Introduction
Petco Park, the home ballpark of Major League Baseball (MLB) team San Diego Padres, is situated in downtown San Diego, California, United States. Before the Petco Park, Qualcomm Stadium was shared by the San Diego Padres with the National Football League (NFL) team San Diego Chargers. Petco Park was originally scheduled to open for the 2002 season, but the construction was postponed due to some political and legal reason, and therefore, it was opened on April 8, 2004.
The first game was played on April 8, 2004, between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants. The name of the stadium was given after the animal and pet supplies retailer Petco, which purchased the naming rights.
Petco Park is located in –
100 Park Boulevard,
San Diego, CA 92101,
(619)795-5000,
United States.
Design
Petco Park’s design was proposed by the architect firm Populous. The ballpark was constructed by San Diego Ballpark Builders, a partnership with Clark Construction, Nielsen Dillingham and Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc. The construction cost was about $ 450 million, which was partly funded by the San Diego Redevelopment Agency and the Center City Development Corporation. A distinctive ‘fractured’ design of the seating bowl clearly divides seating sections and creates a collection of seating zones, making all seating areas in the stadium attractive. The 3 tier grandstand extends from the right field foul pole around to the left field foul pole and home plate. 800 bleachers are located on top of the building that provides incredible views of the stadium. These bleachers can be pulled back in order for the area to be turned into a party area for fans.
Dimensions
• Surface – Grass.
• Capacity – 42,445.
• Left field alley – 402 feet (123 m).
• Left field line – 334 feet (102 m).
• Left field – 367 feet (112 m).
• Right field alley – 402 feet (123 m).
• Right field line – 322 feet (98 m).
• Right field – 382 feet (116 m).
• Center field – 396 feet (121 m).
Features
• The third base side of the courtyard offers bountiful views of the ballpark, but the first base side is broken up with obstructions.
• Kid’s entertainment zone, theater, 250 seat auditorium, and the Padres Hall of Fame are also located at the Petco Park.
• Some seats feature computer technologies that allow fans to check out their favorite player’s stats, order food from their seats, or surf the Internet.
• Park at the Park (an elevated glass park), which is a manicured park that is used for lawn seating is located behind the center field area.