Petco Park
San Diego, CA

Since 2004, Padres fans have had one of the best ballparks in baseball to see games and create new memories each summer. However before Petco Park's opening, that was not always the case. With an aging Jack Murphy Stadium and having to share it with the San Diego Chargers (NFL), the Padres needed a ballpark of their own. Larry Lucchino, who helped the Orioles build Camden Yards, became President of the Padres in 1995 in part to help the team get a new ballpark constructed. In 1996 the club officially announced plans to build a ballpark and after making it to the World Series in 1998, the voters of San Diego approved a bond to allow construction of a ballpark in downtown San Diego. Originally, the 42,445 seat stadium was scheduled to open in 2002. However, in October 2000 funding for construction of the ballpark ended and was halted for more than a year. Over a year later in November 2001, the City of San Diego approved a $166 million bond in order for construction to resume. In January 2003, Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. purchased the naming rights for $60 million over 22 years, thus the ballpark was named Petco Park.

The San Diego Padres played their first game at Petco Park on April 8, 2004 against the San Francisco Giants. The $411 million ballpark has a Southern California look and feel to it with its white steel, sandstone facade and palm/jacaranda trees. Petco Park is a baseball only stadium with a grass field. Leading up to the entrance of the ballpark, fans pass by a palm court and water walls. Once inside the new ballpark, all fans have an excellent view of the field. All of the 42,500 blue seats are close to the field and are angled toward the pitchers mound. The three tier grandstand extends from the right field foul pole around to homeplate and to the left field foul pole. At the left field foul pole is a San Diego landmark, the Western Metal Supply Building is part of the left field wall and foul pole. The Western Metal Supply Building houses the team store on the first floor and has an opening to allow fans into a standing room area in left field. Located on the second and third floors of the building are party/luxury suites, with a restaurant on the fourth floor. Located on top of the building are 800 bleachers that provide tremendous views of the ballpark. These bleachers can be retracted in order for the area to be turned into a party area for fans. The main scoreboard sits above the seats in left field. Another scoreboard makes up part of the right field fence. Additional seating can be found above the right field wall where there are two levels of seating. Directly behind the centerfield fence is the Padres bullpen and the 'beach' where fans can relax stretching out on the ground watching the game by sitting or laying on sand. Directly outside the ballpark behind the the centerfield area is the "Park at the Park." This elevated grass park is a manicured park that is used for lawn seating. Here fans are able to watch games for five dollars. Although some of the best views of the ballpark may come from this area, the view of the ballpark and downtown San Diego from the upper deck behind home plate are spectacular.

PETCO PARK PICTURES