A big blue mass of joyous Dodger fans lined the streets of downtown Los Angeles Monday to celebrate the team's World Series victory, filling the parade route with confetti and screams of appreciation.
More than 200,000 people attended last year's World Series parade, and officials said even more were expected this year.
The parade began shortly after 11 a.m. at Temple Street and Broadway, continued west on Temple Street, south on Grand Avenue, west on Seventh Street, and north on Figueroa Street, ending at Fifth Street at about noon as the procession headed off to Dodger Stadium for a separate, ticketed celebration.
Team members, relatives and other Dodger employees traveled atop double-decker buses, waving to adoring fans.
The Dodger Stadium celebration was expected to begin at approximately 12:15 p.m. or shortly thereafter. All Dodger Stadium guidelines and rules will apply to the event. Signs, bags or any other items not permitted for games under team policies will also be prohibited at the celebration.
Due to logistics, traffic and timing, fans were not able to attend both the parade and the stadium celebration, according to the team. The parade will be shown on DodgerVision inside the stadium. Food and merchandise will be available for purchase.
Tickets for the stadium celebration were sold out by Sunday night, according to the Dodgers.
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Road closures near the route started early Monday morning, and Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol also closed several freeway entrances and exits near the parade.
A separate, ticketed celebration will be held at Dodger Stadium at approximately 12:15 p.m. All Dodger Stadium guidelines and rules will apply to the event. Signs, bags or any other items not permitted for games under team policies will also be prohibited at the celebration.
Due to logistics, traffic and timing, fans were not able to attend both the parade and the stadium celebration, according to the team. The parade will be shown on DodgerVision inside the stadium. Food and merchandise will be available for purchase.
Tickets for the stadium celebration were sold out by Sunday night, according to the Dodgers.
The parade and stadium event were being televised in their entirety on CBS2, NBC4, KTLA5, ABC7, KCAL9, Fox11, Spectrum SportsNet LA, be streamed on dodgers.com and broadcast on AM 570.
Laura Rubio-Cornejo, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, said more than 125 extra traffic officers were being deployed to ensure things go smoothly.
Street closures were generally occurring south from Chinatown and Cesar Chavez Avenue, west of Spring Street, east of the Harbor (110) Freeway and north of Eighth Street, Rubio-Cornejo said.
DASH and Commuter Express service were being impacted, and riders were encouraged to check online for changes.
LA Metro officials said many bus lines in downtown LA would be detoured due to the festivities starting as early as 3:30 a.m. Those planning to take the bus were encouraged to visit Metro's service alerts website for up- to-date information. Metro directed many of its bus lines serving downtown to the following four Metro Rail stations, where riders can transfer to trains and continue their trips into downtown:
-- Union Station (A, B and D Lines) is the main entry point into DTLA from the north or east.
-- Westlake/MacArthur Park (B and D Lines) for those coming into DTLA from the west.
-- Little Tokyo/Arts District (A and E Lines) for those coming into DTLA from the east.
-- Pico Station (A and E Lines) for those coming into DTLA from the west or south.
For the Dodger Stadium Express shuttle, riders must have a ticket for the Dodger Celebration Event.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said Sunday that the parade was "an opportunity to show the world the very best of Los Angeles - - the unity, pride and respect that defines our city.
"The eyes of the world will be on us, and we intend to ensure that everyone can celebrate safely," McDonnell said, adding that police would have a large and visible presence along the parade route, at the rally and throughout the surrounding neighborhoods.
McDonnell attributed the violence that broke out after Saturday night's clinching victory to "a small number of individuals" who turned "could have been a joyous occasion into one marred by some vandalism and destruction of property."
"That behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," he said.
Seven people were arrested on suspicion of various charges in the overnight celebration, and police used tear gas to break up one crowd in Echo Park.
Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol will also be closing several freeway entrances and exits that are near the parade.
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