anyone have pics/reviews of PETCO park?

[xtimx]

so i searched the board and only found like 3 threads mentioning petco and there was only like 2 pictures total. anyone have a good rundown on the park? whats with those 2 "towers" that hold the lights? hoping to make a trip out there at the end of this year or maybe next summer.

[OBomb]

It's a great place to watch a game. Then again, being a Padres fan, I am a little biased. I've been to several parks around the country from Angel Stadium to Safeco Field, to Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium. With that in mind, Petco is one of the best because of the amenities it has like all the new parks built in the last 18 years or so. But also, it's in a great city and in a great location. You're one block from all the bars, restaurants, and clubs in the Gaslamp District that you can visit before or after a game. Also, there are several hotels downtown (obviously) with many within walking distance to the ballpark. The park is also easily accessible being close to freeways and being accessible to public transportation - particularly the San Diego Trolley.

Those towers you were asking about serve both as light standards as well as luxury suites. There are three suites per tower stacked one on top of the other. Ticket prices, in my mind, are pretty good and you can get great seats for a pretty good deal. Also keep in mind that you can get a $5 pass to the Park at the Park which gives you access to both the Park at the Park as well as standing room only areas. My two biggest complaints as a baseball and Padres fan are beer prices (anywhere between $7.50 and $9, yes, $9), and some areas of stark, gray concrete making the place look a little unfinished (especially the butt-ugly wall in right field behind the out-of-town scoreboard).

While you're there, take a walk around the place, visit the Western Metal Supply Company Building (there's a restaurant on the top floor), and get a look at the Tony Gwynn statue in the Park at the Park.

Hope this helps and have a great time when you're here.

Here are some pictures:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2507303027_90b549f721.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2304/2367102421_fc3144744f.jpg?v=0

http://www.lindsayfincher.com/gallery/d/14568-1/august07_petco_park.jpg

http://www.buildingstonemagazine.com/fall-06/art/Padres4.jpg

http://yogibrewer.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/images/gwynn.jpg

[xtimx]

thanks for the pics, looks really nice. i like that they used that beige-ish stone all over, gives it a very unique look. i also LOVE how they tied in that western supply building. i remember the last time i was in san diego it was on tour and i think we were at that awful place soma and you could see petco in the distance. it had either just opened or was gonna in a few months. i also remember there being lots of adult video stores by soma. and a del taco. haha.
i love san diego, perfect weather, nice people, the ocean. and pokez. mmm.

[Jim Vaz]

Great park, great city! Only been there once but it has been one of my better ballpark experiences. Definitly get there if you can!

[alpineinc]

gemcaptom posted this big pic a while back - great shot!

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27901&stc=1&d=1187811990

[Yankees2k6]

looks like a great place to watch baseball, but I gotta take your word for it, never been to the West Coast yet:ughh

[Lafferty Daniel]

Here are a few pics I took during the World Baseball Classic.

[Lafferty Daniel]

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[Yoda]

It looks great but I'm not a fan of a park that has all sorts of sections and levels.

[Lafferty Daniel]

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[Lafferty Daniel]

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[Lafferty Daniel]

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[Lafferty Daniel]

It looks great but I'm not a fan of a park that has all sorts of sections and levels.

It has a general theme, but it's also very disjointed. If you ignore that, Padres Park is a great place to watch a game. Very good cantilevered grandstand too.

[califangels72]

great experience!!! luv san diego and the new downtown park....!

[Yoda]

I'd like to sit in that middle level. I bet seats are expensive of all hell.

[Lafferty Daniel]

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[Lafferty Daniel]

great experience!!! luv san diego and the new downtown park....!

Great city....and great pics by the way.

[Lafferty Daniel]

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[OBomb]

^Yeah, they are. Seats in the Toyota Terrace, as its called, are $47 in the outfield and $62 in the infield. Having said that, the Right Field Pavillion section of the Toyota Terrace is $45 but includes $20 of food and merchandise credit. The Terrace level in general has wider, padded seats and includes in-seat waiting service so you don't have to get up from your seat to get food.

[soberdennis]

Petco is the only one of the modern ballparks I have had a chance to go to. For that reason I cannot compare it with any of the others like Comerica, PNC, etc.
But a few observations.
There is not a bad seat in the house. You get a good view of the entire field no matter where you sit.
The Western Metal Building is a nice touch. It makes the Park blend right into downtown. It also reminds me some of Fenway and the Green Monster.
Overall, it has become a symbol of the rejuvenation of downtown, which has been in great disarray for many years.
I love the park. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a great new stadium.
http://www.baseballparks.com/Petco7.jpg

[califangels72]

Great city....and great pics by the way.


thank you sir!!!!

[Yoda]

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=42940&stc=1&d=1211341554

It kind of looks like a Saudi hotel or something . ... ...:hide:

[Bobby_Ayala]

Thank you very much. San Diego is an A+ city. My regards.:applaud:

[mrakbaseball]

Fix the contrived quirks and this becomes a very good park. Don't quite understand the bullpen situation, one in-play another out-of-play.

http://sempervita.typepad.com/tamara/WindowsLiveWriter/Petco%20Park.jpg

http://www.sddt.com/reports/2004/03/projectspermits/petco_park_west.jpg

[Chevy114]

This always kind of reminds as if jacobs field and pnc had a baby. Then for baby shower presents they got a factory and a few palm trees.

[fitch94]

These shots of Petco were taken in April of 2008. This park was easily the cleaniest stadium I have ever been in. The site lines were great and so was the sound system. It reminded me of Camden Yards.

[fitch94]

Taken from the concourse

[CPTDJ2]

I went to a game while on my honeymoon in 2004. I enjoyed the open concourses and the pricing was very reasonable. It's nice to be able to have a view of the field while getting concessions. The only disappointment was that the atmosphere was very laid-back, so people didn't get too excited during the game, but I guess that's southern Cali for ya.

[fitch94]

I went to a game while on my honeymoon in 2004. I enjoyed the open concourses and the pricing was very reasonable. It's nice to be able to have a view of the field while getting concessions. The only disappointment was that the atmosphere was very laid-back, so people didn't get too excited during the game, but I guess that's southern Cali for ya.

Good points.....this place is definatly not Fenway or Yankee Stadium. If you notice the scoreboard in the last pic (sorry about the size) it is a tie game against a divisional team and the place was empty. This was a Saturday afternoon game.

[DiggerODell]

Wow . . nice photo indeed! talkin bout this first photo gemcaptom/alpineinc posted on this thread. Now, out beyond center field . . . is that a San Diego version of a tailgate party? That field looks all gone in the aerial posts done later . .they gonna build a building on those poor folks tailgate area? All good things gotta come to an end I reckon.

And those tight curves in turn one on the third deck . . . damn . .. with chains between you and the "lesson on the true nature of gravity". I would hate to come into that turn at about 190 . . . loose in the corner, tight on center with about 7 bevies swirlin' in me gut (ok, I can really only afford 6). Excellent looking ballpark though . . . gonna have to get down to the southern portion of my old homestate someday.

Too bad about that tailgate party area though. Gonna miss that.

[OBomb]

Wow . . nice photo indeed! talkin bout this first photo gemcaptom/alpineinc posted on this thread. Now, out beyond center field . . . is that a San Diego version of a tailgate party? That field looks all gone in the aerial posts done later . .they gonna build a building on those poor folks tailgate area? All good things gotta come to an end I reckon.

And those tight curves in turn one on the third deck . . . damn . .. with chains between you and the "lesson on the true nature of gravity". I would hate to come into that turn at about 190 . . . loose in the corner, tight on center with about 7 bevies swirlin' in me gut (ok, I can really only afford 6). Excellent looking ballpark though . . . gonna have to get down to the southern portion of my old homestate someday.

Too bad about that tailgate party area though. Gonna miss that.

The area beyond centerfield is the Park at the Park. For $5, fans can buy a ticket that gives them access to that area where they can sit on beach towels as well as standing room only areas. That picture is already quite out of date as the area beyond the outfield has developed quite substantially with condos, a few hotels, and an office building. Believe me, that is definitely not the way we tailgate here in America's Finest City.

[PadreHomer]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2130.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2134.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2145.jpg

[PadreHomer]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2149.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2150.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2151.jpg

[PadreHomer]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2152.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2153.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2161.jpg

[Gary Dunaier]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/thomp538/friar%20faithful%2008/IMGP2150.jpg

"Friar Faithful Field Day?"

The Padres have a day where they let fans go on the field?

The actual field, not just the warning track?

Okay. Somebody explain this to me. RIGHT. NOW.

[PadreHomer]

"Friar Faithful Field Day?"

The Padres have a day where they let fans go on the field?

The actual field, not just the warning track?

Okay. Somebody explain this to me. RIGHT. NOW.
There was a Madonna concert in early November, so the weekend before they let us have the whole field and gave us foam baseballs.

[OBomb]

Too bad Friar Fest was cancelled this year. Then again, with what we're about to have to go through this upcoming season, there wasn't going to be much to be 'festive' about.

Great pictures PadreHomer!

[PadreHomer]

Too bad Friar Fest was cancelled this year. Then again, with what we're about to have to go through this upcoming season, there wasn't going to be much to be 'festive' about.

Great pictures PadreHomer!
I've heard that they are doing a one day only version on April 5 with the team taking batting practice.

[NunuMet]

"Friar Faithful Field Day?"

The Padres have a day where they let fans go on the field?

The actual field, not just the warning track?

Okay. Somebody explain this to me. RIGHT. NOW.

Quite amazing that the field didn't burst into flames like it does here in New York. Thank goodness they keep us confined to the warning track. :rant::rant::ughh:ughh

[PadreHomer]

Oh and as for my review, here goes:

I don't think the breaks in the seating bowl and the towers are contrivances. First of all the towers evoke the architecture of the ouside of the park and bring that into the seating bowl, and the breaks are cool. They don't look gimmicky to me.

As for the actual "gimmicks" of the park, I guess you could put the "porch" down the right field line in that category, but I wouldn't say that is so bad as a hill in CF or a giant baseball glove. The fences really when you compare them to other new parks don't really take any more twists and turns than they have to, past the porch.

My quibbles with the park have to do with the finishing touches they put on as they completed construction and got ready to open for baseball, in that there hardly are any. There is way too much exposed concrete for one. The concrete bleachers in CF just need to be blown up, from most of them you can't see half the field. The scoreboard is a mess of different colored plastic panels and the technology used was obviously the cheapest available in 2004. They need to move in the fences a bit in RF, fly balls go there to die and that would be a good place for tandem bullpens much like Fenway Park. The good news is that like the fence/bullpen thing, the problems with the park are entirely fixable if someone puts forth a few million to do it. Its still a beautiful place to watch a game, especially for day baseball.

[PadreHomer]

Quite amazing that the field didn't burst into flames like it does here in New York. Thank goodness they keep us confined to the warning track. :rant::rant::ughh:ughh
The year before they let us walk through the home clubhouse in a roped off line.

[NunuMet]

The year before they let us walk through the home clubhouse in a roped off line.

You know ... Sometimes being here in NY sucks ... LOL :dismay::dismay::rant:

[mrakbaseball]

make exception for large size please

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/219397086_c7b2a9c947_o.jpg

Despite its numerous flaws, Petco is perhaps Southern California's 2nd best ballpark after Angel Stadium. :twocents:

[pudgie_child]

Despite its numerous flaws, Petco is perhaps Southern California's 2nd best ballpark after Angel Stadium. :twocents:

Dodger Stadium :applaud:

(Sorry mrak, someone had to do it)

[mrakbaseball]

Dodger Stadium :applaud:

(Sorry mrak, someone had to do it)
??????
2004>1962.. It's time to evolve. Dodger Stadium had its day but it's been surpassed many times over.

[No Pink Tea]

I really liked Petco and my game experience there was near perfect. Sunny with clear skies, Near sell out, good game, fantastic energy. My only issues with the park are the concourses that remind me of being inside of an Arizona Mall and the area behind the seats in center field where they make you walk down a level then back up. That and you can't really see the game from the concourses.

[parlo]

Those two towers are really ugly and break up the lines too much.
IMO, they look like watchtowers at a prison.
Even in the photographs on this thread, I've noticed that people try to hide them, or crop them out.
They are an eyesore.

Some of the concession areas have the feel of a shopping mall. Perhaps they were just targeting their audience, but I didn't like it. It was a big turn off.

Third, the whole manufactured quirkiness of right field is over-the-top.

Also,,,what is up with the 70 year old volunteers running the concession stands???
It was like a Tim Conway routine. Is the ownership that cheap that they need to do this??? Beer is $9!!!! The city subsidized a large chunk of the stadium costs. Can't the owner at least pay for some competent people?

Otherwise, it is nice. I have been to a few games there, and even took the stadium tour one day in 2006.

[parlo]

??????
2004>1962.. It's time to evolve. Dodger Stadium had its day but it's been surpassed many times over.The new stadiums have not had to withstand the test of time. The passing of time has a way of exposing flaws that were not originally evident. Even Shea Stadium and the Astrodome were at one time considered the premier stadiums. But no one said that 20 years after they were built.

[pudgie_child]

??????
2004>1962.. It's time to evolve. Dodger Stadium had its day but it's been surpassed many times over.

But that's the thing . . . it hasn't been surpassed many times over.

By the way, by your logic, Rangers Ballpark is better than Wrigley Field . . . and we all know that's not the case.

[mrakbaseball]

But that's the thing . . . it hasn't been surpassed many times over.
.
Dodger Stadium had its day. This is a Petco thread. Petco is one of the ballparks that offers a better baseball experience than Dodger Stadium. Petco can be improved, but even as it is, it's better than Dodger. :twocents:

[mrakbaseball]

The new stadiums have not had to withstand the test of time. The passing of time has a way of exposing flaws that were not originally evident. Even Shea Stadium and the Astrodome were at one time considered the premier stadiums. But no one said that 20 years after they were built.
Good point.

[pudgie_child]

Dodger Stadium had its day. This is a Petco thread. Petco is one of the ballparks that offers a better baseball experience than Dodger Stadium. Petco can be improved, but even as it is, it's better than Dodger. :twocents:

It could have been been better than Dodger, no question about it. Great location, interesting architecture. Petco, however, has too many significant flaws to be in the same league as Dodger Stadium.

For instance, I went to a game there last year with my brother, and we sat in the upper deck. Our seats seemed really far from the action, and I couldn't figure out why until I saw this photo (not my photo, but one that came up in a Google search):

http://k53.pbase.com/u41/jwalk/upload/26707324.petcopark17.jpg

The upper deck at Petco Park has 27 rows. This was surprising to me because I had seen this architectural drawing:

http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/stadiums/06_SanDiegoPadres/images/b_lg.jpg

In the original design, the upper deck had only 22 rows. For those of us who study ballpark design, that is a big difference (a 61' foot wide upper deck vs. a 75' foot wide upper deck). At some point, between the original design and construction, someone backed off on the concept, and, as patrons of the upper deck, the effect could be felt.

For comparison's sake, the upper deck at Anaheim Stadium has the equivalent of 26 rows: 9 rows + cross aisle (width of 2 rows) + 15 rows.

There is really no excuse for a new ballpark to have such a large upper deck. It's really a shame because I really wanted to like Petco Park, but there are just way too many significant design flaws there.

[pudgie_child]

Thanks to stadiumpage.com, here's the model of the original design

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/Petco_09_4.jpg

In addition to the smaller upper deck, the original design was superior in the following ways:

1. Both bullpens were within the field of play (a la Wrigley Field and AT&T Park), and the bleachers were placed to the left of the hitter's eye, meaning that the berm seating ("Park At The Park") could extend all the way to the right-center field fence.

2. No upper deck in left field, only a single tier of seats.

3. No contrived notch in the right field corner

The arrangement of the seats in right field was seriously flawed in the original design, just as it is in the ultimate design:

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/model1.jpg

A single deck in right field would have been better, and right field would have been the best place for the main scoreboard as well (the view corridor should have been to left field and the skyline).

Petco Park is not a lost cause by any means. It wouldn't be all that difficult for the new owner to make significant improvements:

1. Remove the upper deck in right field.

2. Build a new main scoreboard above the right field "lower reserved" boxes and remove the left field scoreboard.

3. Rebuild the right-center field bleachers and remove "The Beach."

4. Put the Padres bullpen in foul territory down the 3rd base line, and add seating to left-center field.

5. Remove the last two rows of the upper deck.

[OBomb]

Thanks to stadiumpage.com, here's the model of the original design

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/Petco_09_4.jpg

In addition to the smaller upper deck, the original design was superior in the following ways:

1. Both bullpens were within the field of play (a la Wrigley Field and AT&T Park), and the bleachers were be placed to the left of the hitter's eye, meaning that the berm seating ("Park At The Park") could extend all the way to the right-center field fence.

2. No upper deck in left field, only a single tier of seats.

3. No contrived notch in the right field corner

The arrangement of the seats in right field was seriously flawed in the original design, just as it is in the ultimate design:

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/model1.jpg

A single deck in right field would have been better, and right field would have been the best place for the main scoreboard as well (the view corridor should have been to left field and the skyline).

Petco Park is not a lost cause by any means. It wouldn't be all that difficult for the new owner to make significant improvements:

1. Remove the upper deck in right field.

2. Build a new main scoreboard above the right field "lower reserved" boxes and remove the left field scoreboard.

3. Rebuild the right-center field bleachers and remove "The Beach."

4. Put the Padres bullpen in foul territory down the 3rd base line, and add seating to left-center field.

5. Remove the last two rows of the upper deck.

The original design actually did call for the left field seats to include both an upper and lower deck as is seen in the final product. Also, I don't see the need to remove the last two rows of the upper deck as it would not make sense cost wise and also the upper deck seems close enough to the field. Compare the upper deck at Petco Park to Qualcomm Stadium (for baseball, not really for football) and it's night and day.

Some of the suggestions you make to improve Petco Park have been made over the last 5 years by many of us Padres fans. The most glaring one being the ugly stark-gray concrete bleachers in right field that include the beach. I'm still waiting for some unsuspecting kid to be knocked out by a home run ball hit into that area.

You also mention the need for a scoreboard in right field above that upper deck. The loudest complaints about Petco Park came (and still often come) from people seated in left field and those sitting in Field Level seats under the overhang from the Toyota Terrace who could not see the main board. In 2005, the Padres somewhat solved this by installing a video board next to the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. However, I am still of the opinion that a second scoreboard should be placed in right field where the big three advertising boards are. Considering Angel Stadium has two scoreboards, this would make sense. However, a former member of the Padres front office once stupidly and arrogantly remarked that ballparks have one scoreboard, while stadiums have two thus throwing out the short-term possibility of a right field scoreboard.

On the topic of scoreboards, I've never been a fan of the one at Petco Park. For one, the advertising boards and Petco Park marquee are made of a teflon material giving a really cheap appearance. Also, the matrix board has always looked cluttered and the video board is a bit small. My hope is that the incoming Jeff Moorad ownership group invests in a nice big HD board ala Turner Field, Nationals Park, Citi Field, etc. Also, the current out-of-town scoreboard in right field should also be converted to HD while the ugly concrete wall behind it is painted some color.

[pudgie_child]

The original design actually did call for the left field seats to include both an upper and lower deck as is seen in the final product.

In the initial model, the left field seating consists of only one level, albeit with a cross-aisle.

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/Petco_09_2.jpg

[jnakamura]

In the initial model, the left field seating consists of only one level, albeit with a cross-aisle.

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/Petco_09_2.jpg

Are you sure? It LOOKS that way, but remember that the LF upper deck is very low over the smaller lower deck. Looking at pics it looks like there's only about an 8 ft. clearance between them. That model photo is from very far away. Anyway, I agree that the split deck seems not needed.

[pudgie_child]

Are you sure? It LOOKS that way, but remember that the LF upper deck is very low over the smaller lower deck. Looking at pics it looks like there's only about an 8 ft. clearance between them. That model photo is from very far away. Anyway, I agree that the split deck seems not needed.

It sure looks like one tier in that early model.

[OBomb]

Here's a picture released from 2000, I believe, showing what left field at Petco Park was expected to look like. This was one year after the model being discussed was released.

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/padres.jpg

The pictures below are of the first pieces of concept art the team released in 1998. I'll never forget just how excited I was when I saw these, as well as other pictures of what a ballpark in San Diego would look like. The team had held a contest for children in the San Diego region to submit pictures of what they wanted the ballpark to look like and very loosely used all the concepts submitted in this design shown. I even submitted my own very elementary drawing to the team and received a cool letter from a representative in the front office thanking me. Things changed, obviously, but the general idea still was realized in the final product.

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/padres3.jpg
http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/padres2.jpg

[pudgie_child]

The pictures below are of the first pieces of concept art the team released in 1998. I'll never forget just how excited I was when I saw these, as well as other pictures of what a ballpark in San Diego would look like. The team had held a contest for children in the San Diego region to submit pictures of what they wanted the ballpark to look like and very loosely used all the concepts submitted in this design shown. I even submitted my own very elementary drawing to the team and received a cool letter from a representative in the front office thanking me. Things changed, obviously, but the general idea still was realized in the final product.

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/padres3.jpg


As seen above (and below), the earliest illustrations showed a ballpark with only berm seating in left field and a large pool in center field. Perhaps that is why so many box seats were planned for right field.

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/padres1.jpg

[CruiznSD]

The 2009 WBC at Petco Park
Japan vs Cuba
March 15th 2009

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m77/cruiznsd/ballparks/DSC00085.jpg

[PadreHomer]

What would removing seats from the top of the upper deck accomplish?

Anyway, the only thing I agree with is they need to rethink the outfield from foul pole to foul pole, but something like that would be a $100 million project to do it right so its not going to happen.

Anyone who thinks the cave at Chavez Ravine compares favorably, well I respectfully disagree.

[BBSteve]

I love this park. Great location, great atmosphere, good food, friendly ushers...

Easily one of my favorite places to watch a game. I'm an Angels fan, but I love going to Petco.

[Bobby_Ayala]

http://www.lindsayfincher.com/gallery/d/14568-1/august07_petco_park.jpg
If I had designed Petco, I would have continued the main triple-deck grandstand into RF in fair territory. Get rid of the existing seating in RF. Make the upper deck (3rd deck) close enough so that a triple deck home run would be possible. Yankee Stadium and the Kingdome had that in common.

[CruiznSD]

Some excerpts from today's San Diego Union Tribune discussion with new Padres President and COO:

Q: Let's get into areas of change that could come with the new owners. Will there be changes to Petco Park?

A: There will be enhancements, not major changes to the facility itself, no major drastic changes. In terms of the facility itself, it has very few flaws. It is a great asset. In fact, this weekend someone referred to it as a modern-day Wrigley Field with all the roof-top activity and surrounding activity.

Q: What about changing the dimensions in right field and redesigning that part of the ballpark?

A: Once again, I'd say we're open-minded about that. It's an organization decision that baseball operations would be heavily involved in. The potential for changing the dimensions requires a lot of discussion with baseball operations as well as Major League Baseball. We're very open-minded. We'll take a look at it.

Q: Could we see a change in uniforms? A lot of fans don't like the present uniforms.

A: We can't change anything for 2010. The potential for adjustments beyond that, we're open-minded. The fans seem to like the traditional brown-and-yellow in terms of merchandise sales. I think it's part of our brand, part of our history. We might be looking toward some of the more traditional themes. The name of the city on the road uniform and the name of the team on the home uniform. Some like the very first Padres colors of red, white and blue. It fits with the city and our connection with the military.

Q: In terms of the physical plant, do you see any immediate changes to Petco Park?

A: I'd like to put in a new high-def video board in left field. Take the whole thing down, put in one huge rectangle. But not a lot of things were done wrong. The box offices are not in the perfect location. I'd like to move some box office kiosks to an area where there is traffic – the Park at the Park and left and right field. If someone wants to buy a ticket from us, they shouldn't have to stand in long lines or walk to the other side of the ballpark.

Full Q&A available http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/11/1s11garfink025139-we-need-give-fans-more-value/?padres

[OBomb]

Some excerpts from today's San Diego Union Tribune discussion with new Padres President and COO:

Q: Let's get into areas of change that could come with the new owners. Will there be changes to Petco Park?

A: There will be enhancements, not major changes to the facility itself, no major drastic changes. In terms of the facility itself, it has very few flaws. It is a great asset. In fact, this weekend someone referred to it as a modern-day Wrigley Field with all the roof-top activity and surrounding activity.

Q: What about changing the dimensions in right field and redesigning that part of the ballpark?

A: Once again, I'd say we're open-minded about that. It's an organization decision that baseball operations would be heavily involved in. The potential for changing the dimensions requires a lot of discussion with baseball operations as well as Major League Baseball. We're very open-minded. We'll take a look at it.

Q: Could we see a change in uniforms? A lot of fans don't like the present uniforms.

A: We can't change anything for 2010. The potential for adjustments beyond that, we're open-minded. The fans seem to like the traditional brown-and-yellow in terms of merchandise sales. I think it's part of our brand, part of our history. We might be looking toward some of the more traditional themes. The name of the city on the road uniform and the name of the team on the home uniform. Some like the very first Padres colors of red, white and blue. It fits with the city and our connection with the military.

Q: In terms of the physical plant, do you see any immediate changes to Petco Park?

A: I'd like to put in a new high-def video board in left field. Take the whole thing down, put in one huge rectangle. But not a lot of things were done wrong. The box offices are not in the perfect location. I'd like to move some box office kiosks to an area where there is traffic – the Park at the Park and left and right field. If someone wants to buy a ticket from us, they shouldn't have to stand in long lines or walk to the other side of the ballpark.

Full Q&A available http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/11/1s11garfink025139-we-need-give-fans-more-value/?padres

Petco Park is the perfect place for guys like David Eckstein, Everth Cabrera, and Tony Gwynn, Jr. But Adrian Gonzalez is going to be the guy people will pay to see because for better or worse, the home run is why the average fan seems to go to games. As a result, if the Padres plan on re-signing Adrian to a long-term deal, that right field wall is going to simply have to be moved.

The more Tom Garfinkle speaks, the happier I am that he is in the Padres front office. I've never been pleased with the scoreboard we have at Petco Park and am encouraged that Garfinkle would like to update it to an HD board.

In regards to the uniforms, bring back the brown.

[baseballman1243]

Some pictures I took on my phone a few years ago:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/085.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/086-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/087.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/088.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/089.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/090-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/091-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/092.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/093.jpg

[baseballman1243]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/094.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/095.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/096.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/097.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/099.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/100.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/101.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/102.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d169/baseballman1243/104.jpg

[UnderPressure]

Opening Day 2009. The Padres organization can thank Dodger fans because Dodger games are probably the only way they make money.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8/dsc01298w.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/2092/dsc01318l.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3378/dsc01324ewv.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/930/dsc01325yvb.jpg

[KingmanIII]

Petco would be damn-near perfect if only they got rid of that lame-ass notch in RF.

[PeteU]

I like how the 336 in left field is written on the Warehouse building as opposed to the actual fence. Cool touch.

Is it just me, or did the right field upper deck look a lot larger in the model than in real life?

Also did they retire Gary Coleman's number?
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Never mind, it appears as though it is Jerry Coleman. My bad.:D (Although Gary Coleman did star in the movie The Kid from Left Field, where he played the manager of the....wait for it.....San Diego Padres).

[THINK BLUE]

the ballpark fits so perfectly with it's surrounding area it looks great and I think the dimensions are only a problem with a bad team when the padres were in winning divisions not many people were complaining about the dimensions

[scooterfan]

Question for Padres fans....How many games a year does Jerry Coleman broadcast a year? How many innings? Does he do any tv, or just radio. And do the Padres want to bring him back next year? He says he wants to continue broadcasting.

I'm all for having these icons continue broadcasting for as long as possible. I grew up in New England and last week I was playing an old VHS tape of a Red Sox game from 1991 and heard 32 year Red Sox voice doing the game, and it was like going back in time, hearing the Voice of Summer. The Red Sox fired him in 1992 just like the Yankees fired Mel Allen and Frank Messer.

[OBomb]

Question for Padres fans....How many games a year does Jerry Coleman broadcast a year? How many innings? Does he do any tv, or just radio. And do the Padres want to bring him back next year? He says he wants to continue broadcasting.

I'm all for having these icons continue broadcasting for as long as possible. I grew up in New England and last week I was playing an old VHS tape of a Red Sox game from 1991 and heard 32 year Red Sox voice doing the game, and it was like going back in time, hearing the Voice of Summer. The Red Sox fired him in 1992 just like the Yankees fired Mel Allen and Frank Messer.

Jerry now does about only 6 innings or so of color on the radio. The dude is going to be 85 soon and clearly has lost a step or two. While famous for many ill-thought descriptions over his career, called "Coleman-isms", he really began losing it as a play-by-play guy calling pop-flies home runs and what not.

It's unfortunate because listening to Jerry do play-by-play rather than Ted Leitner was truly exciting. One of my favorite memories was listening to him back in 1996 when the Padres clinched the West at Dodger Stadium and Jerry appropriately said "you can hang a star on the entire season!" The phrase was great considering the long playoff drought Padres fans had experienced up to that point.

The Padres have a nice tribute to Jerry with a painting of a star and Jerry's name on the press booth at Petco Park.

[Bobby_Ayala]

Question for Padres fans....How many games a year does Jerry Coleman broadcast a year? How many innings? Does he do any tv, or just radio. And do the Padres want to bring him back next year? He says he wants to continue broadcasting.

I'm all for having these icons continue broadcasting for as long as possible. I grew up in New England and last week I was playing an old VHS tape of a Red Sox game from 1991 and heard 32 year Red Sox voice doing the game, and it was like going back in time, hearing the Voice of Summer. The Red Sox fired him in 1992 just like the Yankees fired Mel Allen and Frank Messer.
The pitch to McCovey is swung on and missed, and it's fouled back.
-Jerry Coleman

That stuff is pretty funny, I remember when Coleman did national radio for CBS Sports.

[SultanOfWhat]

From SNY telecast over the weekend:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Q_Zerpnj63I/SoCjksSzZHI/AAAAAAAAIpg/_hEk1ubgLE4/s800/Fullscreen%20capture%20882009%2024204%20AM.jpg

[Bobby_Ayala]

Dodger Stadium had 350% more health code violations than its neighbor to south Petco. :lookitup: Keep up the good work San Diego!:waving

[ChineseDemocracy]

Dodger Stadium had 350% more health code violations than its neighbor to south Petco. :lookitup: Keep up the good work San Diego!:waving

Source? How come no one every heard about these violations?

[The Old Ballpark]

Dodger Stadium had 350% more health code violations than its neighbor to south Petco. :lookitup: Keep up the good work San Diego!:waving

Link please

[Bobby_Ayala]

Source? How come no one every heard about these violations?
You provided a link from the O.C. Register in another forum about Angel Stadium. What a surprise, a Dodgers fan taking shots at the Angels. :laugh Never bothered reading the article you, yourself posted. :laugh

[ChineseDemocracy]

I'm still waiting for that health violations report.

[Bobby_Ayala]

In the initial model, the left field seating consists of only one level, albeit with a cross-aisle.

http://www.stadiumpage.com/future/Petco_09_2.jpgThe one level looks good, especially since the 2 level LF set-up has been used in Philly, Cincy, Pittsburgh just to name a few.

I'm still waiting for that health violations report.
So you just post links of newspaper articles without reading them first? That explains a lot. :lookitup

[ChineseDemocracy]

YOU failed to provide one shred of evidence that Dodger Stadium had 350% more health code violations than Petco Park.

Do you know that you can serve hard time for making libelous statements?

[Bobby_Ayala]

YOU failed to provide one shred of evidence that Dodger Stadium had 350% more health code violations than Petco Park.

Do you know that you can serve hard time for making libelous statements?Read the article that you posted and do the math.

[ChineseDemocracy]

Petco: 2
Dodger: 7
Angel: 118

Keep it classy, San Diego!

[Trickyhop]

I thought CF was extremely boring while there, and the beige was a bit blah, and the colors on the ads are hideous and seriously take away from the building out in LF, but other than that a nice facility. City parking was a nightmare, San Diego has too big a nightlife to support such parking.

[ChineseDemocracy]

Petco is right in the middle of the Gaslamp District. Those businesses must be very grateful to get all that Petco traffic inside before and after games.

[Trickyhop]

Petco is right in the middle of the Gaslamp District. Those businesses must be very grateful to get all that Petco traffic inside before and after games.

You're probably right. I hadn't thought of the businesses attaining the fans after the games. Good thought.

[Perseus71]

What's cool is if you look at that model posted above is a Marriott Gaslamp hotel that has a rooftop bar that overlooks the field. Pretty cool! It really is a beautiful ballpark with a bit of character embedded into it. It seems like a small park, but its a nice place to watch the game.

[ChineseDemocracy]

What's cool is if you look at that model posted above is a Marriott Gaslamp hotel that has a rooftop bar that overlooks the field. Pretty cool! It really is a beautiful ballpark with a bit of character embedded into it. It seems like a small park, but its a nice place to watch the game.

It definitely has a San Diego feel with the different types of materials used to build the park. Seems like every era is represented inside and outside the park.

And it's 250% for anyone with basic arithmetic skills.

[Bobby_Ayala]

And it's 250% for anyone with basic arithmetic skills.Admit it, it's cleaner.

[Bobby_Ayala]

Keep it classy, San Diego!Classy indeed! :thumbsup:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/3214929356_6b354b978a_o.jpg

Source (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenbowles/)

[Bobby_Ayala]

Press area
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/3214929258_7597898aba_o.jpg

source (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenbowles/)

[Bobby_Ayala]

I just saw an old episode of the blooper show The Lighter Side of Sports and they showed several clips of The Margarita Bowl. That year the game was played on the future site of Petco Park. It was weird seeing the Western Metal Supply Co. building without Petco around it.