Fans Outraged by the Date & Timing of Dodgers Parade to Celebrate Championship Win

The Dodgers announced on October 29, 2024, that they will commemorate their World Series title with a parade in Downtown Los Angeles and a special ticketed celebration at Dodger Stadium on Friday, November 1.

Selected media houses will broadcast both events in full. However, due to timing, logistics, and expected traffic, fans will need to choose between attending the parade or the stadium celebration.

Other fans have taken to social media to voice their frustration over the parade’s unusual timing and date, wondering why it wasn’t scheduled to be on a weekend. One parent questioned, “Why on Friday?! Why not Saturday?! My kid is at school. This is not cool.”

Another busy user lamented, “Can y’all change it to Saturday, we have work in [sic] Friday 😭,” while a frustrated fan echoed, “FRIDAY MORNING??? We got work.”

Others who were hoping for more wrote, “We deserve 2 parades!!! FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!!!!” Some fans worried about logistics, “Traffic is gonna [sic] be CRAZY.”

Others, however, speculated that the Friday parade might have sentimental meaning, “Friday is Fernando’s birthday” and another added, “On Fernando’s birthday 🥲💙💙.”

The fans were referring to a Dodgers’ former player, Fernando Valenzuela. He was a Mexican baseball pitcher who died on October 22, 24, in Los Angeles, California.

Now, fans eager to attend the parade will need to make adjustments to fit it into their schedules. Set to begin at 11 a.m. PT at Gloria Molina Grand Park, near City Hall on Spring Street, the parade will be launched by Mayor Karen Bass.

The 45-minute route will lead from 1st Street, down Grand Avenue, and end at the intersection of 5th and Flower Streets, as Dodgers team members ride on double-decker buses.

After the parade, Dodger Stadium will host a special ticketed event starting around 12:15 p.m. Parking at the stadium will open at 8:30 a.m., with gates allowing entry by 9 a.m.

Fans can purchase food and team merchandise, and in-stadium entertainment will begin early, including live parade coverage on the DodgerVision scoreboards.

All stadium rules, including restrictions on signs, bags, and other non-permitted items, will be enforced. Fans should remember that streets will be closed and parking will be limited so they can use public transport to get to these locations.

Fortunately, fans unable to attend in person can catch full coverage of Friday’s events on TV, beginning at 9:30 a.m. SportsNet LA and local channels—CBS 2, NBC 4, KTLA 5, ABC 7, KCAL 9, and Fox 11—will all broadcast the celebration. Radio listeners can tune in on AM 570 for live coverage as well.

The parade and special ticketed events are in honor of the Dodgers clinching the 2024 World Series title. They made a remarkable comeback from a 5-0 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 7-6 at Yankee Stadium, concluding the series with a 4-1 victory.

The Dodgers turned a challenging game around during the fifth inning, capitalizing on the Yankees’ fielding errors to equalize the score. Their strong bullpen and pitching staff played a crucial role in keeping them competitive throughout the match.

This victory marks the Dodgers’ second World Series title in five years, following their win during the shortened 2020 season. Following the championship, fans began celebrations in East Los Angeles, with fireworks and street takeovers adding to the excitement of the win.

Now, Dodgers fans are looking to see if the parade and the special ticketed events will honor Valenzuela, a legendary pitcher and one of the most iconic figures in Major League Baseball (MLB) history who died at 63.

The MLB Network confirmed Valenzuela’s passing on Tuesday, October 22, on X, formerly Twitter while the Dodgers mourned the loss of their former teammate. His death comes just weeks after he took a break from his role in the Dodgers’ broadcast booth.

In a statement shared on X on October 3, the Dodgers explained that Valenzuela stepped away from his broadcasting duties to focus on his health and that his family had requested privacy. They also said he planned to return for the 2025 season.

Before Valenzuela stepped away from his broadcasting duties, reports surfaced about his hospitalization. On October 1, Mexican reporter David Faitelson shared on X that Valenzuela had been admitted to a hospital. He noted that little was known about Valenzuela’s condition, as the family chose to keep the details private.

When news of Valenzuela’s death spread online, fans began gathering at Dodger Stadium to honor his memory and celebrate his legacy. Many left flowers, jerseys, candles, and Mexican flags at the stadium’s entrance on Vin Scully Avenue.

Rey Casillas, 58, one of the fans who paid respects to Valenzuela, spoke about the late icon’s impact. He said Valenzuela wasn’t just a baseball player; he brought people together and revitalized the culture in 1981, especially in the Dodger Stadium and Chavez Ravine area.

Casillas called Valenzuela a “once in a lifetime” figure, comparing him to Shohei Ohtani for his ability to attract a huge fan base. He also said Los Angeles should feel proud of Valenzuela’s influence on baseball and how he represented the Dodgers.

Besides the fans, Mexican-American actor Mario Lopez, a well-known Dodgers supporter, expressed his grief on social media, “63 is way too young….”

Lopez shared that Valenzuela was the reason he became a Dodgers fan, admiring his major accomplishments at just 18. He described the late icon as both a great player and a community leader.

Valenzuela’s rise to fame began when he was signed by the Dodgers in 1979, after being discovered by scout Mike Brito in his hometown of Navajoa, Mexico.

He shot to fame in 1981, earning both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards. He also led the Dodgers to a World Series victory.

Known for his unique pitching style, Valenzuela captured the hearts of fans in Los Angeles and around the world, giving rise to the phenomenon known as “Fernandomania.”

Over the years, Valenzuela’s influence extended beyond the field, as he continued to make a lasting impact in the U.S. In 2015, he became a U.S. citizen, a milestone he kept private.

Jaime Jarrín, the Dodgers’ longtime Spanish-language broadcaster who worked alongside Valenzuela for over a decade, noted, “He likes his privacy very much. He takes care of that privacy very well.”

Former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley expressed pride in Valenzuela’s connection to the country while highlighting his strong ties to Mexico. “He’s lived here and raised his family here and enjoyed living here. He’s proud, and I salute him for it,” said O’Malley.

In August 2023, the Dodgers officially retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey, cementing his legacy as a cultural icon. At the ceremony, he expressed his gratitude, “It never crossed my mind that this would ever happen.”

He continued, “Like being in the World Series my rookie year, I never thought that would happen. I didn’t think this would happen, because first of all you have to be in Cooperstown. It really caught me by surprise. It’s hard to put into words what this means.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also paid tribute to Valenzuela’s enduring influence, “Fernando’s legacy, his impact, is going to last forever.” He emphasized how the Mexican athlete’s rise was a “perfect storm” for the city of Los Angeles and its Latino community, noting that “Fernandomania” might never be replicated.

Valenzuela’s influence extended beyond the field, inspiring countless Latino players and fans. He will be remembered as a true legend in the sport.