Petco Park, home of the Swinging Friar and the team this mascot represents, the Padres, puts San Diego on the major sports map.
Petco Park, San Diego (Photo: Daveynin via Flickr/ CC BY 2.0)
The San Diego Padres play in Major League Baseball’s National League West division and are an original California team. The Padres regularly host instate rivals the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers as well as other west coast teams. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won two league pennants (1984, 1998).
The $450 million project for the utilitarian stadium in downtown San Diego was funded by a public-private partnership and construction was completed for a 2004 opening. The Padres call this home as one of only two California-born major league baseball teams (the other being the Los Angeles Angels). The Padres joined the MLB as an expansion team in 1969 but take their name from a Pacific Coast League team from San Diego from the 1930s. Beyond superb sightlines for the game, Petco Park celebrates the sea, the sky, and the natural beauty of southern California and provides stunning views of the San Diego skyline, especially at night.
Single Game Tickets
The entire MLB ticketing experience is powered by Ticketmaster with connections for ticket buying from each team’s websites leading to Ticketmaster. Browsing for available tickets is easy either via a stadium map, which highlights available tickets as blue dots, or by selecting a desired price range. Fans can search for single or multiple tickets to every game. After finding the perfect seat confirm the selection and the timed checkout process will begin. Select your country and verify mobile ticketing—tickets go to your phone or an app. Some stadiums allow print-at-home or will-call options. Sign in or sign up for a Ticketmaster account by creating a username and password and entering a valid email. Register a cell phone number. Enter payment and confirm any financial institution security measures. Finalize the purchase and tickets can be accessed immediately online or through the app.
How much are Padres tickets? Cost depends on how you want to view the game. The most affordable tickets at Petco Park are general admission lawn passes, which cost $30 and are located in center field. Other discount-priced tickets can be found in the 300 level. The most expensive regular seats are located behind home plate and begin at $146 each. Fees charged by Ticketmaster include a scaling service fee per ticket and a one-time $4.50 order processing fee.
Using Digital Tickets
To use digital tickets visit the Ticketmaster website or mobile app. From the account pull down menu select My Tickets. Click on the event for further details. Once the event is selected can view the ticket barcode. Ticketmaster recommends using the app. When viewed in the app, tickets are instantly saved to the phone. This is the best way to avoid delays if network connections are busy at the stadium.
Special and Group Tickets
Rates and options for special and group tickets are found on the official San Diego Padres website. Starting at 20 tickets, group tickets are all available for home games all season. Hospitality spaces and suites are also available. Hospitality spaces are built for company picnics and events, and can be used by a group of friends or large family. Petco Park offers many suite options, which can be broken down into three categories: 40+ person suites, 20-30 person suites, 8-12 person suites. Beyond baseball, Petco Park is also home to the Untappd Beer Festival in October.
Where to Park
There are several parking areas around the stadium. The most affordable options are the convention center parking lot and the Hilton garage at $20. The Premier Lot at MTS Garage costs $40. San Diego, like many other cities, provides public and private parking lots and garages for visitors; rates at these facilities differ depending on day (weekdays and weekends), length of stay, and proximity to special events. A discount option is the 707 Broadway lot with a price range of $10-$15 per event. The lot at Imperial and 12th St. is approved for tailgating.