Dodger Stadium became the focus for reasons beyond the baseball on Wednesday night, after video from the upper decks showed a sparse home crowd during Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. With the Los Angeles Dodgers losing 6-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers and falling behind 3-0 in the series, the empty seats only sharpened the scrutiny on one of MLB's marquee franchises.
The reaction was immediate. Zach called it “one of the more pathetic things I've seen in all my life,” before stressing: “This is Game 3 of the NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES, folks.” He also pointed to the familiar explanation that often comes up around Los Angeles, saying: “It's the LA traffic. It's a nightmare!”
Attendance becomes the story again
Attendance has been a recurring topic throughout the playoffs, and Dodger Stadium was the latest venue to come under the microscope. The issue is not unique to Los Angeles — the Rays have also been criticized for empty seats at Tropicana Park — but the contrast is especially stark when a team is in the NLCS and playing at home.
The footage from the upper decks on Oct. 14, 2026, showed that the criticism was not just about isolated gaps in the crowd. It was about the overall feel of the night, even with postseason stakes high and a potential elimination game coming tonight. For a club that is routinely treated as one of baseball's biggest attractions, that matters.
What the result means now
On the field, the Dodgers had little room to absorb distractions. Their 6-2 loss left them trailing the series 3-0, and the pressure now shifts to Game 4 with elimination looming. Tickets for Game 4 on Stubhub were reported to be available for as low as $80, which only adds to the sense that the atmosphere around the series is being watched as closely as the baseball itself.
Dave Roberts will now have to manage both the baseball and the mood around it. After a night when Dodger Stadium drew attention for the wrong reason, the next game will tell us whether the conversation turns back to performance or stays on the stands.
