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PETCO PARK
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SAN DIEGO, CA
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Since 2004, Padre fans
have had one of the best ballparks to watch 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 cou rt 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 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.
Several unique 200 foot
towers supporting
the
grandstand and extending above the main grandstand support the
lights for the playing field and house luxury suites and lounges. A
Padres Hall of Fame, 250 seat auditorium, kids entertainment zone and
theater are also located at Petco Park. Fans of all ages enjoy coming
out to Petco Park for some fun and exciting Padres baseball.
In an effort to make Petco Park less of a pitchers
park, the Padres changed the dimensions before the
start of the 2013 season. The dimensions to the
right and left field foul poles and to centerfield
remain the same but the distance to the left field
power alley decreases from 402 feet to 390 feet and
the right field foul pole from 402 feet to 390 feet.
The team also moved the visiting team's bullpen from
down the foul line to behind the Padres bullpen in
left-center field.
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FACTS & FIGURES
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-Tenant:
San Diego Padres
-Capacity:
42,500
-Surface:
Grass
-Cost:
$449.4 Million
-Opened:
April 8, 2004
-Dimensions:
334-L, 367-LC, 396-C, 382-RC, 322-R
-Architect:
HOK, Antoine Predock
-Owner: City of San Diego (70%), Padres (30%)
-Naming Rights: PETCO, $2.7 million/year through 2026 |
-Public Financing: 57%: $206 million from city, $76 million from
county, $21 million from Port of San Diego
-Private Financing: 43%: $146 million from Padres
-Petco Park Seating Chart
-Home Dugout: First Base
-Petco Park Ground Rules
-Directions & Parking
-Fan Experiences |
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CURRENT WEATHER AT PETCO
PARK
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MAP & DIRECTIONS TO
PETCO
PARK
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Address:
19 Tony
Gwynn Way, San Diego, CA 92112
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MEMORABLE MOMENTS
AT PETCO PARK
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Braves Chipper
Jones's
300th homerun on August 16, 2004.
Pitcher Trevor
Hoffman
becomes the first pitcher to record 500 career saves on June 6, 2007.
Cy Young Award
winner Jake Peavy in 2007.
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