Petco Park

Team: San Diego Padres

Address: 19 Tony Gwynn Dr 

Location: San Diego, California

Opened: April 8, 2004

Capacity: 40,209

Visited: April 14, 2018

Rating: 10/10

Petco Park is located in the heart of downtown San Diego, right next to the Gaslamp district. With a beautiful view of the city and its warm summer nights, baseball at this ballpark is always a pleasant experience. In addition to the traditional ballpark seats, there is a section beyond centerfield called "The Park at the Park"; a grassy area that allows fans to enjoy the game for $10. 

Petco Park is easily accessible via public transportation and parking is a breeze. Prior to games, street closures are effective so if one is not attending a game, that could be a bit frustrating. Due to its close proximity to the Gaslamp district and being within the downtown area, there are numerous bars and restaurants that are walking distance of the ballpark.

Petco Park offers a wide variety of food, however, unfortunately their vegetarian and vegan options are limited. I took the more traditional route and had a veggie burger and fries, but vegetable sushi, tofu wraps, and veggie sandwiches are also available. For carnivores, Petco Park has a plethora of options, and they recently opened the Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill. They also have pizza, tacos, acai bowls, burritos, and of course, typical ballpark favorites.

Commonly known amongst Giants fans as AT&T Park South, Petco Park has a great atmosphere. Fans of all ages can enjoy the sights and sounds of the ballpark. It felt incredibly safe to walk around and every seat has a great view of the city and game. The fans did try to do the wave though, and I have a personal vendetta against it. Other than that, it's one of my favorite stadiums and has some of the kindest fans. 

I was surprised at the amount of Padres fans that showed up, and they made sure to be heard throughout the game. The fans were kind and courteous. They never once booed the Giants players or their fans. They were passionate about their team, and paid attention to the game.

Overall, Petco Park is a beautiful ballpark full of friendly baseball fans. The warm weather and beautiful view adds to its charm. Can you imagine living in one of those apartment buildings with a balcony that overlooks the ballpark? This stadium is one of the best in all of MLB and I always enjoy my time there. I definitely would attend another game in San Diego and I'd recommend that everyone checks it out.