Following the Dodgers’ achievement of securing back-to-back World Series Championships, marking the ninth title in their history, ecstatic Dodgers supporters poured into the streets to commemorate their team’s momentous victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
The city erupted with the sounds of fireworks celebrating the win, as festivities took place in downtown L.A., East Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Echo Park, Van Nuys, and additional locations.
In Echo Park, just blocks from Dodger Stadium, police blocked Sunset Boulevard to vehicle traffic during the seventh game. Authorities requested that at least one bar turn off its outdoor screen in the ninth inning due to a large gathering.
As the final play unfolded, patrons at another Echo Park bar erupted with joy, with fireworks and car alarms resonating through the air as drivers honked horns and cheers echoed from all sides.
At the intersection of Echo Park Blvd. and Sunset Ave., hundreds of fans crowded the closed area, where a few men periodically launched fireworks. Occasionally, cars passed by revving their engines, igniting applause from the spectators.
Police gathered nearby to establish a perimeter as a sideshow unfolded. Several young men leaned out of a car spinning donuts in the middle of the action, while dozens of people waved flags in a circular formation, drawing hundreds of onlookers, many of whom recorded the scene on their phones.
“It’s wild out here, back to back,” remarked Dodger fan Steven Gomez of LA as he witnessed a firework burst overhead. “LA never backs down, man. Like Kobe said, the job isn’t done.”
Gomez highlighted the uniqueness of their celebration. “This is LA. We love gathering as a community,” he added.
By midnight, police had deployed horses and tear gas canisters to disperse the crowds.
In Santa Monica, the iconic 90-foot-tall Ferris wheel at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier celebrated the victory with a blue-and-white light display along with messages stating: “Dodgers Win!” and “Go Dodgers!”
During an interview with KCBS-LA, Magic Johnson, co-owner of the Dodgers, expressed that it was a remarkable evening for fans, noting that no team had won back-to-back championships in 25 years.
“With the wildfires, we needed this as well,” he shared with the news outlet. “This [helps] unite our city again.”
Congratulatory messages also came from the White House. “A lesser group of men wouldn’t have attained that victory, or game 6, for that matter,” President Trump posted on Truth Social. “So many stars made it all possible. Also, congrats to ownership… SEE YOU ALL AT THE WHITE HOUSE!”
Fans celebrate as the Dodgers take the lead and ultimately win the World Series in Game 7 at Tom’s Watch Bar in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.
(Jonathan Alcorn/For The Times)
City Mayor Karen Bass extended her congratulations for the win while promptly calling for restraint.
“Once more, we demonstrated to the world that L.A. is the city of champions,” she posted on X. “Celebrate safely and responsibly tonight, Dodgers fans. LAPD is on heightened alert and collaborating with regional law enforcement. There will be zero tolerance for anyone looking to exploit this win.”
With potential celebrations in mind, the Los Angeles Police Department went on citywide tactical alert shortly before 6 p.m., as confirmed by Los Angeles Police Officer Norma Eisenman.
The police department blocked several streets around L.A. Live and Crypto.com Arena, rerouting LA Metro buses from Figueroa Street to Hope Street between Pico and Olympic boulevards. These closures also prevented ride-sharing services from entering the area.
A Dodger fan celebrates in front of an LAPD skirmish line outside LA Live after the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series.
(Jonathan Alcorn/For The Times)
LAPD reported the closure of several streets including Pico Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard between LA Live Way and Grand Avenue, and Flower and Hope streets between 9th Street and Venice Boulevard.
Later, the police issued dispersal orders to those gathering along Figueroa Boulevard and at Chick Hearn Court.
In East L.A., the California Highway Patrol blocked Olympic Boulevard at Atlantic Boulevard, aiming to divert traffic and deter road shows. Despite this, one car managed to halt in the intersection, performing donuts while fireworks were set off, inciting cheers from the crowd. A motorcycle followed shortly afterward.
By around 10 p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies deployed tear gas and advanced toward the gathering, prompting a mass exodus from the intersection. A small fire had ignited, although the cause remained unclear.
Following last year’s World Series win, incidents of vandalism and multiple arrests occurred. While most celebrations remained peaceful, some businesses downtown experienced burglaries, and a bus was set ablaze in Echo Park.
The Dodgers secured their ninth title after defeating the Blue Jays, 3-1, to force game seven. Notably, the team’s victory coincided with Fernando Valenzuela’s birthday, the city’s cherished left-handed pitcher who died last year. A victory parade is set for Monday.
