Fields Of Dreams - Petco Park, San Diego, California

Today, our almost pop shipping service e'er on the blog.  Yes, ever...no, I don't know why...but here's an updated await at San Diego's Petco Park.

Picture courtesy of Wikimedia

Nehrams 2020 nether CC-BY-SA license

Dropping a notch to #13 on our listing of Major League Stadiums, Petco Park is the abode of the San Diego Padres who moved hither from Qualcomm Stadium (formerly Jack Murphy Stadium) inwards 2004.  It is a downtown stadium inwards the middle of the Gaslamp District, San Diego’s dining as well as amusement heart, as well as across the street from the convention center.  It is i block away from the ocean. 

Here are the stats:

Year opened:  2004

Surface: Grass

Construction cost: $450 million

Capacity: 42,445

Field dimensions: Left plain – 367 ft.; left optic – 390 ft*.; Center plain – 396 ft.; correct optic – 391 ft.*; Right plain – 382 ft.

Home team: San Diego Padres (National League, MLB) 2004 – present

Events attended: One game

*Note: plain dimensions amongst the asterix were moved inwards for the 2013 flavour to brand the common to a greater extent than hitter friendly.

Picture courtesy of Wikimedia

hober nether CC-BY-SA license

Petco was incorporated into the downtown redevelopment zone as well as preserves a historic edifice built into the left plain stands, the Western Metal Supply edifice which was declared a historical edifice during the early on stage of the stadium development.  This delayed the projection (along amongst political issues – San Diego is known for beingness rattling tight amongst the taxation buck) 2 years.  Eventually, it was simply incorporated into the stadium.  It at i time houses a restaurant, the gift shop, as well as the team’s offices along amongst a few seats for the fans.

It’s a block from the sea but faces the other direction.  This is because batters would live on looking into the setting Sun if it faced the beautiful sea view.  The persuasion started looking out over a construction zone but is inwards the procedure of beingness developed.

Tony Gwynn had his number retired the twenty-four hours nosotros were there

Wheelchair seating abounds at all levels as well as a quick telephone band to the team’s part tin dismiss receive got attention of you lot as well as your companion’s needs.  We had no problem at all getting a wheelchair as well as 2 companion seats, addition 4 to a greater extent than seats for my sister’s household unit of measurement inwards the following row.  The Padres practise dynamic ticket pricing.  That way prices fluctuate according to demand.  This year's Padres don't seem to live on a squad that would live on inwards such high demand but a quick cheque on their site shows prices running from $10 to over $100. Call (619) 795-5005 for assist amongst accessible seating.

The outfield is a common on non-game days.  During a game, it’s a large grassy expanse to spread a picnic blanket on.  H5N1 inexpensive standing room alone ticket gets you lot access here.  There’s also a sand pit at the optic plain wall for the kids to play in.  It’s called “The Beach” but since the common is named afterwards a pet shop, I telephone band it “The Litter Box.”

Food hither is on the slightly-better than mediocre side.  There’s a proficient diversity of nutrient but almost of it is pretty bland.  I’ve been told that the nutrient on the gild marking is excellent, but that is off-limits to almost ticket holders.  Draft beer pick is excellent.

Picture courtesy of Wikimedia

cooljuno411 nether CC-BY-SA license

In the following Gaslamp area, in that place are a number of to a greater extent than oftentimes than non pricy restaurants where you lot tin dismiss teach a pre-game or post-game meal.  H5N1 few nearby bars also receive got inexpensive beer deals you lot tin dismiss receive got payoff of earlier the game.  We similar to receive got payoff of this to ease the budget i time within the stadium.

The staff hither is rattling friendly as well as helpful.  The team’s spider web site, though, makes it seem that in that place is scarce parking inwards the expanse as well as volition sell you lot distant parking from the stadium for some pretty hefty prices where you lot tin dismiss receive got a shuttle to the park.  We constitute a non-affiliated parking construction simply across from the tertiary base of operations entrance where $10 got us 24 hours of parking.  There was enough to become unopen to too.

Transit access is amid the best we’ve seen.  The accessible San Diego Trolley has 2 stations at the stadium.  If you’re coming from upwards north, nation Orange County or Los Angeles, it’s tardily to receive got Amtrak’s Surfliner to San Diego, as well as thence the trolley from in that place to the stadium.

Many hotels are inwards the neighborhood as well as unopen to trolley stations farther out such every bit Mission Valley.  The best, if you lot tin dismiss teach a proficient rate, is the Omni San Diego Hotel which is connected to the stadium via a human foot duo as well as has its ain entrance into the park.  We did teach a $99 charge per unit of measurement in that place but that’s non the common price.

Before he managed the Padres, Bud Black was the pitching omnibus amongst the Angels.  

Here he is amongst Darryl as well as Tim along amongst old Angel utility player, Jeff Davanon.

The squad is doing miserably this twelvemonth nether the management of managing director Bud Black.  Between them as well as the Dodgers, it's difficult to nation who's the worst squad inwards the sectionalisation correct now.

All inwards all, a proficient park.  In the middle of the pack, average but simply higher upwards mediocre.  It doesn’t capture my spirit similar PNC Park or the old Yankee Stadium, but it’s yet good higher upwards other stadiums on the westward coast.  I’d nation it’s minute inwards the westward alone to AT&T Park inwards San Francisco.
 

-Darryl

Copyright 2010-Darryl Musick
All Rights Reserved
Updated for 2013