August 3rd, 2014
An eventful drive down Highway 101 in California landed us in sunny San Diego. We woke up early for an afternoon game and walked from our downtown hotel to Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
Just entering Petco Park from the street like this is so unique, as it feels like the stadium is just another neighborhood attraction. People walking around the city can just stroll in and catch a game. About a year ago, we came to San Diego for a wedding during the fall, so not baseball season, but we did tour Petco Park, so we had already seen it but hadn’t seen a game here yet. Getting to see a ballpark while a game is going on is way different and better than just a tour, so I’m glad we were back. Plus, on the tour, I fell in love with Petco Park and desperately wanted to come back. The architecture in this stadium is truly spectacular. I compare it to a zoo or botanical garden because there are plants and amazing structures everywhere you look. There’s no ballpark we’ve seen so far that fits into the city as well as Petco Park does in San Diego.
The first thing we did once inside the ballpark was take pictures next to the Tony Gwynn statue behind the outfield. Gwynn had just passed away and there were still flowers on the statue in his honor. After this we went up to our seats which were right behind home plate in the upper deck. They were perfect seats! Everything about being here felt relaxing. Maybe it’s the nature of San Diego. Being in Petco Park was so comfortable that it felt like we were at home watching on TV. The stadium is so welcoming and fan friendly.
My mom and I got up in the middle innings to walk around some. We went inside the famous Western Metal Supply Company building in left field where there were some cool bars where people could sit and watch the game while eating and having drinks. Petco Park was built around this Metal Supply building, making it one of the most unique ballpark features around the country. It’s similar to the Warehouse in Baltimore which Oriole Park at Camden Yards was built around. We were shown a picture of downtown San Diego before and after Petco Park, and the transformation is unbelievable. Petco Park revolutionized downtown and made it what it is today: a booming metropolis.
My mom and I stayed in the lower level for the last couple of innings because we didn’t want to miss the end of the game while walking up to our seats. The Atlanta Braves and Padres were tied 3-3 and went to extra innings. This was our first ever extra innings game! In the 10th inning, Everth Cabrera hit a walk-off single to give the Padres a 4-3 victory and the home fans were happy!
Because of its structural beauty, its location and its comfort, Petco Park is near the top of my list of favorite ballparks. If someone asked me to go to a game anywhere I wanted right now, Petco Park would be somewhere I’d choose without a doubt!