Petco Park San Diego Guide
Petco Park is a baseball stadium and the home ballpark of the San Diego Padres, who compete in Major League Baseball (MLB). It is located in downtown San Diego, California, across the street from the San Diego Convention Center and approximately four miles from the San Diego Airport.
The venue opened in 2004 and has since hosted a large number of notable baseball, golf, soccer, rugby, and entertainment events. The $411 million stadium has been designed as a retro-style ballpark. Its grandstands offer an excellent view of the city’s skyline, San Diego Bay, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Zoo.
Because there is no legal real-money sports betting in California, Petco Park currently doesn’t have a retail sportsbook.
Still, we can take a look at Petco Park’s most prominent features. This guide will answer many questions, including:
- Where is Petco Park San Diego?
- What is its capacity?
- What parking options does it offer?
About Petco Park San Diego
If you want to visit Petco Park, you’ll have no trouble finding it. The stadium is located at:
- 100 Park Blvd, San Diego, California
It’s positioned right off San Diego Bay and across the street from the San Diego Convention Center.
We’ve answered the crucial question “Where is Petco Park?” Now, we can dive into more details about the venue.
Construction and Design
The San Diego Padres MLB franchise was founded in 1969, but it didn’t have its own stadium before Petco Park was built. For many decades, its home ground was Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium, which it shared with the NFL’s Chargers.
After the Padres won the National League Championship in 1998, the city granted permission to build a new stadium. The construction of the new venue was delayed several times for different reasons, including a legal dispute over a historic landmark located on the site. The builders overcame the problem by agreeing to incorporate the building called Western Metal Supply Co. into the stadium structure.
The construction of Petco Stadium cost around $411 million. The ballpark features a retro-style design, enhanced by the use of red brick, stucco, and Indian sandstone. The area surrounding the seating bowl contains many restaurants and food stands. In 2006, the ballpark received an Orchid reward from the San Diego Union-Tribune for its design.
Petco Park’s capacity is approximately 42,000 seats, including 58 luxury suites and around 5,000 club seats. Fans can also take advantage of affordable lawn seating at Gallagher Square (formerly known as Park at the Park) overlooking the ballpark. The full seating arrangement is available on the Padres’ official website, under the Petco Park seating chart.
Notable Events at Petco Park
The first event ever held at Petco Park was a baseball game between the San Diego State Aztecs and the Houston Cougars. This event earned its place in baseball history books as the college baseball game with the largest number of spectators ever recorded.
On Oct. 8, 2005, the Padres played their first playoff at the stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals. That same year, the stadium hosted the first World Baseball Classic finals and semifinals.
Other notable baseball events held at the venue include the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the neutral-site games of the 2020 American League Division Series. The stadium also hosted the 2020 American League Championship Series.
In addition to baseball, Petco Park has hosted a rugby union sevens event, USA Sevens, a 2014 Davis Cup match between the US and the UK, the AMA Supercross Championship, and many golf and basketball games.
Visitors could also attend a number of entertainment events at the stadium, including the 2011 American Idol auditions and concerts by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Blink-182, and many other performers.
Sports Betting at Petco Park
Petco Park doesn’t feature a sportsbook. In fact, sports betting is still not legal in the state of California. Voters rejected Prop 26 and Prop 27 on Nov. 8, pushing the next possible vote on sports betting ballot measures to the 2024 election.
For now, California residents will have to travel to neighboring Arizona, Oregon, or Nevada to place legal real-money sports bets.
San Diego Padres Sports Betting Partnerships
Currently, Petco Park and the San Diego Padres have a partnership with Sycuan Casino Resort.
Petco Park Parking
Petco Park features three different parking lots with around 8,000 parking spaces. Additional parking spots are available in nearby garages and lots — in fact, there are around 30,000 parking spaces within a 20-minute walking distance from the venue.
The venue offers accessible parking spaces for guests with disabilities. The stadium’s parking lots and the surrounding car parks and garages also offer electric vehicle charging.
On game day, Petco Park parking lots and garages are likely to open up to three hours before the first pitch. To secure a parking spot, you can purchase pre-paid parking on the Padres’ official website or via SpotHero.
Petco Park Accommodations in San Diego
Fans who need accommodation while visiting Petco Park can choose from a variety of nearby hotels, including:
- San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter — 660 K St, San Diego, CA 92101
- Omni San Diego Hotel — 675 L St, San Diego, CA 92101
- Hotel Indigo San Diego — 509 Ninth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
- Solamar San Diego — 435 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
- Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Downtown — 356 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Petco Park Client Services
The client service centers at Petco Park are located close to sections 108, 131, and 303. Staff members can help you with basic stadium information and provide assistance.
Petco Park Online Sportsbook
Petco Park doesn’t operate an online sportsbook, and it is not presently affiliated with any of them. Online sports betting in California won’t be legal until 2025 at the earliest — and that’s only if voters pass a sports betting initiative in the 2024 election.
If that time comes, Petco Park won’t offer an online sportsbook. Instead, guests will use their sports betting app of choice on their mobile device while at the stadium.
Petco Park SD FAQs
Petco Park is located at 100 Park Blvd, San Diego, California. It is positioned right across the street from the San Diego Convention Center and around four miles southeast of the city’s international airport.
No, it isn’t. On game day, the stadium’s gates open 90 minutes before the kickoff. Guests with season tickets can usually access the venue two hours before the first pitch. When there are no games, visitors can buy tour tickets. These tours take place according to the specific schedule listed on the Padres’ website.
Petco Park is home to dozens of food stands and restaurants serving all kinds of food. Some of the most popular spots include Seaside Market, Board & Brew, Gaglione Brothers, Hodad’s, and Pizza Port, among others.
You can’t currently place bets at Petco Park, as sports betting isn’t yet legal in California. However, if sportsbooks ever do launch in California, the legal age limit will likely be 21.
No, it doesn’t. Online sports betting is still illegal in California.
If California ever allows sports venues to operate sportsbooks, they will probably enable betting on a wide variety of sports. This may include baseball, tennis, football, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and more.
Yes, you can via horse racing betting sites and apps like TVG. California horse betting is one of the few legal online gambling activities in the state.
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