For those of you who have been there a few times, is it a markedly different experienc than The Murph? (Sorry...still can't call it The Q)  Is it better or worse?  I hear things are awfully pricey there, but that you can bring in food.  

Any info is appreciated.

Much better place to see a ball game -- love being downtown instead of Mission Valley. Yeah, the food costs a lot -- eat (and drink!) in the Gaslamp before you pop into the park.

It's really a well thought out design.  The concourses seem much more open.  I share season seats with someone who has had for 31 years so the seats are great.  A couple weeks ago I was 2 rows behind Barry Bonds wife.  Can't wait for the upcoming Dodgers and then Giants series.

It really is great.  Very nice views of the city from the upper levels.  Walk out behind home plate to the concession stands and there is a nice view of the bay.  The food is no worse than your typical movie theater prices.  But, I didn't visit the restaurants.

Beer is kind of a rip-off.  $6 for a 16 ounce Coors Light?  Come on!

You can bring in food and drink (no glass containers, I believe).  And bring a seat cushion, the seats are still hard plastic.

I like the location of Petco but I prefer the Jack Murphy Qualcom because the extra room. I have sat in the press box seats and watched The Rocket (Clemmons) felt cramped. However watched another game and enjoyed it (field level). I like the new retro ball park ( aesthetics perspective) but prefer the old one because I could put my feet and feel comfortable. YMMV

TB

Is it true there is a park inside that you can picnic at and watch the game?

Yep... they call it the "park at the park" and it's just behind the center field wall. Great for families with kids that can't keep still in their seats for the whole game =)

It is a nice venue for a ball game.  I have only been there early in the season, and at that time at least it got really COLD when the sun went down (bring a jacket).  

Not only is the food pricey, when I went the food sucked.  First time I was there I sat in the section where you can order and the food is brought to your seat.  Food was very expensive, cold, and tasted horrible (fries tasted like they were three days old).  Second time I was there I sat in the cheap seats.  Bought a pizza from a vendor, which turned out to be very undercooked and also tasted horrible (the pizza, not the vendor).

I don't know whether the weather or the food has improved.

Word of advice--don't park in one of the parking structures near the park.  It's virtually impossible to get out after a game.  The traffic, as predicted, is a nightmare.  

-- Modified on 8/26/2004 7:00:29 PM

Absolutely positively PETCO is better!  I've been all over both parks (and quite a few other parks around the country...I love baseball), and PETCO has some of the best sightlines I've ever seen.  Buy $5 tickets and camp out at the Park just beyond right field (great for families), or stand in the standing room only areas on the lower level directly behind home plate (where you can see how much a slider breaks) or just behind the left field fence (go through the gift shop to get there and give Ryan Klesko a hard time about how much junk he carries in his back pockets)...they are unique views that put you right in the action.

Yup, the wind still wips off the bay in the evening.  This time of year I'd say a windbreaker is more useful than a sweater.

The food is still ballpark food, expensive and mediocre at best.  There are some little deli's in the area (don't know the names) that offer gameday specials...bring a sandwhich and chips in with you.  Of course, all the choices of the Gaslamp are less than 4 blocks away...

I have half season tix and I really like!  But it is not perfect.   The food is always going to be pricey and not nearly as good as what you can get around the gaslamp.  I like to call ahead for a pick-up order at the Tin Fish (great crab cakes).  Or bring in your own pizza from you fav place.  Everytime I do that it just makes all the other fans around me jealous!  But I think that the quality of the food at the park has gotten a little better.  The hotdogs are now grilled instead of boiled, the bratwurst is decent.  And the fish tacos actually taste about as good as you would get from a Rubio's out in town.  Randy Jones' BBQ is OK, except for the BBQ beef sandwich.

On parking, I've always parked at the convention center, usually $8 but on occasion it has been $4.  I drive down on the 163 but get off on, I believe the A street exit?  And take that down to Kettner then over to Harbor to get to the convention center parking, thus getting around all the traffic backing up on 10th.

OK, enough blabbing about the park.....

Every time there is a discussion about PETCO, people seem to talk a lot about the cost and quality of food. Regardless of where you find your entertainment (i.e. sports venues, live theaters, amusement parks, or movie theaters), the "house" thinks it has a captive audience for at least two-three hours and does not find motivation to provide higher quality and more competitively priced selections.

However, remember folks, the prime reason you are attending PETCO is to watch baseball rather than eat. [Besides you have 100's of yummy dining options in the Gaslamp both before and after the game.] And while the performance of the Padres as a team has been frustrating at times, you are no fan of baseball if you have not had your breath taken away by the great site lines at PETCO which have been filled with views of some amazing defensive gems turned in by Sean Burroughs and Khalil Greene plus both the offensive and defensive highlights performed all season by Mark Loretta!!! Even the hot and cold pitching staff, Nevin, Hernandez, and surging Giles have provided me with several magical memories this season.

I still don't know if they are contenders or pretenders who will break my heart in September, but there is no doubt that the energy experienced by 30,000-40,000+ regularly packed houses at PETCO have provided me with more excitement than the "Q" ever did except perhaps for two of the 35 seasons—1984 and 1998!

Hope you will come and experience with me all that downtown has to offer! GO PADRES!!!!

-- Modified on 8/27/2004 12:13:59 PM

Corporate Baseball for Corporate America....think sticker shock.

I have been down there for several games and to complain about the food just makes you sound pathetic.  At least you are not complaining about the Padres being 20 games under .500

The entire reason we go down to the ball game is to go to the Gaslamp for dinner.  Forget eating pizza or hot dogs at the game.  Why would you do that when there are dozens of places to choose from to eat before going in?  There is a great bar on the 6th floor of the Omni Hotel that is open to the public.  Nice inside seating area with lots of plasma TV's and a huge outdoor patio where you can check hang out prior to going into the game.  You are allowed to bring in any type of food with you into Petco and eat it there.  They don't allow drinks with straws or Gatoraide type drinks.  Bring in small water bottles so you don't have to spend a lot of money on drinks inside.  

Petco is a GREAT place to watch a baseball game and downtown San Diego is a beautiful place to be in the summer time.  Stop bitching about parking...you deserve to get stuck if you are stupid enough to park inside a parking structure.

I prefer to get my pets, (dogs and cats) at an independent  breeder rather than going to a big company. Please don't patronize large companies who sell a lot of pussies quickly without their shots. This just makes everyone look bad.

If you don't mind walking, I'd park along the streets between Island to K and 13th to 17th. It's a rough neighborhood, though. Otherwise, there's a lot right on K street. If you park in any lot, don't expect to get out right away. I never understood why people park close and try to drive off right after the game. They just end up sitting in traffic. Why not wait around or just sit in the car for awhile? Anyhow, the food does really suck for the price. At most, I'd get a jumbo dog from Randy Jones' BBQ behind the scoreboard. Outside of Petco, there's a Mexican restaurant on Market and 9th or 10th. There's also a pizza place in the same area. I wouldn't bother watching the game from the "park at the park". You might as well watch from a bar or at home. You go to Petco to see the entire field, not the back of the pitcher. For cheap tickets, I'd check Craigslist.com

Ok! I'll bite, but usually I try to stay positive when offering an opinion. First of all I’ve played baseball all my life and continue to do so today in my AARP years. Being retired has allowed me to visit every MLB ballpark in America and Canada. I’ve also been to many ballparks through the Caribbean, Asia, Europe and other continents in the world. So, I hope you can appreciate it when I say Petco Park has fallen way short of my expectations. Forget the food, parking, etc. While those items are important and play a large part of a fans experience it’s the overall design of the park and the seating arrangement not to mention the design of the playing field that make the most significant impact of a ball park. Let’s start with the latter, the playing field: the players (a few I know personally) abhor the park, which might explain their at home record compared to their away record.  The lack of uniformity on the outfield walls are a nightmare the way they cut in and out. Right field foul line is an accident waiting to happen and while the organization put a band aide on it, a major injury is just a foul ball away. The infield lip is a joke and the park in Peoria is better suited for the infielders. Those are just a few of the complaints I have heard. As for the seating arrangement, forget about seating in the Field Reserved section unless you are lean and trim, as the seats allow for no extra fat. My season tickets are in this area and while the line of sight is great as long as nobody tall sits in front of you, the real problem arises when an overweight person sits next to you and some of them roll into your seat as well. Toyota Terrace Infield seats are great if you’re in the front row, because if you’re in any other row and someone sits in front of you forget about seeing home plate. I’ve heard that if you happen to be in the Upper Left Field section about 50 square yards of left field is blocked out because of the overhang and if you do miss a great play in that area, forget about seeing the re-play on the big screen because you can’t. Last but not least the retro look try of the park is abdominal and cheap looking. With out having to go any further, because there are many other problems it’s unfortunate that Petco Park did not reach its potential. On the other hand we’re lucky to have a MLB team playing downtown in our great city. And as one person mentioned why complain about the food and drink when you’re in the middle of some of the best restaurants and night clubs in Southern California. Sometime at night you need to be on 8th street looking towards the stadium it’s an awesome sight. Also, I park right across from the stadium and have never experienced a problem getting in or out of the area. Do I miss the (Murph, you're right MSD)Q, you bet! Do I look forward to going to the games at Petco, you bet! I have some great memories from the Murph, but I hope to improve on them at Petco. And to steal a quote from my league, “don’t play soft – play hard.”

-- Modified on 8/27/2004 1:08:42 PM

...park makes it a welcome addition to this community in my view.
It is for me my "field of dreams" and provides a visual setting that far surpasses anything "the Murph" (Q) could ever offer. I understand the legendary sportswriter who is the old park's namesake may be a factor as to why some would hold some sentimental attachment to the "Q" along with the fact that there were two rather stellar seasons there as mentioned by t25.

I am not a baseball purist in the sense of some, and I have to admit to occasionally letting my attention drift from the "action" on the field. PETCO's visual/architectural  aesthetics far surpass anything the "Q" could hope to offer. Just being at the ballpark on a warm spring/summer day in place so visually stunning as PETCO is a treat in itself even if the team is loosing.

I remember when a thread was started on this just prior to start of the season around the time of the open house. I was a bit too quick to sing the praises of the park making some statement such as "there isn't a bad seat in the house"  Turns out that some of the quirky angles and structural components actually result in some seats with partially obstructed views so one has to be a little bit cautious when selecting seats. The vast majority of seats still provide on the whole quite good views.

I don't know that I'm qualified to comment on what players think about the park but I would suggest that some of the angles in the outfield actually make the game a bit more challenging. I would agree that they need to do something more along the right field line to make it less hazardous.

The parking issues and the price/quality of food issues are of less importance to me. I would agree that stopping in at one of the restaurants/bistros in the Gaslamp prior to the game is the way to go. Such an option was not available in the immediate vicinity of the "Q".

In essence I love the new ballpark but I'm not sure how much of a factor it will be in maintaining attendance levels over the next few seasons if the Padres fail to turn in a winning season and some post season play.

-- Modified on 8/27/2004 5:35:56 PM

-- Modified on 8/27/2004 8:07:46 PM

-- Modified on 8/28/2004 6:46:01 AM

Just about anywhere in the upper deck in left field foul territory you can't see a huge chunk of the action in the left field corner.

Bullshit designer.

Reude...chill? Input?

When it is companing it is not input....10 games over .500 and be happy that San Diego has a baseball team.

if you like making a day of it rather then heading to the game 15 minutes before it starts, if you like paying 17 bucks to park or 25 in a private lot, or if you like walking two miles AFTER  paying 8 bucks to park. there were alotta times i couldn't get there till the 3rd or 4th inning but thats impossible at petco. some jack off from baltimore sure screwer san diego and just wait till the padres are in 5th place (hope it never happens)and you will see a ghost town in petco, noone will go thru the hassle or pay that kind of money to see a 5th place team. i've seen my last game at petco and i'm cuttin it short here as i could go on an on.

Reude...chill? Input?

"The entire reason we go down to the ball game is to go to the Gaslamp for dinner.  Forget eating pizza or hot dogs at the game.  Why would you do that when there are dozens of places to choose from to eat before going in?"

Who is "we"?  Maybe the only reason "you" go down to he ball game is to eat in the Gaslamp.  The only reason "I" go down to the ballgame is to go to the ballgame.  Frankly, I don't have the time or the inclination to have dinner at 5:30 so I can make a game at 7:00.  Further, my "ballgame" experience, ever since I first started going to baseball games at Griffith Stadium where the old Washington Senators used to play, includes eating at the ballpark.  Apparently, your experience is different.  Good for you.

I have been to other new parks (Baltimore and Anaheim (renovated)) where the food was quite good.  I see no reason the food has to stink just because the consumers are a captive audience.  I had no problem with the food at Qualcomm.  Further, I see no reason not to call it the way I see it.

At any rate, I was recounting my experiences, both with respect to food and parking, to inform others.  Ultimately, each can make his or her own decision.  I can see why you might think I was complaining, but it was not my intent to complain.  However, I see you are one of the "ignorance is bliss" crowd.  To each his own . . ..  I am not one to wear rose-colored glasses.

Bet you're a Bush supporter (he's the Prez after all--let's not complain even if he is an idiot and his policies are leading on the road to ruin).

Maybe he built it.

No need to worry about the 'wrath' of SurfNaked.  No, I did not build it, but I am tired of people bitching about things like the food and parking.  To say that Petco is not as good as The Q for a game is nuts.  I do agree that there are some seats that don't have such a great view of the scoreboard or right left fielder, but all in all it is a great place to be for a game.  San Diegans love baseball...period.  When they were finishing in last over the past few years, they were still drawing big weekend crowds...sure there are give aways, but they came to watch baseball.  So if you have to pay $8 to park your car several blocks away, perhaps you could use the exercise to work off the beers that you will be drinking.  If you are they type of person that drives your car around the gym parking lot looking for a space up front, then you are going to complain about walking a few blocks to Petco.  I go to Dodger games as well and there are no restaurants and you cannot tailgate at all.  

DODGERS SUCK!!!! GIANTS SUCK!!!!! GO PADRES!!!!

I for one never said Petco is not as good as the Q.  The park itself is a much better venue.  I just said the food stinks and not to park in the parking structures.  The good things about the place are great, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to improve the not-so-good things.  

I assume the food at Chavez Ravine is at least edible (never been there).  The hated Dodgers appear to run a tight ship and I don't think would feed their fans slop.  Maybe I'm wrong.  Anyway, food preparation is not rocket science.  Maybe someday they'll figure it out at Petco.

I don't mind paying more for GOOD food. Petco charges more for low-quality food. In my opinion, the Gaslamp quarter doesn't have any restaurants that serve any food worth the price charged for it. If you have any recommendations, I'm all ears (eyes). I never pay for parking because I'm still able to walk. I bring my own water. Usually, I eat prior to the game but don't like to bring food in except for snacks. I do have somewhat of a big appetite and sometimes give in to the $3+ hotdogs. I don't see why they can't serve quality instead of pure convenience when it comes to food. I ate (tried to eat) at the restaurant in the Western Metal building; the meat from the carving station was cold and tough while the bread was old, hard, and stale as if it was leftover from the previous homestand. I expect more especially when I paid $55+ per seat for a full season. Oh, I'm not complaining; I'm just trying to get the point across that Petco food REALLY SUCKS in price and quality.