Tenth Best Seat in all of Baseball: Petco Park's Beach

by jbox on Aug 17, 2008 9:42 PM PDT Comment 13 comments

No. 10: Sun, sand, fun and baseball in San Diego

Jon and I just sat in these seats for the first time last week. They were the obstructed view tickets and they were in the second to last row but there we were. We bought them the day of the game and they were indeed only $10.

The Park in the Park is a great idea. It's not perfect by any means, but it has some nice features. I was kind of hoping that when they built the park that they would put grass area right up to the fence like you see in a lot of minor league parks. The grass now is another 50 yards away from the fence. I do really like the sand, but if you're playing in the sand you're not likely that interested in the game, so I think it'd be cool to have the beach in the Park but not necessarily in this prime area. Though if you do have a kid, it'd be easier to keep an eye on them and the game at the same time, since they don't let people without tickets into this area.

When we sat there last Tuesday, I found the seats to be rather uncomfortable since there was no seat back and you were pretty much sitting on a bench. It's hard to sit comfortably in that area for a full nine innings. The usher they mention in the article, Rich Rachman is fantastic with kids and adults alike. He loves his job and it shows. At any given time you can see him leading jumping jacks or quizzing kids in math. The Padres are lucky to have him, I only wish that more ushers loved their jobs as much as this guy.

The only thing really good about the view is your proximity to the center fielder, getting a view of the strike zone from right behind the pitcher and the infrequent home run. Otherwise there are much better seats for viewing the game.

I'm going to shamelessly steal their poll.

Poll

What rating would you give this seat at Petco Park?

5 stars - like sitting on a cloud in heaven

1 votes

4 stars - looks great, let's play two

11 votes

3 stars - worth planning a road trip

9 votes

2 stars - it's cool, but I can't see the game

36 votes

1 star - I'll take my HDTV and comfy couch

27 votes

84 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

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Comments

Man...

Definitely the worst seats in Petco

Rows of lights to illuminate lines
Why don't they turn them off and let us see night
Drove crazed, grooming my lies
You can't look in on one way eyes

by CurbEnthusiasm on Aug 17, 2008 9:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Park

I too think they should get rid of the “bleachers” all together. Run the grass bank down to the fence (and run into the fence half way up) just like in Peoria. Shove some sand out by the Gwynn statue or something.

by Jonny Dub on Aug 17, 2008 10:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The stars don't really match up with the descriptions

I wouldn’t call them two star seats. Probably they get the third star from me, but I definitely wouldn’t plan a trip around them and the fact of the matter is they’re slightly obstructed. I call foul.

by Dex on Aug 18, 2008 7:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh

I read that as “worth planning a road trip… to another ballpark”. Your way makes more sense.

"When the going gets tough... TheGrandHatching pops in later." -- WG

by TheGrandHatching on Aug 18, 2008 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've bought them just to get into the gate

then I go stand somewhere.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by Axion on Aug 18, 2008 8:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yep or go to the bar in the western metal supply building and sit on the patio

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com

by justdave on Aug 18, 2008 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone keep us updated on the list

I’m going to be pissed if the bleacher seats at Wrigley make the Top 10. I would even go so far as to ask Drama to write an angry email to the USA Today.

"When the going gets tough... TheGrandHatching pops in later." -- WG

by TheGrandHatching on Aug 18, 2008 10:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Just by you mentiong it...

He’s already prepped the angry form letter and placed it in his Drafts folder, ready to go.

by Dex on Aug 19, 2008 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

mentioning it even.

by Dex on Aug 19, 2008 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

What a crappy photograph. Poor photoshopping in the chain link fence right in the dead center of the image, and the sunspots that were neglected to be removed?? It almost doesn’t seem as much of a photograph with a fisheye lens, as it does someone bastardizing together a crude panoramic image, and using the bulge filter in Photoshop 4.0. . .

At least have the decency to make sure like Adrian Gonzalez or Jake Peavy is on the big screen when snapping the shot, and not some American League pitcher like Justin Verlander. . .

I’m guessing for the remainder of the list it will be something like:
-Green Monster seats at Fenway Park for #1
-Building top seats outside of Wrigley for #2
-Sitting with the creatures in RF at Yankee Stadium #3
-Sitting all by yourself in an empty park anywhere you want at Dolphin Stadium #4
-For some reason Kauffman Stadium will make this list #5
-Next to the old guy who bangs the drums at Progressive Field #6
-Next to the old lady who waves flags at Chase Field #7
-The uncomfortable standing room only in Camden Yards #8
-Either or San Francisco LF wall, or Pittsburgh’s LF wall for splash hits.

What they all have in common is that they’re really not that great seats for actually watching baseball.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 18, 2008 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs