EventChaser

Last week (Labor Day 9/7) we had the fabulous opportunity to attend a San Francisco Giants baseball game at AT& T Park! It was a gorgeous day in the bay area and the air was full of excitement at the Giants are playing their hearts out for a chance to make the playoffs! We took my dad, a Giants fan his entire life, and my son who loves some good ball park food! He recently told me he’d like to try out the hot dogs at every park in the U.S.! We might some day!

Park Details
AT&T Park
24 Willie Mays Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94107
Telephone: 415.972.2000

The first privately financed ballpark in Major League Baseball since Dodger Stadium (1962), the Giants’ new home features an inspiring nine-foot statue of America’s greatest living ballplayer, Willie Mays, at the public entrance; Portuguese water dogs who fetch home runs that splash into McCovey Cove; an 80-foot Coca-Cola bottle with playground slides and miniature AT&T Park behind left field that has become a magnet for kids of all of ages; and mass public transit that rivals any sports complex in the world.

Getting to the stadium isn’t bad. We actually pass the old Candlestick Park on our way from the south bay area. We don’t really miss the windy games of old there! Take 1-280 north (or I-101 north to I-280 north) to the Mariposa Street exit. Turn right on Mariposa Street, then left on Third Street to get to the parking lots.

Next time we might take CalTrain, Take Caltrain from stations throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties directly to the ballpark - the Fourth and King Street Station is one block from the ballpark. Or take BART from Milbrae, SFO, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Colma or Daly City to downtown San Francisco. Then walk or transfer to Muni Metro to the ballpark (transfer from BART to MUNI N or T Line at Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery or Embarcadero).

Parking is a bit more expensive around this park. Without a permit, you’re looking at $30 in the closest lots. AT&T Park has over 2,500 parking spaces in Parking Lots A and D, as well as Pier 48. These lots are operated by Imperial Parking Corporation. For season parking, please call 415.972.2000 Additional Parking is available north of the ballpark at Piers 30/32 (Embarcadero at Bryant) and south of ballpark at the UCSF garage (Southbound 3rd Street just north of 16th Street). We found something for $20 down past the marina where they valet park in an old wherehouse on the water, but be forewarned, they leave your windows down and our car was filled with gnats!

Splash Hits
Located behind the right-field foul pole, this area of the China Basin Channel is affectionately referred to as “McCovey Cove” in honor of Giants fan favorite first baseman Willie McCovey. Since the ballpark opened 50 Giants players have hit splash hits to McCovey Cove. Taking a walk around the ball park you see that there are canoes, kayaks and even party boats hanging out in the cove trying for their chance for a lucky souveneir.

For the Kids
You’d be amazed at all the fun stuff for kids, besides the game, that are available! You know that big Coca-Cola bottle? It actually holds 4 slides, two 56-foot-long curving slides (the “Guzzler”) and two 20-foot-long twisting slides (the “Twist-Off”). Other attractions for the kids, a mini-version of AT&T Park, giant baseball glove, Fantasy Photo booth, Make Your Own Lou Seal at the Build-a-Bear Workshop and more!

Baseball History
The stadium hosts amazing artwork and baseball history.On the Club Level, peruse the murals of larger-than-life ballplayers by Jeffrey Skyles and stylized memorabilia photos by Charles Maier. On the Field Club Level, check out the home plate-themed murals by Tom Mogensen and a photo series of old-time catcher’s masks by Daniel and Bill Clark.

Food, Delicious Food at AT&T Park!
Aside from the standard ball park fare, you can get some amazing food at AT&T Park! World Famous Gilroy Garlic Fries, come on, ah-mazing! Now they boast their concessions as the first “Green” stand ever, read more about that here. For a little latin-flair, try Joe Garcia’s or Italian…Giuseppe Bazurro’s. If you want to try out seafood, Crazy Crab Wharf at the centerfield Promenade level. Also the ever-popular Acme Chophouse hosts the post-game show on KNBR (AM 680) is a popular eatery for fans!

If you like to get your drink on at the games, you’ll find California Wine Carts in multiple locations as well as Cable Car Bars.

The Game, The Seats
We were absolutely thrilled that we had bleacher seats in left field. 7 rows from the Chevron billboard, we could nearly touch the foul pole and were eager for some home run balls. The game was thrilling with 5 homeruns to the bleachers but more toward centerfield. The crowd was invigorating and the weather was perfect for the holiday game. Penny pitched a super game and the team was pumped up! The Giants beat the San Diego Padres 9-4!

We were appreciative of the vendors keeping our stomachs full bringing our favorite treats (red ropes, churros, and fresh-squeezed lemonade). Thanks to RazorGator for getting these fabulous baseball tickets for our family. We would have loved to linger around after this afternoon game, but we had only an hour to get our car before the wherehouse locked up. You need to get San Francisco Giants tickets before the end of the season to see them play like the champs they are!