In preparation for their opening show next week, the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with their band of traveling all-stars, are making waves in Japan. According to StubHub, one out of every five tickets sold for Dodgers games this year has been purchased by fans in Japan, surpassing the sales of ticket packages by Japan's largest travel agency.

Known for leading the major leagues in attendance for the past decade, the Dodgers' acquisition of Shohei Ohtani, combined with his meteoric rise as a global star, has catapulted ticket sales — and prices — to new heights. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts compared the buzz around the team to the popularity of renowned acts like The Beatles and Michael Jordan, expressing excitement for the upcoming season.

StubHub revealed that this year, they have sold more tickets for the Dodgers than any other major league team, a significant jump from the Dodgers' eighth-place ranking at the same time last year. Furthermore, the Dodgers are currently the best-selling team for road games, with six out of the top 10 major league games driving the most StubHub ticket sales involving the Dodgers.

As of Thursday, the average price to watch the Dodgers on the road was $122, while tickets for the highly anticipated game against the New York Yankees on June 8th were priced at $211. The Dodgers' home opener tickets were even more coveted, with an average price of $533.

With the addition of Ohtani, the Dodgers have a plethora of opportunities to commercially capitalize on his popularity, ranging from jersey patches to Dodger Stadium field naming rights.

Adam Budelli, a spokesman for StubHub, compared Ohtani's impact on ticket sales to that of Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer, noting that both global stars have brought a surge in ticket sales and increased interest from fans.

Japan has now surpassed the United Kingdom as StubHub's top international market. Last year, out of the MLB tickets purchased by Japanese fans, 70% were for games featuring Ohtani's former team, the Los Angeles Angels.

The Dodgers' dominance in ticket sales and the growing international fanbase highlights the significant impact of Shohei Ohtani's presence on the team. As anticipation builds for the upcoming season, the Dodgers are prepared to paint Japan in Dodger blue and provide an unforgettable experience for fans worldwide.

The news was covered by Bill Shaikin, a California Sportswriter of the Year honoree, who regularly reports on baseball and sports business for the Los Angeles Times.