The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is set to turn Dodger Stadium into a youth sports takeover on Sunday, with more than 5,000 youth baseball and softball players, family members and coaches expected to pour into the ballpark for its annual Dodgers Dreamteam PlayerFest. The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and blends on-field sports clinics with health screenings, educational resources and family-focused giveaways. Attendees get unusually close to the action, with access to the playing field and a chance to meet Dodgers alumni while touring parts of the stadium usually reserved for the pros.
Organizers say Centerfield Plaza, the warning track, bullpens and dugouts will all be open to participants, and kids will be able to take photos with the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series trophy, as reported by MyNewsLA. The outlet notes that giveaways from sponsors and community partners will be handed out throughout the day, and adds that representatives from the Lakers, Sparks and Kings are expected to join in with activities and additional giveaways.
What to expect at PlayerFest
Free services at PlayerFest include hygiene kits from Baby2Baby, produce boxes from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, transportation information from Metro, baseball and softball instruction from the Los Angeles Dodgers Training Academy, and vision screenings from Vision to Learn, according to a press release from MLB.com. Bank of America returns as the presenting sponsor and will send volunteers to help run clinics and activations across the field. “We love being in the heart of communities across Los Angeles,” Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol McKenzie-Whiteman said in the release.
Partners and reach
Organizers say the event pulls together sports teams, nonprofits and city agencies to connect young players with long-term programming and resources that extend far beyond a single day at the ballpark. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation says it has invested more than $80 million in programs and grants and has positively impacted over 11.5 million youth, figures highlighted in local coverage of the event by MyNewsLA. PlayerFest is designed to mobilize partners, raise awareness of community needs and drive enrollment in Dodgers Dreamteam leagues across the county.
Getting there
PlayerFest takes place at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium at 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, and attendees are encouraged to use public transit, shuttles and the Dodger Stadium Express listed on the team’s ballpark transportation page. Street parking and lot access can be tight on event days, so organizers recommend arriving early and checking the Dodgers’ transport information before heading up to Elysian Park, per the Dodgers’ ballpark page. The Dodgers Foundation provided a media contact in its press release for questions from partners and press.
For many families, PlayerFest serves as both a skills clinic and a doorway into services that support young athletes off the field as much as on it. Organizers say the day is free to attend and geared toward connecting kids and coaches with Dodgers Dreamteam programming throughout Los Angeles County.
