PETCO Help

[HoJoPiazza2031]

Hey all...

I'm planning a weekend trip to PETCO in June to see the Mets while they're out playing the Padres. Anyone have advice on where to sit, what I should check out while i'm there, or any general reviews of the park? I'll be out there for probably 3 days or so. I was thinking of sitting out in RF near the beach - the tickets are only $17, but i'm not sure how good/bad the sights are from out there.

Any advice is appreciated!

[bigworm_122]

i was out there to see the mets last year, i would sit in the best available i could get, it is a beautiful park, the beach is ok. definatly take a tour of the stadium if you can. gaslamp district is lots of fun at night, lots of bars.

[Jim Vaz]

Great park in a BEAUTIFUL city with gorgeous weather!

I was there 2 years ago and it so happened that the Mets were in town for a 4 game series so it worked out great. Pretty much every seat IMO is decent, but obviously the closer you get the better if thats what you want. But really a nice park, clean, zillion and one amenities and restaurants, and the bar and restaurant district of the city is right behind left center field and you can spend hours there post game.
Right field is not by the beach, and actually no part of Petco is near the beach but just in downtown. 3rd base side is across the street from the the port area but thats it, the beaches are way across the harbor a few miles to the west or a quick ride north past the airport and Marine Corps depot and off to the west a few miles.

When you're there I recommend going to the beaches although they are not Caribeean or anything. The water is still cold and its a little rugged in some spots but overall nice. Also touring the city, and going to Balboa Park and the Zoo.

Personally forget Mexico. I know a lot of tourists go, but unless you just want to go to say you've been there, Tiujana is just not worth it. Dirty place, the street peddlers are extremely annoying, and it can take hours sometimes to get home through the traffic and US customs.

San Diego is maybe the nicest US city I have been to. Vancouver BC was also nice but I loved San Diegos weather, gets no higher then 85, cool ocean breezes and blue skies.

[OBomb]

I am a San Diegan (obviously a big Padres fan) and agree with what the last two replies have said about where to sit. The only thing to keep in mind, if this makes much of a difference to your ballpark experience, is that you won't be able to see the scoreboard if you sit in left field or too far up into the shade on the Field Level. The upper deck, even, is great because you're still not too far from the action. Plus the views from the upper deck are spectacular. You may also want to look into the new Right Field Pavilion, located on the Toyota Terrace Level, which costs $45 but includes about $20 worth of food and merchandise credit in the price of the ticket. Also, those seats are padded.

June weather, believe it or not, can be a bit unpredictable here in terms of whether the sun will be out. We get this effect we here call "June Gloom" which describes a heavy marine layer that comes in at night and should burn off by the afternoon to make way for sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60s to mid 70s. However, on the coast especially where downtown/Petco are located, the marine layer can be a bit stingy in burning off. But nonetheless, the weather is better than intense heat and humidity.

Ditto on the attractions. My personal recommendation for a beach would be Coronado which is a quick 10 minute drive over the Coronado Bay Bridge from downtown. If not that, visit La Jolla Shores which is about 15 minutes away. Do Balboa Park, hang out downtown - especially the Gaslamp District along 4th and 5th Avenue, and check out Mount Soledad for some awesome views if you have the time. Everything you're looking for is, at most, a 15 minute drive from downtown.

Have fun out here!

[HoJoPiazza2031]

Great park in a BEAUTIFUL city with gorgeous weather!

I was there 2 years ago and it so happened that the Mets were in town for a 4 game series so it worked out great. Pretty much every seat IMO is decent, but obviously the closer you get the better if thats what you want. But really a nice park, clean, zillion and one amenities and restaurants, and the bar and restaurant district of the city is right behind left center field and you can spend hours there post game.
Right field is not by the beach, and actually no part of Petco is near the beach but just in downtown. 3rd base side is across the street from the the port area but thats it, the beaches are way across the harbor a few miles to the west or a quick ride north past the airport and Marine Corps depot and off to the west a few miles.

When you're there I recommend going to the beaches although they are not Caribeean or anything. The water is still cold and its a little rugged in some spots but overall nice. Also touring the city, and going to Balboa Park and the Zoo.

Personally forget Mexico. I know a lot of tourists go, but unless you just want to go to say you've been there, Tiujana is just not worth it. Dirty place, the street peddlers are extremely annoying, and it can take hours sometimes to get home through the traffic and US customs.

San Diego is maybe the nicest US city I have been to. Vancouver BC was also nice but I loved San Diegos weather, gets no higher then 85, cool ocean breezes and blue skies.

I actually meant the "beach" that's in the right field corner...

[Jim Vaz]

I actually meant the "beach" that's in the right field corner...

Oh I got you! Yea I forgot about that.

[parlo]

A lot of the field level seats have blind spots due to the overhang of the upper deck. You will lose sight of fly balls, and the scoreboard is blocked. The front sections of the upper deck are better seats than the back rows of the lower level.

[soberdennis]

Where will you be staying in San Diego? If it is in downtown, you can walk to the park from your hotel. But if it is outside of downtown, it might be best to park at Qualcomm or any number of trolley stations and take the trolley to the game. Parking in downtown, especially on gameday can be a bear.
As for seats, there really aren't too many bad seats in the stadium. Your price range may be the best determinant as to where you might sit.

[HoJoPiazza2031]

I'm staying near Balboa park at some little boutique hotel. I was looking at upper deck tickets just so that I can get the maximum view. As much as I like sitting under the overhang, in some stadiums it's terrible. I'm going to the Mets-Cubs on monday and I am dreading all the blind spots under the grandstand.

[soberdennis]

Depending on what part of Balboa Park you are at, You may still be able to walk to the stadium. If you are on the North end of the Park, you may want to take the bus downtown and either walk or take the trolley the rest of the way. The 7 bus goes right through Balboa Park on Park Blvd. On the West end of the Park, walk down to 4th and catch the 3 bus. But if you are on the South end of the Park, you can walk to Petco.
I usually get upper deck seats in RF. Good seats. The only drawback is that you cannot see the out of town scoreboard from there. I have also had upper deck seats behind home plate or thereabouts. Eitherway, you have a perfect view of the field.

[HoJoPiazza2031]

Depending on what part of Balboa Park you are at, You may still be able to walk to the stadium. If you are on the North end of the Park, you may want to take the bus downtown and either walk or take the trolley the rest of the way. The 7 bus goes right through Balboa Park on Park Blvd. On the West end of the Park, walk down to 4th and catch the 3 bus. But if you are on the South end of the Park, you can walk to Petco.
I usually get upper deck seats in RF. Good seats. The only drawback is that you cannot see the out of town scoreboard from there. I have also had upper deck seats behind home plate or thereabouts. Eitherway, you have a perfect view of the field.

Does the trolley system go to the park? How is it for getting around the city?

[OBomb]

If you're staying near Balboa Park, it'll be a looooooong walk to Petco. Take a bus or cab. The trolley doesn't go through Balboa Park; the closest it comes is the City College station in the northeast part of downtown which is served by both the Blue Line and Orange Line trolleys. But even then, it's a bit of a walk. The trolley is fine and efficient with the Blue Line and Orange Line serving downtown. You can take the Blue Line up to Old Town and go there to look around and visit the first settlement in San Diego.