A viral aerial video of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles misled viewers into believing the stadium was flooded by Tropical Storm Hilary. However, experts clarified that the illusion was caused by wet concrete and reflections, and the stadium was never submerged. The Los Angeles Dodgers team refuted the footage, sharing photos demonstrating that the stadium remained unflooded. In truth, the surrounding parking lot was merely wet from rainwater.
Misleading Information
A widely shared aerial video of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles has caused confusion among social media users, who believed the stadium was flooded over the weekend due to Tropical Storm Hilary. This storm is notable as the first hurricane to hit Southern California in 84 years, adding to the region’s challenges with recent wildfires and an earthquake on Sunday.
One prominent post on X (formerly Twitter) featured an image from the video showing the stadium appearing surrounded by water, accompanied by the caption, “Wild scene at Dodger Stadium today.” Another post humorously referred to the stadium as an “island.”
Fact
Mark Holtzman, president of West Coast Aerial Photography in Los Angeles, explained that the optical illusion was likely caused by wet concrete. He noted that the reflections on the water’s surface created an “opaque look,” which gave the false impression of standing water. Holtzman elaborated on this effect, highlighting how rain and lighting conditions interacted to produce the illusion, speaking with the Associated Press.
Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert from the University of California, Berkeley, added that from a distant aerial viewpoint, distinguishing between a wet surface and one submerged under several inches of water can be challenging. Farid verified the authenticity of the video but clarified that it did not accurately portray flooding around the stadium.
Holtzman, who has conducted numerous aerial flights over the stadium without ever observing or hearing reports of flooding, emphasized that the stadium’s uneven parking lot prevents water from pooling. He stated, “I’ve flown over it at different times, in different weather conditions, and it just looks like a wet stadium.”
Upon closer scrutiny of the video, specific details in the parking lot were visible that would not be present if the area were submerged underwater.
The Los Angeles Dodgers team affirmed that the stadium, built into a hill, had never actually been underwater.
Conclusion
The official Los Angeles Dodgers handle refuted the footage and shared new photos demonstrating that Dodger Stadium was not flooded. Their post read, “Dodger Stadium trending? We understand. It looks beautiful this morning.”
Steve Brener, a spokesperson for the Dodgers, confirmed to The Associated Press that the stadium had not encountered any flooding. The team also posted an online image showing the parking lot dry on Monday.
Although Sunday’s video initially suggested a moat-like water feature had formed around the stadium, the truth is that it was the surrounding parking lot that was slick with rainwater.
