FLUSHING, NY — The Dodgers continue to strengthen their case as this generation’s defining franchise, with their latest East Coast road trip only reinforcing that notion. Out of MLB’s All-Star break, Los Angeles took two of three from the Yankees in the Bronx, won two of three against the Phillies in Philadelphia and then their first two this weekend against the Mets in Queens.
While the wins kept LA rolling toward another postseason push, one of the biggest storylines unfolded far from the box score.
At nearly every stop, Dodger Blue filled the stands.
Fans of Dodger Blue have consistently taken over road ballparks out of the All-Star break (at Yankee Stadium, Citizens Bank Park and Citi Field) and a lot of it is a result of Pantone 294 – Image Credit: Al Pereira/Latino Sports
Whether it was thousands of Japanese fans showing up to watch Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki or the club’s passionate Latino fan base, supporting players such as Teoscar Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Kiké Hernandez and Edwin Díaz—the Dodgers once again created a home-field atmosphere hundreds of miles from Los Angeles.
Much of that traveling support can be traced to Pantone 294, an independently operated Dodgers fan organization that has transformed road trips into a thriving sports tourism business.
Dodger players and coaches feel Pantone 294’s presence in each and every ballpark, no matter the city and the stadium’s distance away from Los Angeles – Image Credit: Al Pereira/Latino Sports
Named after the Pantone color code associated with Dodger Blue, the organization coordinates ticket packages, hotels, transportation, merchandise and fan events for Dodgers supporters across the United States and abroad. What started as a simple outing among friends has grown into one of the largest organized fan-travel operations in professional sports.
Founder Alex Soto organized the group’s first trip on September 12, 2009, when approximately 55 Dodgers fans boarded a bus to San Francisco to watch their beloved Dodgers play the Giants.
“We went to San Francisco to see the Dodgers play the Giants,” Soto said in a published interview. “And we haven’t stopped.”
Pantone 294 formally launched as a business in 2013, evolving from a grassroots fan trip into a company built around shared baseball experiences.
Soto has spoken publicly about the early challenges of earning customers’ trust while operating from home and financing trips months before receiving payments.
By 2015, the organization had opened its first office and expanded its operations.
Its national breakthrough came in 2016 when Pantone 294 organized one of the most recognizable fan takeovers in recent baseball history at Yankee Stadium. The trip included approximately 1,555 ticket sales, seven airplanes, three hotels and two yachts boarded on the Hudson River, creating a sea of Dodger Blue inside one of baseball’s most iconic venues.
“We’re a big family,” Soto said when describing the community that has developed through the trips.
His philosophy is summed up in another frequently quoted line: “You come with strangers and leave with friends.”
That sense of community has become Pantone 294’s greatest selling point. Beyond game tickets, the organization now offers complete travel experiences, including hotel packages, transportation, commemorative merchandise and destination events. It has also expanded internationally, bringing together approximately 400 supporters to the Dodgers’ 2024 season opening series in Seoul, South Korea, marking another milestone in its evolution from fan club to sports travel brand.
While Pantone 294 does not publicly disclose revenue or sponsorship figures, its impact is measured by more than dollars. The organization has shown that modern fandom extends well beyond cheering from the stands. It has built a business by turning loyal supporters into travelers, creating unforgettable experiences while helping Dodgers fans leave their mark in opposing ballparks.
Shohei Ohtani paying mind to fans during the fourth inning of Saturday night’s Dodgers-Mets matchup at Citi Field – Image Credit: Al Pereira/Latino Sports
As the Dodgers continue pursuing championships and a place among baseball’s greatest dynasties, Pantone 294 is redefining what it means to be a fan.
What began as a 55-person bus ride has become an international movement, proving that Dodger Blue doesn’t stop at the California state line—it travels wherever the team does.
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