figurine. There were two types of bobbleheads given away. One was the white Shohei Ohtani bobblehead while the other was gray.
The gay uniform bobbleheads were given away randomly as there were only 1,700 such figures. That said, fans flocked to catch the ballgame and most importantly, get a free bobblehead.
The attendance at Dodger Stadium on the night was 53,527. It was the MLB's largest crowd this season and Dodger Stadium's largest since 2019. It was a successful night for the Dodger squad in terms of tickets, but fans witnessed their team lose by a 7-2 final score.
Shohei Ohtani's bobblehead night fills parking lots at Dodger Stadium
Shohei Ohtani has a huge impact on his fans as thousands flocked two hours early before the game could begin. Long waiting lines were formed as fans eagerly waited to get inside and receive their bobblehead. Some fans even took to eBay afterward to sell the bobbleheads they received at the game.
Dodgers Stadium's parking lots filled quickly and a cluster of cars around Chavez Ravine. Most entrances were packed, and one line had a queue for almost three hours.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned that Ohtani is known for creating a stir. He further said it was a hot-ticket selling item for the franchise:
“Shohei creates a stir, I can’t imagine what it’s like outside. It’s great for Shohei and it’s good for the Dodgers. “It’s going to be a hot-ticket item, the more I see him every day the more I realize how special of a person and a ballplayer he is,” Roberts said.
It's been a busy night in the Elysian Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The first 40,000 fans were lucky, as Ohtani continues to leave a huge impact on the club and its fans.