Your Ultimate Guide to the San Diego Padres' Petco Park
"It's really difficult to imagine any stadium topping Petco Park — it's simply the best." So says USA Today, which has named the San Diego Padres' home field the nation's best MLB ballpark more times than any other stadium. It's easy to see why: With stunning skyline views, proximity to the city's sparkling waterfront, awesome food and beverage options, inviting event spaces and so much more, Petco is (as USA Today describes it) "the perfect ballpark." Here's your complete guide to the Petco Park experience:
San Diego Padres
Opened in 2004, the 42,000-capacity Petco Park is first and foremost the home of the San Diego Padres — the city's MLB team since 1969 and top playoff contenders in recent seasons. The Padres organization operates the East Village ballpark, situated across Harbor Drive from the San Diego Convention Center and just blocks from the bayfront.
Concerts
Before or after a Padres game, or when baseball's not on the schedule, Petco is an inviting place to take in a concert — and the park hosts a whole lot of them, both at Gallagher Square's Sycuan Stage and venue-wide for the biggest headliners. Music legends who've performed at Petco Park include the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and the duo of Billy Joel and Sting. Small or big, the ballpark's shows are a great way to cap a perfect San Diego day.
Gallagher Square
The grassy expanses of Gallagher Square, which sits behind center field, serve as a perfect place for families to gather. And now the square is wowing Padres patrons with the results of a $20 million glow-up. The area takes in an expanded kids’ playground and play area, designed to accommodate a wider range of ages and abilities; its centerpiece is a soaring, 35-foot-tall baseball bat made of steel and wood. Gallagher Square also boasts a fenced, off-leash dog park (in partnership with Petco, the ballpark’s namesake; an improved Play Ball Field, the ballpark's mini-baseball field for kids; the Tony Gwynn Terrace viewing deck and picnic space, not far from the beloved statue honoring the late, great Padres legend; and a general reconfiguration so that portions of the park can be open for public use more frequently on non-game days.
Western Metal Supply Building
A signature feature of Petco Park, the historic red-brick Western Metal Supply Co. Building rises from the park’s left-field boundary. This iconic space has been re-envisioned of late with a complete makeover of its gathering spaces, including the Budweiser Loft on the Fifth Level, the Foul Pole Suite, the Entertainment Suite, and the Rooftop. Among improvements are an elevated social space in the Budweiser Loft that celebrates the building’s historic character, and a new grand staircase that connects the Loft directly to the renovated Western Metal Rooftop, which features a 4,000-square-foot raised deck. The adjoining Padres Team Store has also been expanded and updated.
KidsFest
Any time there's a Sunday home game, Gallagher Square hosts KidsFest, which starts two hours before game time and includes bounce houses, interactive games, face painters, balloon artists and more.
Tours
Treat yourself to an insider's view of Petco Park by embarking on of the venue's daily or pregame tours — a great way to learn about the history of the park and the Padres. Daily tours stop at such points of interest as the Field Warning Track, the Press Box, the Cutwater Coronado Club and the Breitbard Hall of Fame. Pregame tours also offer the option of viewing Padres batting practice from an outfield vantage point. Private and educational tours as well as Spanish- and Japanese-language tours are also available.
Golf, Holiday Market and More
The ballpark hosts a full lineup of other great events throughout the year, from the wintertime Links at Petco Park — which turns the place into a nine-hole golf course — to the Holiday Market, an ideal yuletide shopping opportunity. Look for more must-sees at Petco here.
Petco Park FAQs
Petco Park is perched directly next to Downtown San Diego's bustling Gaslamp Quarter, and just a short stroll from the Gaslamp station on the San Diego Trolley's Green Line — a great way to avoid the hassles and expense of driving and parking. Trolley service runs every 15 minutes or faster before and after most events, with added service for larger events. The trolley also connects at the nearby Santa Fe Depot with both the Coaster commuter rail and Amtrak trains, serving North San Diego County and beyond.
Limited parking is available around the ballpark's East Village location, including the Padres Parkade at Tenth Avenue and J Street and the parking garage next to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, which is just across the pedestrian bridge from Petco. There's also a Tailgate Lot east of the park along 12th Avenue. Many of the lots are available to reserve with prepayment on the Padres' ticket site.
Rideshare or friends/family dropoff and pickup zones are located on the west side of the ballpark, at Sixth Avenue and K Street; and on the east side, at 10th Avenue and Park Boulevard. Bike racks are located at the corner of Trevor Hoffman Way and Tony Gwynn Drive, on J street at Eighth and Ninth Avenues, and across from the Gaslamp Entry Gate on Seventh Avenue. Lastly, consider taking the free FRED electric shuttle, which serves Downtown San Diego. Download the Ride Circuit app to book a ride.
The best source for both single-game and event tickets is the Padres' official MLB website. There are also ticket windows on both the west and east sides of the park.
When it comes to picking seats, there's hardly anywhere in Petco Park that doesn't boast good sightlines, particularly given the park's relatively compact dimensions. For the best shade, reserve seats on along the third-base side, in sections such as Toyota Terrace. The sunniest areas are in the upper decks and behind right field. Petco also offers plenty of premium seating options in spots such as the Baja California Porch and the Western Metal Supply Building.
One of the best things about a visit to Petco is that you can stay just a line-drive's distance from the park. Among the excellent options in the area are the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, the just-renovated Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, the likewise re-envisioned Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, the Margaritaville Resort, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the Pendry and the Omni, which boasts its own walkway to the ballpark. Start here to pick your perfect place to stay.
Petco is situated right next to Downtown's vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, which bursts with great restaurants, rooftop bars, craft-beer favorites and more. Check out our guide to some top spots.
With its local flavor and profusion of offerings, Petco Park's food and beverage lineup is rightfully considered among the best in baseball. Consult our handy Petco Park Grub Guide for details on what you'll find and where to find it.
Petco Park is just the place to find your ideal event space, with options for groups from 10 to 10,000 people. Click here for more details on meeting and event facilities at the park.
Glad you asked!
- The very first baseball game at Petco didn't involve the Padres. It was a matchup between the San Diego State Aztecs and the University of Houston on March 11, 2004. SDSU's Aztecs won 4-0, and the attendance of 40,106 set a record for a college baseball game.
- The first Padres regular-season game took place on April 8, 2004 — a 4-3 Padres victory over the San Francisco Giants.
- The ballpark also hosted a basketball game between SDSU and the University of San Diego in 2015.
- The light sandstone exterior of the ballpark is meant to evoke the dramatic seaside bluffs of such San Diego landmarks as Torrey Pines and Sunset Cliffs., while the white marine finish of the park's exposed steel structures is an homage to San Diego's nautical history.
- The park's left-field boundary incorporates the historic Western Metal Supply building, which now houses seating areas, a bar and event spaces.
- The Rolling Stones performed the first concert at Petco Park in November 2005.
- The hit TV show "American Idol" held singing auditions at the ballpark in 2011.
- The Padres' deep kinship with Mexico is celebrated with its colorful City Connect uniforms, inspired by cross-border culture. The team wears the uniforms during every Friday game at Petco Park.