San Diegans will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Petco Park (San Diego, California, US) in 2024.
‘Major League Baseball’ stated that to commemorate this milestone, the Major League Baseball (MLB) team San Diego Padres will invest nearly $20 million to renovate the Gallagher Square, providing fans and the community with expanded amenities, and building on the decades-long commitment to deliver ‘More Than A Ballpark’.
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego, US. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two National League pennants in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both years.
The 42,445-capacity Petco Park is a baseball stadium in Downtown San Diego, California, US. It is the ballpark of Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres, and has also been used as a venue for concerts, soccer, golf, football, and rugby. The ballpark is located between Seventh and 10th Avenues South of J Street.
Community Amenities
‘Major League Baseball’ further stated that based on community feedback, the renovated Gallagher Square will include new and improved features for the community, all with an eye toward celebrating the Padres’ history and San Diego’s baseball traditions, including:
- Playground and play area expanded for wider range of ages and abilities;
- Fenced, off-leash dog park;
- Improved play ball field;
- Temporary pickleball courts;
- Tony Gwynn Terrace viewing deck and picnic space; and
- Public art displays featuring the local artists.
Additionally, the Gallagher Square will be reconfigured in a manner that will allow for portions of the park to remain open for public use more frequently.
Improved Gameday Experience
The iconic statue of Padre Tony Gwynn will be elevated, and surrounded by an expanded viewing deck that provides great sightlines of games and can be used for enjoying picnics during public hours. Gwynn will also be more visible from the ballpark and better aligned with his teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman.
The project will also bring a new and expanded fan entry gate to the 9th and J Street for improved security and wait times, and provide leveled, tiered lawn seating in the Gallagher Square, where tickets are generally more affordable than other areas close to the ballfield.
Anthony Keith Gwynn Sr., nicknamed ‘Mr Padre’, was an American professional baseball right fielder, who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres. The left-handed hitting Gwynn won eight batting titles in his career, tied for the most in the National League history.
Trevor William Hoffman is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who played 18 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1993 to 2010. A long-time closer, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers, including more than 15 years for the Padres. Hoffman was the major leagues’ first player to reach the 500- and 600-save milestones, and was the all-time saves leader from 2006 until 2011. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018. Hoffman currently serves as the Senior Advisor for baseball operations for the Padres.
New York (US)-based Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization. One of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, the MLB comprises 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.
Responsible Design
Improvements will result in a more sustainable, state-of-the-art space by incorporating:
- Turf to replace grass, enhancing the overall aesthetics and significantly reducing water and the resodding needs;
- Native trees and vegetation planted throughout the space; and
- Delay towers and directional speakers to reduce the noise levels during the events.
A More Activated, Vibrant East Village
This $20M investment is on top of the Padres investing hundreds of millions of dollars over 20 years to build a vibrant East Village through economic development and the creation of thousands of jobs. Once complete, the project will attract more residents and visitors, particularly during the off season, resulting in:
- A boost to nearby businesses, supporting the local owners, operators and employees;
- Increased local tax revenue, which is invested back into the community; and
- More living wage jobs for the San Diegans.
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