Lighting the Dodgers Blue Diamond Gala: A Team Effort

Los Angeles, a sprawling metropolis, often finds its heart in baseball, particularly with its Dodgers. Nowhere is this sentiment more evident than during the annual Dodgers Blue Diamond Gala, a fundraiser for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. This year, the event’s theme was “Lasting Impact for Los Angeles” for which a record-breaking $54 million was raised for initiatives such as education, homelessness, social justice, and healthcare.

Starting with a pre-show dinner party featuring Grammy award-winner DJ, Anderson.Paak, the evening included a live, full 75-minute performance on center field by Grammy award-winner Ed Sheeran. It concluded with a post-show party featuring DJ Severe, food, and beverages provided by local favorites Jon and Vinny’s, Melissa’s Produce, Milk Bar, Panda Express, Papa Cantella’s Dodger Dogs, Randy’s Donuts, Shake Shack, and Tacos 1986.

While this year drew 2,000 eager attendees to the public event, the first Blue Diamond Gala 11 years ago began with a modest gathering of 400 attendees. Despite its burgeoning size, the Gala has preserved its small-town feel. It remains rooted in tradition, maintaining its venue at the iconic Dodger Stadium using the parking lot, bullpen, and center field for most of the event.

Yet, even with baseball at the core of the event, one of the Foundation’s taglines is that it is “Bigger than Baseball.” The objective of the event is about the foundation and its work which was creatively displayed in murals throughout the tent and in its center on a large circular LED screen that highlighted sponsors, partners, and images of the work accomplished by the foundation. The presence of the entire team is a show of support, albeit one that poses logistical hurdles, as noted by veteran event producer, Cora Kaplan.

Due to the event's requirement for exclusive nights at the ballpark without scheduled games, and the presence of the entire Dodger team and management, Kaplan has found that scheduling can pose a formidable challenge. Traditionally slated for June, this year's Gala was rescheduled a month earlier to May 2. "We managed to secure a night before the event with no game but had to contend with one scheduled the night after," recalls Kaplan. The load-out process was a whirlwind, with a legion of workers swiftly dismantling the pre-event tents once the last attendee entered the bullpen on their way to center field. Load-out operations commenced as soon as the lights dimmed on the after-party.

Kaplan's seasoned Blue Diamond Gala own team of creative partners anticipated the demanding logistics and brought their superpowers. Designer Matias Doorn once again worked his distinctive aesthetic powers, while Ray Thompson of Images by Lighting brought his expertise in lighting, and well, power!

"Ray is a joy," Kaplan says. "I provide him with a blueprint and a decor concept, and he effortlessly brings it to life with lighting and power, which posed a unique challenge this year." The main tent stretched an impressive 410 feet, featuring the LED circular screen suspended above the DJ, demanding extensive lighting and power resources.

"This was our most expansive Blue Diamond Gala to date, with more tenting than ever, along with banners, area lighting, trussing, power distribution, and more," Thompson says in regard to lighting the Dodgers Blue Diamond Gala.

Ever the advocate for contingency planning, Thompson implemented redundant generators ensuring uninterrupted power supply in case of any technical glitches. Thompson collaborated closely with Modern Illumination for the LED screen and Ricochet for rigging. "I place complete trust in these professionals; they speak the language," Kaplan affirms.

For Kaplan, the true language spoken at the Gala is that of teamwork. "I thrive on assembling a talented ensemble. My value lies in curating an exceptional vendor team," she says, a sentiment perfectly suited for an event celebrating the spirit of baseball.

THE EVENT TEAM

Photos @annaanikinaphotography | Coordination: Cora and Company @coraandcoevents | Event Design: Doorn Design @doorndesign | Entertainment: Ed Sheeran @teddysphotos | DJ: Anderson Pak @djpee.wee | Florals: Mark’s Garden @marksgarden | michael_marksgarden | Furniture and Décor: Revelry Event Designers @revelryeventdesign @revelrymilana | Step and Repeat & Décor: 4th Dimension @4devents | Flooring: Event Carpet Pros @eventcarpetpros | Rentals: Town and Country @townandcountry_eventrentals | Lighting: Images by Lighting @images_lighting | Audio Visual: Modern Illumination Productions @modillprod |Linens: Luxe Linen @luxe_linen |Late Night Food: @tacos1986 @shakeshack @jonandvinnydelivery @randysdonuts @milkbarstore | Media Relations: @rocketlaunchagency