I’ve Visited 20 MLB Ballparks, Why Petco Park In San Diego Tops Them All

The Seoul Series between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers has officially kicked off the 2024 baseball season. The sport added a new venue, the Gocheok SkyDome, to the list of stadiums that has hosted a Major League Baseball game.

Over the past 20 years, my travels have often taken me to several MLB cities. As a baseball fan (more casual than diehard) I've often had an interest in attending a game in another city's park. They each have such character and unique components to them. In total, I have visited 20 of the 30 current ballparks.

I should note that I have not planned a trip around attending an MLB game. Most of the time, getting a ticket was a spontaneous occurrence, and I simply had the time and resources to catch a ball game while in that market.

For example, in 2019, I was on a trip to Washington, DC. We had a Saturday afternoon wide open. The San Francisco Giants were in town and the Nationals stadium was close to our hotel. Why not grab a $22 upper deck seat?

Luckily, the list of parks I have been to includes major market spectacles like Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and small market gems like Camden Yards in Baltimore.

The history and character of places like Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are certainly unmatched. It's fair to even call them bucket list places any sports fan needs to visit. On the other hand, it's fun to catch a game at the newer, more luxurious parks like Yankee Stadium.

I thoroughly enjoyed the food (mostly nachos), beers, and competition at most of the parks. But there is one stadium that claims my top spot.

Disclaimer: As an East Coast kid, I always wondered about West Coast postcard places like San Diego. As a surfer, it felt like my favorite city in the country before I even had the chance to visit.

When I finally did visit Petco, I was instantly marveling at its location within the market. The backdrop was the city, with the salty air still drifting in.

On this particular day, the Padres were hosting the New York Mets. Again, in a spur-of-the-moment, " What do you want to do today?" scenario, two buddies and I walked up to the box office and paid $9 in cash each. Of course, we spent the first half hour or so exploring and getting acclimated to what this place had to offer.

My first impression was how pleasantly calm it was. The game itself was great and featured a close battle between the Padres and Mets. It seemed each team would score one run per inning. By the bottom of the third, the experience changed and the ripple effect is what has influenced my top ballpark decision.

We comfortably walked right down behind home plate and sat in the empty row. By this point, whoever was attending the game that day was in the building. There was no need to hop a row or sneak past anybody. The seats were open, the crowd was content, and we just moved right in.

For the next two hours, we watched every batter in the on-deck circle. We felt the heat of a 95 mph fastball smack the catcher's glove. We heard the umpire growl each ball and strike. Furthermore, many of the Padres players would initiate an unprompted "what's up" to us.

Upon returning east, I became invested in the Padres. I'd tune into many of their games that were broadcasted (especially the home games). When their branding changed to the new brown and yellow colors, I was the perfect person to market to, buying two different hats and a shirt.

My Petco Park experience encapsulated everything that appeals to me about the sport. The laid back location, the waves, and simply enjoying the sights and sounds of the game during warmer months. Having an engaging star like Fernando Tatis Jr. certainly helps as well.

I have an upcoming trip to San Diego in my future plans. I'll get off the plane, surf a few hours in the Pacific first, then head to Petco Park.

Major League Baseball has a deep respect for their game's rich history. Attending a ballgame can be a great experience that allows fans to marvel at baseball culture. Furthermore, most MLB parks have designed stadium attractions that make them unique amongst the 30 venues in the league.

From museums to bodies of water to fan-zone fun, the MLB stadiums across the country each have something that is representative of their character. Often you will find baseball enthusiasts track how many ballparks they have been to. In addition, it is common for fans to build trips to other cities to have a new MLB park experience.

MLB is the only professional sport in the country where each team has its own dedicated stadium. For example, in the NFL, the Jets and Giants share Metlife Stadium. Many NBA team share their home arena with the NHL team in their city. In professional baseball, each of the 30 teams has their own home field that is theirs alone. This enables the organization to build more character specific to the club.

The interior of an MLB ballpark is all about the players. Though there is a mysterious aura about the clubhouse, given that they are underground. The common thread in modern-day construction is centered around the ballclub. The intent is to make each clubhouse comfortable, hi-tech, and private for the players and coaches. The rest of the stadium is all about the fan experience.

Here, we will look at some of the most unique MLB stadium attractions. Each is representative of their city and team history. They provide character to the ballpark. In many cases, these features make the park a landmark in their home state.

If you want to take in an MLB game in a ballpark you have not visited yet, here are some attractions to consider.

Behind the outfield wall at Chase Field, there's a pool area. From here, you can see the entire game. At the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, you can take in a National League West game while going for a swim. The area accommodates 35 people.

You surely know all about the infamous Green Monster left field wall at Fenway Park, but did you know you can sit on top of it? There are 269 seats available for Red Sox ticket purchase. This area is a common spot for lucky fans to catch a home run ball.

Hundreds of signed baseballs by Yankee greats, plagues, and statues are just some of the incredible monuments in the museum at Yankee Stadium. Some of the exhibits rotate, but "Yankees by the numbers" jerseys, World Series rings, and trophies are always on display.

If you want to kayak up against the outfield wall of a picturesque stadium, McCovey Cove in San Francisco is your spot. While its common to see boats overshadowing right field, this is also a common spot for those looking to catch a memorable home run ball.

"There's magic in the ivy and the old scoreboard," Eddie Vedder sings in his Cubs tribute song "All The Way." The legendary ivy covering the outfield walls at Wrigley might arguably be the most iconic ballpark look of all.

Technically it's called Gallagher Square, but the Park at Petco Park is located outside the outfield walls but inside the gates of the stadium. You need a ticket on gameday to access this space, which has mini fields and a statue of the late Padres great Tony Gwynn.

A tank containing real live stingrays rests within the outfield of the stadium. This is a 35 foot, 10,000 gallon exhibit that is in partnership with the Florida Aquarium.

15-foot-high and 56-foot-long replica of an 1862 steam locomotive goes for a ride each time the Astros hit a home run. Sitting 90 feet above the field, you will hear this train go for a 40 second ride back and forth. This area of the park used to be Union Station, which is why the train was brought in as an attraction in 2000. It is driven by Bobby Dynamite.

Along the main concourse in center field, there's the Bobblehead Museum at loanDepot Park in Miami. This is the home of over 500 bobbleheads that are enclosed behind glass. While many of these are MLB and minor league players, a section includes entertainers and special giveaways the Marlins have done.

When the Brewers hit a home run, their mascot Bernie slides down a giant yellow slide out of his outfield treehouse. Fans can take a ride down as well. Tickets are available for purchase for some pre-game fun ($150-$175).

The city fountains are well represented at the home of the Royals. The fountains in outfield are 322 feet wide. They can change colors and offer a magnificent display. Select 200 level seats near the fountains can be purchased. There are eight programmed fountain shows, where 600 nozzles can launch into 150 combinations of effects.

You can sit high above centerfield in Colorado. The Rockpile offers $4 select tickets. It's a bleacher style seating, giving you a true Rocky Mountain feel.