Fans who purchased qualifying tickets received a limited giveaway of three Hololive baseball trading cards featuring the collaborating VTubers in Dodgers uniforms. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise, including three t-shirts each featuring one of the talents, and a baseball cap adorned with the Hololive logo on the side and "LA" on the front.
The game commenced with the three talents joining in the traditional "It’s time for Dodger baseball" announcement. Fans also had a chance for a photo opportunity with life-sized cutouts of the girls in Dodgers uniforms. Throughout the game, videos featuring the talents appeared on the screen during breaks to energize and rally the fans.
During the 7th inning stretch, fans were treated to Gura's charming rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." This performance, dubbed 'the Gura buff' on social media, coincided with a pivotal moment in the game when the Dodgers rallied from a 4-5 deficit against the Brewers to score four runs and win 8-5 after her performance.
After the game, attendees enjoyed a post-game drone show set to Hololive music and an impressive light show showcasing each VTuber's unique mark, alongside visuals resembling the back of the T-shirt collaboration and the girls in poses reminiscent of the baseball cards. The evening concluded with the song ‘Shiny Smily Story.’
However, not all fans had an equally positive experience; some spent most of the game in the lengthy merch lines that stretched around the stadium, only to leave empty-handed. This led to frustration and criticism on social media.
Ok, so you want to know how long the merch line is. Well, we got you covered. Video is 1/4 of the whole line, and you can see the map for full route "X" marks the merch booth. #hololiveDodgers #AnimeExpo2024 @gawrgura @usadapekora @suisei_hosimati @tanigox pic.twitter.com/uYEfJ8HgMe
— The-O Network (@tononet) July 6, 2024
Despite logistical challenges and issues with scalping merch, the collaboration between Hololive and the Dodgers left a lasting impression on fans who were able to participate in the festivities and collect their special edition trading cards. The event underscored the growing intersection of virtual entertainment and traditional sports, blending anime culture with the excitement of live baseball in a memorable evening at Dodger Stadium.
