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MLB Power Rankings: Top 30 stadiums of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The sun sets over Wrigley Field during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The sun sets over Wrigley Field during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 3, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of Petco Park during the second inning between the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of Petco Park during the second inning between the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Petco Park

  • Year Opened: 2004
  • Capacity: 40,209
  • Defining Features: Western Metal Building, Park at the Park, unique sandstone and stucco construction

By sheer virtue of being located in America’s Finest City, whatever the Padres came up with for their new stadium design would have been among the best in baseball. Hard to argue with a summer full of 80-degree days and sea breezes. Petco Park is an absolute home run on all fronts.

The new park mirrors many of the retro parks around the league without being a full-on copycat. Instead of the standard green seats and brick that are popular around the league, Petco Park is constructed out of sandstone bricks and stucco, to pay tribute to the beautiful cliffs and hills that surround the city of San Diego. The exposed steel in this park is painted white, and the seats are blue, for the team’s colors.

Though not quite as big or imposing as the B&O Warehouse in Baltimore, the Padres incorporated the existing Western Metal Building in left field, and brought it right into the seating bowl. It’s a functional and unique use of an existing building. The Padres also located most of the team’s offices and other buildings away from the concourse to create a stadium that is more open to the city.

Petco Park is oriented with home plate looking out due north. Batters typically face northeast in most MLB stadiums, but locating the stadium this way maximized views of downtown San Diego. The Park in the Park is located in center field, and is a large grassy berm that is open to the public on off days.

Petco is an extreme pitcher’s park, but if you can’t enjoy a 2-1 game while enjoying stunning views of San Diego, then maybe baseball isn’t the sport for you.

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