The Dodgers last night announced they have hired noted stadium planner JANET MARIE SMITH as their Senior VP/Planning & Development. She will oversee planned upgrades and renovations to Dodger Stadium by new club owners Guggenheim Baseball Management. Smith joins the Dodgers from the Orioles, where she was VP/Planning & Development and led the development of Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., and 20th anniversary enhancements to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In her new role, Smith reunites with current Dodgers President STAN KASTEN, as the pair worked together in Atlanta on projects such as the creation of Turner Field. "I had really finished up what I set out to do with the Orioles, and this seemed like a very natural transition," said Smith, who also played a major role in the restoration of Fenway Park. "I'm also thrilled with the chance to be back with Stan. I'm coming in with no preconceptions because this is a very different stadium than any other one in MLB." Smith will maintain her residence in Baltimore and travel frequently to L.A., where she lived during the early '80s (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). Kasten said that “much of the initial work could be completed prior to the 2013 home opener.” Kasten: “We’re on an aggressive timeline. We would like to do as much as we can by Opening Day next year.” He added, “It’s going to take several years, probably, to do all the things we want. But our goal certainly is to do a lot of this by next year.” Kasten said Smith liked the “retro, ’50s feel” of Dodger Stadium. He added that the changes “would be incorporated into its current design, much as was accomplished at Fenway.” Kasten: “I do think we have the potential to do even more than they did at Fenway, because we have more room to do things.” Kasten said that bids are “already being taken for infrastructure improvements for power, water and data systems, and it was hoped that work could be completed during the offseason.” He said that later changes “could include additional restaurants and bars, kids’ areas, relaxation areas, history displays and interactive areas” (L.A. TIMES, 8/7).
