San Francisco, California
Formerly SBC Park and Pacific Bell Park
Groundbreaking: December 11, 1997
1st National League Game: April 11, 2000
Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass
Architect: HOK Sport
Cost: $255 Million
Owner: San Francisco Giants
Financing: $100 million from SBC, $145 million loan secured by the Giants ball club, and $10 million tax increment financing by the City's Redevelopment Agency
Seating capacity: 41,503
Playing Field Dimensions:
LF foul line: 339 ft.
LF Alley: 382 ft.
Deepest left-center: 404 ft.
Center field: 399 ft.
Deep RF alley: 421 ft.
Short RF alley: 365 ft.
RF foul line: 309 ft.
Outfield Fences: Left and Center: 8 ft; Right field: 25 ft.
Hosted World Series: 2002
Hosted All-Star Game: Never (Will host in 2007)
In 1995, the Giants announced plans to build the first privately financed Major League ballpark since Dodger Stadium. The new ballpark would be located in downtown San Francisco, in the China Basin area. Construction on the steel, concrete, and brick ballpark began on December 11, 1997. Naming rights were sold to Pacific Bell for $50 million over 24 years, thus the ballpark was named Pacific Bell Park. After the 2003 season, Pacific Bell Park was renamed SBC Park after SBC Communications Inc. acquisition of Pacific Bell. Two short years later, the "Ballpark to named later", (as it's called in anti-corporate naming fan circles) was renamed again as AT&T Park, after SBC was acquired by the telecom giant.
On April 11, 2000, the Giants played their first regular season baseball game at Pacific Bell Park. Fans and critics alike were instantly charmed with the retro 4-tier park that included among other things: A 25 foot high brick wall that runs from the RF grandstand to center, complete with hand operated scoreboards within the arches that also allow room to peek in at the game from the waterfront.
Columnist Peter Gammons wrote: "It's hard to say what's best about [AT&T] Park, except that it is San Francisco. The view from the worst seats in the house still gives you a view of the Bay Bridge and the marina. As great as Camden Yards, Turner Field, The Jake and Coors Field are, this is the best fan's ballpark because it was conceived, built and paid for by Giants owner Peter Magowan, a legitimate baseball fan."
Iconic Moments: Bonds, Bonds and more Bonds: He socked his 500th homer in 2001 and 600th on August 9, 2002. On October 5, 2001, Bonds smacked home runs number 70 & 71, breaking Mark McGuire's single season mark. April 12, 2004 saw Bonds hit career tater number 660, tying his Godfather, Willie mays for third on the all-time list. He hit number 661 into San Francisco bay two days later. His historic homer number 700 landed in the left-centerfield bleachers on September 17, 2004.
The good: Home runs splashing into San Francisco Bay over a beautiful arched-lined brick wall.
The bad: Because the open section of SBC Park is facing San Francisco Bay, the spectacular skyline view of downtown San Francisco is not viewable from the grandstand. I know, it's a petty gripe, but we had to say something.
The ugly: Corporate naming gone bad. This ballpark is only 5 years-old and is already on its third moniker. Ridiculous.
San Francisco Giants
24 Willie Mays Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 972-2000
Premium Field Club $80
Field Club $73
Club Infield $67
Club Outfield $54
Club Left Field $45
Premium Lower Box $47
Lower Box $39
View Box $29
View Reserve $25
Arcade $33
Left Field Bleacher $25
Center Field Bleacher $16
Standing Room $12
Seating Chart
Purchase Giants Tickets
TV: KTVU-2, FSN
In-park dining choices: Big Guy's Custom BBQ, Doggie Diner, Say Hey Sausage Specialties, Gilroy Garlic Fries, Portwalk Pizza, Carl's Jr., Krispy Kreme, John J. McGraw's Derby Grill, Edsel Ford Fong's, Giuseppe Bazurro's, Joe Garcia's
Signature concession items: Garlic chicken sandwiches and local wine.
San Francisco Local Dining - Best Bets
Directions & Parking
Ballpark Tour & Vacation Packages
NOTES, FACTS AND FEATURES
At the main entrance gate, is a statue of Willie Mays
Part of the exterior architecture of SBC Park are the The King Street clock towers. The two towers are 122 feet tall and feature pyramid-shaped roofs topped by 45-foot tall flagpoles.
The main three tier grandstand consists of green seats that extend from behind homeplate to both the foul poles. Bleaches are located behind the left field fence. There are no seats behind the right field wall because of McCovey Cove, part of the San Francisco Bay. However, there is enough room where fans can walk behind the right field wall and can see through the screened and brick right field fence (See below).
The Coca Cola Fan Lot is an interactive play area for children and adults. Fans of all ages can enjoy a slide into home plate from one of the four slides inside the 80-foot wooden Coca-Cola contour bottle; stroll up to the world's largest baseball glove, or check out the views of the San Francisco Bay area.
When a Giant hits a homerun, strobes flash inside the Coca Cola bottle, bubbles appear to float from the bottle's mouth, and green and white lights flash up and down the neon tubes running along its ribs.
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Click on titles for more info
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