The 2024 Dodgers are lower than two weeks away from the opening of spring coaching.
The workforce begins first as a result of the Dodgers will begin the 2024 season in Seoul, South Korea, the place they are going to play a two-game collection in opposition to the San Diego Padres, the place every workforce will play as soon as as the house workforce.
Usually, this type of factor is precisely what I journey because the de facto Journey Correspondent of the positioning. In truth, for many of final yr, the plan was for me to go to South Korea. However then, I misplaced my day job, then I had to return to Central Valley, and eventually, my father took a flip for the more serious and handed away. (Relaxation in energy, father.)
Naturally, one thing needed to give, and desires of MASH cosplaying went out the door — no less than for now. So as to add insult to non-existent harm, MLB has given up attempting to schedule an everyday season collection in Paris in 2025 as a result of lack of a sponsor. I adored Paris and would simply spend per week in Paris, overlaying Dodger baseball and reliving my halcyon journey days – ideally with out the pneumonia I caught in 2016, however that story is one for an additional day.
However because the date of the Seoul Sequence approached, my pure curiosity piqued and I needed to marvel, as I’ve a present for logistics, what it could take to get to Seoul for these video games.
How will I’m going?
Now, should you don't have already got a sound US passport, you possibly can skip to the tip of this essay as a result of the turnaround time for that doc is a minimal of six months.
If one has a passport, then learn it.
The Flight
The following factor I would want is to safe a return flight. Count on to spend $1,500 spherical journey assuming you're flying from a serious metropolis like San Francisco or Los Angeles. For functions of this hypothetical, let's assume that any traveler will fly from San Francisco Worldwide, for the reason that airport is 2 hours away from me on any given day.
However one other large concern logistically is how lengthy it takes to fly and acclimate to the change in climate. We’re not discussing a flight that one can solely do the evening earlier than on one eye, do the video games, and return instantly afterwards. With that in thoughts, for the reason that video games are on March twentieth and twenty first, I’d fly out on Saturday, March sixteenth and return on Friday, March twenty third.
South Korea is seventeen hours earlier than California climate, so buffer time and hydration are important. I converse from expertise that going from California time to Cambodian time (sixteen hours) in a single fell swoop with out preparation made me just a little loopy for a number of days upon arrival.
With these details in thoughts, many continuous flights match the parameters above. With long-haul flights, you get what you pay for. I’d personally pay further for a continuous route and possibly improve to enterprise class or no less than premium financial system if I can.
I flew from San Francisco to Cambodia (by way of Taipei) by bus. Nothing actually prepares you for sixteen hours of flight, however it may be made comfy and inexpensive, particularly should you use an aggregator like Kayak.
The Resort
The US Greenback is sort of sturdy in opposition to the South Korean Gained, so getting lodging must be cheaper than flying. Only a fast examine on inns.com exhibits a variety of choices starting from hostels that price subsequent to nothing, even for per week, or high-end luxurious choices that rival what you'll discover in america.
![](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JTmafmITXHBtT8wcbwOXFf5pK_8=/0x0:801x566/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:801x566):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25240881/Screenshot_2024_01_21_180513.png)
As you possibly can see, the stadium is at a metro cease and never near many resort choices. The mark proven on the screenshot is the subway cease. So all somebody must do is discover a resort on line no 1, which is served by the metro cease.
![](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h3XDs0Z2QyF1JIK7O5Kj5YEH5S4=/0x0:559x521/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:559x521):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25240985/Screenshot_2024_01_21_180857.png)
Based mostly on the above, quite a few resort choices are near the metro line and are fairly inexpensive. Discovering a resort can be the simple a part of attending the Seoul Sequence, and the foreign money trade would depart me comfy spending cash.
The ticket
![](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FS0jKoRHhQem_-OB7f8jc2BFjqU=/0x0:425x280/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:425x280):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25240991/cts3272_img.jpg)
Gocheok Sky Dome has a most capability of 16,744 for a baseball recreation, which is borderline stunning for a serious league recreation. I had a joke mentioning the scale of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, however the residence of the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate solely has an everyday most capability of 9,000.
The costs are proper out, and all issues thought-about, they aren’t dangerous, with the principle assumption that one is ready to purchase one.
Additionally, the costs are out.
Wheelchair accessible seats are the most affordable at 50,000 KRW every ($37.45)
Desk seats at Degree 1: 700,000 KRW (about $525)
Degree 2: 600,000 KRW
Reserved infield seats: 180,000KRW ~ 500,000KRW
Reserved seats exterior the camp: 120,000KRW ~ 200,000KRW— Jeeho Yoo (@Jeeho_1) January 25, 2024
And if I had been to throw shade at Oklahoma Metropolis for having a stadium that hardly has thrice the capability of my hometown soccer subject (Claud Herbert Discipline of Dinuba, CA), I assume I'd go there. Tulsa's Double-A affiliate has a comparable capability stadium.
The digression relating to the utmost capability of Gocheok Sky Dome is to convey my shock at how tiny the place is for a metropolis of just about ten million. I feel in my head I used to be anticipating a venue no less than akin to the Tokyo Dome's most capability of 55,000.
However I couldn’t advocate going to Seoul for this collection because of the likelihood of problem in acquiring tickets as documented under.
IMPORTANT UPDATE on tickets for #MLB Opening of the 2024 season between #Dodgers & #Parents in Seoul:
1. Tickets are solely out there on the Coupang Play web site to Coupang Wow members (paid membership)
2. No plan by Coupang to open separate ticket web site for international residents— Jeeho Yoo (@Jeeho_1) January 16, 2024
To be exact, one should be capable of browse a Korean language web site with a paid subscription to get tickets for such a restricted venue. It appears unlikely that MLB won’t present another methodology for foreigners to buy tickets for the Seoul Sequence, however it might be a lot simpler to observe the Seoul Sequence from the pleasant confines of residence.
As if for example my level, tickets for Sport 1 went on sale on January twenty seventh and offered out inside minutes. Expensive Baseball – select a much bigger venue subsequent time!
If this essay sparks curiosity in what equipment I take advantage of for journey, I'm very happy to share that data at a later date.
What if you wish to meet different Dodger followers although? I’ve an answer for this query.
The proposed True Blue LA fan assembly
Longtime commenter Urbino created a FanPost to strive the dialogue on TBLAers congregating in Phoenix. I’d heartily encourage such an effort. Sadly, I’ve a piece convention scheduled that requires my help and a spotlight.
That stated, I plan to finalize my 2024 itinerary quickly if anybody cares to satisfy Adric and I whereas we're on the street.