Farmer John no longer supplies Dodger Dogs to the Stadium

Horrors! Are Dodger Dogs no more? It looks that way. Somewhere between the end of the 2019 season and now, Farmer John’s has gotten out of the business of supplying hot dogs to Dodger Stadium for home games.

According to a report in the LA Times today, the longstanding weenie supplier for Dodger games has ended its relationship with the team and is instead now supplying hot dogs to LAFC for its soccer games. Who eats a hot dog at a soccer game anyway?

Smithfield Foods, the parent company of Farmer John, issued a statement that was reported in today’s paper. In part, it said “Farmer John had a long-standing and valued relationship with the Dodgers. After the 2019 season, Farmer John made the difficult business decision not to renew its contract with the Dodgers. … Unfortunately, through the latest contract negotiations, we were unable to come to an agreement that was beneficial for both parties.”

The article went on to say that “an elaborate process” had taken place to find a replacement vendor for the stadium, which will be announced soon. At the stadium now, all references to the Farmer John’s connection have been erased. Now, at concession stands something called a “Traditional Dodger Dog” is being sold, which was NOT made by Farmer John’s. I had one of these hot dogs at the game on Saturday and to be honest, I couldn’t tell the difference.

Let’s be honest. The Dodger Dog wasn’t a great hot dog. But it was a part of Dodger lore. And now it’s gone. Next thing, they be putting a runner on second in extra innings or something.