Petco Park shapes the daily routines of East Village residents. Many downtowners are prepared for both the excitement and challenges that a San Diego Padres game day brings. Home runs and defensive gems are staples inside Petco. Traffic, noise and scheduling conflicts are part of the scene outside the park.
There are 81 home games a year. Depending on the Major League Baseball schedule, the team might be home every day for two weeks or on the road the same amount of time. (The Padres start a six-game homestand on Monday, June 22.)
Many locals are Pares fans who purposefully got apartments next to all the action.
“You live downtown for that reason,” said Alex Tzikas, a 10-year neighborhood resident.
He likes how fan energy makes the neighborhood lively. Tzikas does get frustrated with the traffic situation around the stadium. He said blockades stop him from turning left at familiar roads. Instead, they re-route him into the middle of high-traffic areas. He feels traffic control causes stoppages rather than preventing them.
Other downtown locals plan their driving trips around games, to avoid these issues.
Jack Palmer lives near the stadium. He loves the proximity to the concerts at Gallagher Square and has attended three since moving downtown.
He’s also a member of Fit gym, next to Petco. When Palmer lived near Balboa Park, getting to his downtown gym by car was more of a challenge.
“I would print the game schedule and hang it on my calendar,” he said. “I’d base my gym time around what time the game was.”
Palmer said the gym’s parking lot gets backed-up on game days, with a line of cars waiting to enter extending out into the street.
Commuters working downtown also have trouble circumventing the games.
Isabella Kelly works at Tacos El Franc. She said when the Padres are in town, it’s a non-stop rush.
“When the game’s over, everyone comes to our restaurant. We have a line out the door for the rest of the night,” Kelly said.
When her work schedule gets released, sometimes it’ll include home game dates when parking rates increase. She said driving out of downtown after a shift can be a struggle.
Jake Barnes works in a high-rise right next to the stadium’s main entrance. He commutes downtown every weekday.
“I park at a secondary lot, which gets affected by all the people coming down here for the games,” Barnes said.
Game-day traffic can add up to 30 minutes to his commute.
Barnes also noted the noise levels get out of control when there’s a concert at Gallagher Square, which is next to Petco Park and controlled by the team and the city of San Diego.
“There will be a 3 o’clock rehearsal and it’s super loud,” Barnes said. “We’ll be in a meeting and can’t hear anything because they blast the music.”
Noise is also a concern for 10-year downtown resident Heather Hernandez. As a dog owner, she’s not a fan of the fireworks that explode after the Padres win. Typically, locals gather together in social groups with their pups. She says on days with street closures and crowds, they don’t meet.
Hernandez said these are issues she can work around. It’s the unlicensed sidewalk vendors outside games that are major issue that aren’t being address.
“Onions are dangerous for dogs to eat, and they’re everywhere because of the hot dog cart vendors,” Hernandez said.
She has to pull her yorkies, Bruce and Tony, away from the carts so that they don’t get sick.
Energy. Noise. Excitement. Traffic. Hazards to pets. Locals know living downtown next to Petco Park comes with tradeoffs. SDSun
