Having attended numerous Dodger games this season, one thing is abundantly clear: the acquisition of Shohei Ohtani is not just significant but historic. Baseball fans flock to Dodger Stadium, fully aware they are part of a momentous chapter in the sport's history. Each time Ohtani steps up to the plate, fans rise to their feet, eagerly anticipating a chance to capture a piece of this historic journey on their phones.
While most people at the stadium are long-time fans of the team, Ohtani's arrival reached a new, diverse demographic. Japanese locals and tourists are coming out to the games in waves. Families of all ages fill the seats, many sporting jerseys with the number 17 on the back, some even bearing Ohtani's name in Japanese, a testament to his global appeal.
In response to the influx of Japanese fans, the Dodgers have made some changes. Food at the stadium includes Japanese menu items such as takoyaki (octopus balls), sake, chicken katsu sandwich, kurobuta pork sausage dogs, kurobuta yakisoba dogs, miso ginger salad, and chicken katsu bowl. Japanese symbols and characters decorate the helmets and cups of food. Another change is the addition of Japanese-language stadium tours.
The true extent of Ohtani's popularity becomes most apparent during promotional giveaways. With only the first 50,000 fans in attendance eligible for the giveaway item, arriving early to the stadium is a norm. For the Ohtani bobblehead giveaways, fans marched to the stadium as early as eleven in the morning for a game that didn't start until 7:10 p.m. The bobbleheads are sold on websites like eBay for hundreds of dollars, further highlighting the fanbase's dedication.
Although Ohtani's ability as a two-way player made him stand out, he did not pitch this season—instead, his offense as a designated hitter brought fans out to the game. In a historic record-breaking season, Ohtani has 53 home runs and 55 stolen bases. Ohtani will make his first appearance in the post-season of his career as a Dodger. With his popularity in full swing and a global audience behind him, it's time for October baseball!
Hey Janet! I enjoyed reading this blog! I think it is cool that a single athlete can make such an impact on a team that is already as popular as the Dodgers. I saw a lot of TikToks of the Ohtani bobblehead day and it was crazy!
ReplyDeleteHi Janet!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. For someone who is not really into sports, you added so much great information that was easy for me to understand. I really liked the way you wrote this piece and the words you chose. I never knew Ohtani made such a big impact like that until today! Thank you for sharing.
Hey Janet, Shohei Ohtani is truly an incredible player. It doesn't surprise me that something as simple as a bobblehead can drive fans crazy. As someone who is a fan of baseball I respect and admire what he has been able to do for the game. This article was a great read!
ReplyDelete(Connor Raleigh)
DeleteHey Janet, it really is impressive how certain players can not only make a huge impact on the field, but off of it as well! People like to talk about the amount of money the Dodgers gave Ohtani this passed offseason but never talk about how much he is returning to the team! Thank you for sharing as I now want to attend a game, maybe even an upcoming playoff game.
ReplyDelete(Emiliano Carbajal)
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