Every MLB stadium ranked from worst to best
By Kareem Gantt
14. Petco Park — San Diego Padres
To be honest, Petco Park is too beautiful of a ballpark for the team that it plays host to.
Ever since it opened in 2004, Petco Park, in the middle of downtown San Diego, has been known as one of the best ballparks in MLB for good reason. It was one of the newer parks that incorporated the surrounding buildings into its stadium design, and if you’re able to pay a premium for seats behind home plate, you’ll be greeted with the beautiful skyline San Diego affords.
What’s often said about Petco Park is that it’s a ballpark that perfectly represents what San Diego is all about. From its beautiful beaches to the natural beauty of the region, you’ll find all of it at Petco Park. The Padres, the team that occupies this domain most of the year, has certainly built a ballpark that fits the culture of what San Diego represents. While most lists easily put this ballpark in its top 10, we’re not following the trend.
Why? For the same reason, Kauffman Stadium isn’t known as a top ballpark — the team.
As mentioned earlier, the Padres as of late don’t deserve the beauty of Petco Park. Ever since the team moved here from cavernous Qualcomm Stadium in the Mission Valley, the Padres have rarely sniffed the playoffs. So those same fans who are in awe of Petco Park’s beauty are holding their noses at the stinker that is produced on the field.
Shameful, especially since they play in such a gem of a ballpark.