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OK, so what's happened here? Didn't the new Giants ballpark used to be called Pacific Bell Park? Well, in a way it still is. Pacific Bell bought naming rights for 20 years, but were then acquired by SBC, who then acquired AT&T (now who could have predicted that!) - hence the new new new name! So, sorry for the mix of names in the photos - wish they'd stop doing that…..
Anyway, the new home of the San Francisco Giants major league baseball team was opened in 2000, and is really a fantastic place to see sports - even if you're not a big Baseball fan. AT&T Park is the third stadium in San Francisco the Giants have called home since their historic move west from New York in 1958. They occupied their first home, Seals Stadium for their first two years in San Francisco, before moving to Candlestick Park (currently Monster Park) in 1959. Seals Stadium was demolished in November 1959, and was just a mile from their current home at SBC Park.
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While 3Com Park never really worked for Baseball - despite having been constructed specifically for the Giants, AT&T Park could well be the best Baseball stadium in the world. Located right on the Bay at China Basin just at the southern end of The Embarcadero it's location has made visiting the ball-park something that can - and should - be achieved via public transport. By far the best way to come and go is, ironically, from outside of the city. On game days ferries operate from Oakland & Alameda in the East Bay, as well as Larkspur and Vallejo in the North. If you have the option of going to a game, and are able to take a ferry I seriously recommend it! If you're in the city, you can take the Muni Metro 'N' line train, or just walk along The Embarcadero.
Above is a Panorama of AT&T Park from Section 103, Row 31, Seat 19, Sunday June 29th 2003, San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics. Click here to view the complete panorama.
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Some of the great features of the park include - public access from the Bay Side (third base), so even if you don't have a ticket, you can watch at least part of the game - you get moved on after 20 minutes! Hitting a ball into China Basin has become known as a Splash Hit and is a pretty rare feat. To date only 40 or so Giant home runs have ended up in the water - and San Francisco's greatest current player, Barry Bonds, has hit an amazing number of those! A small flotilla of boats and people in rubber rings gather for every game to try and be the first to retrieve the ball from any splash hit!
Inside the ground you can still watch the game while queuing at one of the innumerable refreshments outlets (try the famous Garlic Fries!) that ring the infield sides! There's a great kids area behind the bleaches in left-field, and even if the Giants aren't in town you can take a tour of the stadium, complete with visits to the dugouts!
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Other Images of AT&T Park....
(Just click on the image for a full-size version) |
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