By Josh Tucker

By Josh Tucker

Since 2012, outside of baseball, Dodger Stadium has played host to motocross, monster trucks, soccer and hockey. Be it the addition of sod so that Cristiano Ronaldo could hold court or the placement of an ice rink in the infield, each event calls for specific modifications to the iconic field. Whether these events take place in season or during the offseason, come time for Dodger baseball, the playing surface at Dodger Stadium is sublime.

Following the Stadium Series, the field at Dodger Stadium was in desperate need of a makeover. The turf was removed and 600 tons of sand were added to bring the field back up to desired elevations. We have been assured, the sand is of very high quality and conforms to very stringent specifications.

Fertilizer was then added to the surface, at which time the sand was rototilled to a six-inch depth. Yep, rototilled. At which point, the surface was laser graded to specified elevations. Tuesday, a preplant fertilizer was applied to the surface of the sand in preparation for today’s sod installation.

For you sod lovers, a Tifway 419 bermuda overseeded with perennial ryegrass sod was used.

Dodger assistant director of turf and grounds Eric Hansen and his crew began the process of converting a sandlot back in to a baseball diamond at 6:45 a.m today. All in all, 100,000 square feet of sod was laid — all before 2 p.m. Hansen said it was the fastest he had ever seen an entire field done. Anyone want to race?