LA Dodgers prepare for MLB play-offs as city embraces sports boom

Los Angeles has been the centre of the baseball world over the past few years.

The LA Dodgers have built a star-studded roster in Major League Baseball, winning back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.

Celebrities and royalty have flocked to Dodger Stadium, which will also host the Olympic tournament as baseball returns to the Games for Los Angeles 2028.

And you can get a glimpse of the Hollywood vibe as the Dodgers continue their quest for a World Series three-peat in the MLB play-offs this weekend.

After earning a bye for the first round last week, it is time for the Dodgers to join the post-season party and they will be part of an MLB double-header live on the BBC.

Saturday's coverage begins with the Chicago White Sox visiting the Cleveland Guardians for the start of their American League Division Series (18:00 BST).

You can then experience all the sights and sounds from Dodger Stadium, one of MLB's most iconic venues, as the defending champions begin their National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves (21:00 BST).

Opened in 1962, Dodger Stadium is the biggest MLB arena with a capacity of 56,000, and this year 'Dodger baseball' has been one of the hottest tickets in town.

For the past two years the team's total home attendance has passed four million. This year they set a franchise record of 4,034,219 - an average of 49,805 fans per game.

The signings of two-way star Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2024 helped boost the team's Asian fanbase, increasing Japanese tourism to LA and supplementing the loyal local support.

Actors Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Bryan Cranston, Jason Bateman and Rob Lowe are all regulars at Dodger Stadium, while Justin and Hailey Bieber have been spotted at multiple games.

NBA star LeBron James and NFL quarterback Justin Herbert both attended last year's World Series, along with Sydney Sweeney, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Who will show up this weekend as LA hosts games one and two of the best-of-five series against Atlanta?

Having briefly been based in LA, Pierre Ducrey - sports director for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - has also watched numerous games at Dodger Stadium and is "quite familiar with the atmosphere it can deliver".

"There's so many Dodger fans and they're very passionate about the team," he told BBC Sport. "They have an incredible venue and one thing I do know about baseball is this is the perfect home for a baseball tournament."

The Dodgers aren't the only show in town. The LA Lakers are one of the biggest franchises in basketball's NBA, as are the LA Rams in American football's NFL.

The Rams won the Super Bowl in their own stadium in 2022 and are favourites to win the NFL's championship game when it returns to SoFi Stadium next February.

The stadium hosted eight World Cup games last summer and anticipation is growing that LA is set for a third straight World Series later this month.

"This is a city that lives and breathes sport and the Dodgers are a perfect example of that," said Ducrey. "The popularity of the franchise in LA cannot be underestimated."

Although Ohtani is a rare two-way player, the Dodgers' leading home-run hitter will not pitch again this year because of injuries.

Skubal is expected to start on Saturday and face Matt Olson, who led Atlanta with 41 home runs in the regular season and added another in Thursday's series-clinching win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Either the Dodgers or the Braves will face Milwaukee or the San Diego Padres in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) - one step from the World Series.

Sixth seed Chicago have already upset the Houston Astros in the other half of the play-offs and either the White Sox or Cleveland will face the Tampa Bay Rays or Yankees in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).

The winners of the ALCS and NLCS will meet in the World Series, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, 23 October.