On April 20, 1999, the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in a game that was much more monumental for Dodger Stadium history. The matchup drew 37,717 fans, which pushed total attendance past 100 million since Chavez Ravine opened.
Upon moving from Brooklyn prior to the 1958 season, the Dodgers made their home at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Dodger Stadium officially opened April 10, 1962, and seemingly provided a spark for the Dodgers as they won what was a then-L.A. franchise record 102 games.
The Dodgers finished the 1962 season with 2,755,184 in total home attendance. They have surpassed the 2 million mark in 47 consecutive seasons, a streak that dates back to 1973.
In 2019, the Dodgers set a franchise record with 3,974,309 (49,066 average) in attendance for 81 home games, which included 28 sellouts. It broke their all-time mark set in 2018, when Game 163 increased brought total attendance to 3,857,500.
The Dodgers’ streak of at least 2 million fans each season is all the more impressive when taking into account years when fans seemingly protested against former owner Frank McCourt.
MLB takes control of Dodgers front office
Coincidentally, April 20 is also a noteworthy date on the McCourt front. In 2011, then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig announced the league was taking over operations of the Dodgers due to concerns with the team’s finances and McCourt’s ability to run the franchise.
It marked the beginning of the end for McCourt and the start of a contentious battle with Selig. The two traded public barbs as the Dodgers were dragged into bankruptcy before McCourt and Selig reached an agreement on terms to sell the team on March 27, 2012.
It went to Guggenheim Baseball Management for a record $2 billion, which shattered the record $1.47 billion Malcolm Glazer paid for English soccer team, Manchester United, in 2005.
The Guggenheim group was headed by principle owner Mark Walter and included team president and CEO Stan Kasten, and part-owners Todd Boehly, Peter Guber, Magic Johnson and Bobby Patton.
McCourt purchased the Dodgers from NewsCorp in February 2004 for $420 million in a deal that was heavily financed. The Dodgers reached the postseason four times in McCourt’s six years as owner, in 2008 won a playoff series for the first time in 20 years and made back-to-back appearances in the National League Championship Series.
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