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Published: August 28th 2023
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Written in 2012. Somewhere back in the 1980s, I took my kids to a San Diego Padres home game when the Giants were in town. This was by design, and also happened to coincide with the Giants Fan Club taking their annual trip to San Diego. We purchased seats in the same section, though we arranged our own flights and hotel. The game was held in old Jack Murphy Stadium out in Mission Valley. We also went to the San Diego Zoo, and Sea World to see Shamu.
Tonight, and tomorrow's games are being held at the relatively new Petco Park in downtown San Diego. Petco opened in 2004 and is named for the retail pet supplier (based in San Diego) who paid for the corporate naming rights. Can you imagine? One of these days a company with a dreadful name is going to pay for naming rights. I can imagine really bad ones, like Waste Management Park, or Craig's List Coliseum, or Odor Eaters Stadium. Anyway, this is my first visit to Petco.
Petco Park is located between 7th and 10th Avenues, just south of J Street. The southern side is bordered and served by
the San Diego Trolley. The construction cost was $450 million funded by redevelopment money for the downtown area. The seating capacity is 42,445. The official address is 19 Tony Gwynn Way, after the long time Padres outfielder, who was an eight-time National League batting champion.
Though the downtown area was well on its way to redevelopment, Petco has helped solidify the downtown area as a destination. For me, I can walk between my hotel and the stadium. Both the Gaslamp Quarter and Horton Plaza are easy walking distance. The San Diego Convention Center is located adjacent to the stadium. I may not rent a car since parking each day costs more than the car rental itself! The end result is plenty to see, do, eat, drink, and walk.
The San Diego Padres were formed back in 1969 as an expansion team. They have won only two National League pennants, losing both times in the World Series of 1984, and 1998. Aside from Gwynn, the other big stars were Dave Winfield, Randy Jones, Trevor Hoffman, Steve Garvey, and Nate Colbert. Other stars who moved on to or from other teams were Ozzie Smith, Graig Nettles, Willie McCovey, Goose Gossage, and Roberto Alomar.
But I will always remember the Padres for two things. One was the ownership of McDonald's own Ray Kroc. The second is the crazy team mascot, the San Diego Chicken, played by Ted Giannoulas. His success as a mascot led many other teams in major sports to adopt a mascot. As for Ray Kroc, he owned the Padres from 1974 to 1984. He joined McDonald's in 1954 and built it into the world's most successful fast-food operation.
Now for one final point or question. Should I wear my Giant's cap, or is this another Dodger Stadium in disguise? Donna, my sports wife, votes for the SF Giants 2010 World Champions cap. I agree. BTW, my hotel, The Indigo is only two blocks from Petco Park and the Trolley Line.
Fast forward to 2023: Since I much prefer attending Giants' games in San Diego, I am here this Labor Day weekend. I like Petco Park, and the weather is always better than unpredictable summer weather in SF. The Gaslamp quarter has many good food options, compared to the ballpark area around Oracle Park in SF. And we always seem to outnumber the Padres fans even in their own ballpark! I have been doing this now for almost ten years!!! I love Petco Park. I always stay at a nearby hotel so I can walk to and from the game. Friday night at Petco is always Beerfest night. But I think I missed the last one, on August 18th. Oh well! My Giants are still in the hunt (barely) for the playoffs. San Diego? Well, not this year, despite all of their talent. This is my favorite sports venue for baseball!
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