LOS ANGELES, CA - This month, Dodger Stadium has a new holiday festival to celebrate the season and it will include an 80-foot by 60-foot open-air ice skating rink at center field. The festival will also have Santa in the Bullpen for pictures. As the day turns to night, there will be light shows alongside live music. Guest at the Holiday Festival, Liz Gutierrez talked about why the ice staking rink was her favorite part, “I haven’t been on the ice in a long time, since I was a child so I just thought it was a fun experience to go back on it.”
Photo Credit: Tina White
Alongside all of the festivities, all guests will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test upon entry. Masks are also required.
The reason for such strict guidelines is because of the Los Angeles municipal code that requires all guests who are eligible to be vaccinated must show proof of vaccination. Fully vaccinated means at least two weeks since the guest had their second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine or two weeks since their only dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. However, guests can also show a negative COVID-19 test that was administered 72 hours before arrival.
Staff member Christen Robinson talked about what protocols they go through to keep guests safe, “every night we go through, we clean all the bounce houses. All the ice skates get cleaned after every use. We have all the wipes, hand sanitizers, you can see them all over.”
This is the first ice skating rink since 2014 when Dodgers Stadium held a Ducks vs. Kings NHL Game. The ice-skating rink was built and the NHL had the ability to keep the ice at 24 degrees for playing purposes. However, it was predicted to be between 70 and 50 degrees that day in Los Angeles, which is not the typical temperature for an ice skating rink. This game was also a big test to see how the NHL can create outdoor rinks for professional hockey.
The holiday festival will be open on weekdays starting from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and open on weekends starting from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The holiday festival will also be open starting from Nov. 26 - Dec. 31st, with the exception of being closed on Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 8, Dec. 13, Dec. 15, and Dec. 25.
By Brenna White
With contributions from MLB/Dodgers, USA Today
Photo, Tina White
Video, NHL
Video, Brenna White
Audio, Brenna White
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