San Diego Padres — Our Baseball Journey

Stadium history

First major-league game at this parkApril 8, 2004

Current seating capacity39,860 fixed seats; additional accessible, standing-room and lawn areas

Petco Park is the current home of the San Diego Padres in San Diego, California.

Ballpark chronology from MLB · Current ballpark guide and capacity

The game we saw

May 24, 2026 — Athletics at Padres

5

Oakland Athletics

at

2

San Diego Padres

Final — Athletics win 5–2

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
OAK	1	0	0	2	0	1	0	1	0	5	10	0
SD	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	7	1

W: Paul Blackburn (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER)

L: Joe Musgrove (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER)

Extra‑base hits

Athletics: 2B — Zack Gelof (2), Brent Rooker (1)

Padres: 2B — Xander Bogaerts (1)

Oakland scored early and added insurance late, while San Diego’s offense was limited to a pair of runs in the 3rd and 7th innings.

Visit details retained from our original journal.

Our experience

Atmosphere

★★★★☆

Petco Park delivered its usual charm — perfect weather, lively crowd energy, and a beautiful downtown backdrop. Even in a loss, the ballpark experience was top‑tier.

Food & Sightlines

★★★★☆

Petco Park’s food scene remains one of the best in baseball. From Section 214, Row 22D, the view was elevated and clean, offering a great angle on the infield and skyline.

Our Photos

View of the game from the stands at Petco Park

Accessibility

Your Seats

You sat in Section 214, Row 22D, Seats 1–2. Access to the upper deck was smooth, with elevators and ramps clearly marked. The concourse was easy to navigate, and staff were helpful throughout.

Parking & Entry

Accessible parking is available near the main gates, and Petco Park’s entry points are wide, well‑staffed, and easy to follow.

Restrooms

Accessible restrooms are located throughout the concourse and were clean, modern, and easy to reach from your section.

In‑Game Experience

Staff were attentive, PA announcements were clear, and concourse movement was manageable even during peak innings.

World Series history

0-Time World Series Champions

1984 — Lost to Detroit Tigers (4–1)
Tigers logo

The Padres reached their first World Series behind Tony Gwynn and a strong pitching staff, but Detroit’s dominant rotation proved too much.

1998 — Lost to New York Yankees (4–0)
Yankees logo

San Diego’s 98‑win team ran into one of the greatest Yankees squads ever assembled, led by Jeter, Rivera, and a deep lineup.