Tenant: San Diego Padres (NL)
Opening: April 2004
Construction began: May 2000
Style: Open air
Capacity: 46,000
Surface: Grass

Architect: HOK Sport, Antoine Predock (design), Spurlock Poirier (landscape) and ROMA (urban planning).
Construction: San Diego Ballpark Builders (a joint venture of Clark Construction Group Inc., Nielsen Dillingham Builders Inc. and Douglas E. Barnhart Inc.)
Owner: City of San Diego (70%), San Diego Padres (30%)
Cost: $456.8 million ($285 million for ballpark construction; $171.8 million for land acquisition and infrastructure)
Public financing: $225 million from municipal bonds to be paid back with hotel-tax revenues, $57.8 million in project-generated redevelopment funds and $21 million from the San Diego Unified Port District
Private financing: The Padres are responsible for a $153 million private sector contribution
Lease: 30 years.

San Diego Padres tickets:

• Viewpoint Tickets - Best prices on Padres tickets, MLB tickets and MLB All Star tickets.

Location: Adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center on a site bordered by 7th Avenue (W), K Street (N), 10th Avenue (E) and by Harbor Drive, railroad tracks and a rerouted Imperial Avenue (S). Home plate faces just slightly east of directly north towards K Street. L Street has been turned into a pedestrian mall between 7th and 10th Avenues.

Dimensions: Left field: 334 feet; left-center: 367 feet; center field: 396 feet; deepest right-center: 411 feet (2004), 402 feet (2006); right-center: 387 feet; right field: 322 feet.

Fences: Left field: 4 feet; center field: 7 feet; right field: 12 feet; right field porch: 10 feet.

Materials: Stucco, brick and steel.

On November 3, 1998 the voters of San Diego approved Proposition C, which approved the city's share of a new $411 million dollar downtown ballpark for the Padres. The ballpark is a part of a larger Ballpark District, featuring offices, retail, hotels, and residential units that promises to transform a derelict section of downtown into a popular year-round destination.

However, in October of 2000, construction stopped because of a lack of money. There were no funds because the city had not sold bonds approved in the election while it defended itself against lawsuits brought by tax protesters. Construction began again, but the delays pushed the stadium’s opening from 2002 to 2004.

At street level, arcades recall the simple beauty of the early Spanish missions with a palm court, jacaranda trees, and water walls leading spectators into the Ballpark. Distinctive, strategically placed 200-foot tall towers provide unique functions, ranging from supporting lights for the playing field to housing luxury suites and lounges.

A unique "fractured" design of the seating bowl more clearly separates seating sections and creates a collection of seating neighborhoods, making all seating areas in the ballpark desirable. Not only are all of the seats as close to the playing field as possible, they are also angled towards the pitcher's mound to ensure quality views from every seat, regardless of location.

The ballpark has standing room and lawn seating opportunities that allow a true capacity of close to 46,000. Several standing room areas distributed throughout the facility give approximately 1,000 fans the opportunity to watch games for a small admission price. The "milling around" theme of the ballpark is further enhanced by an estimated 2,500 lawn seating opportunities in an elevated grass park located directly behind the outfield wall. Appropriately named the "Park at the Park", this area significantly enhances the baseball experience for fans of all ages.

PETCO Park Features:

• Park at the Park is a manicured park beyond the center field fence that can be used for lawn seating.
• Edge of Western Metals Building represents the left field foul pole.
• Wider and Angled Seats provide some of the best sight lines in Major League Baseball.
• Sunset Grill Seating is located down the 3rd base line in the Western Metals Building.
• Seats feature computer technology.
• Kids entertainment zone and theater are located in right field.
• Padres Hall of Fame and a 250-seat auditorium are located on site.

More on PETCO Park:

• Seating chart

Recommended Reading (bibliography):

• The Sweet Spot: The Story of the San Diego Padres PETCO Park by Tony Gwynn.
• Baseball in San Diego: From the Padres to PETCO by Bill Swank.
• Fodor's Baseball Vacations, 3rd Edition: Great Family Trips to Minor League and Classic Major League Ballparks Across America by Bruce Adams and Margaret Engel.
• The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip: A Fan's Guide to Major League Stadiums by Joshua Pahigian and Kevin O'Connell.
• Joe Mock's Ballpark Guide by Joe Mock.
• Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Tour of Baseball Parks Past and Present by Josh Leventhal and Jessica Macmurray.
• The Ballpark Book: A Journey Through the Fields of Baseball Magic (Revised Edition) by Ron Smith and Kevin Belford.
• Ballparks: A Panoramic History by Marc Sandalow and Jim Sutton.
• Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit (2nd Edition) by Joanna Cagan and Neil deMause.
• Public Dollars, Private Stadiums: The Battle over Building Sports Stadiums by Kevin J. Delaney and Rick Eckstein.
• Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: The Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Stadiums by Roger G. Noll and Andrew Zimbalist.