Padres Stadium Guide: Petco Park's Best Seats To Grab Shade (Or A Tan)

The Friars have done everybody a favor and released an easy-to-read guide that shows the best seats in Petco Park based on the sun.

Petco Park is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and unique stadiums in all of baseball. Surrounded by palm trees and a number of waterfalls, it cost around $411 million to make and is located in the heart of Gaslamp. The building of the stadium took heavy inspiration from the many beaches and piers all throughout the city of San Diego.

However, anybody that has ever been to "America's Finest City" is well aware of the heat and shining rays from the sun one must sustain if they choose the wrong area to sit. Never fear though as for this season, the Padres have put together a detailed guide that will allow buyers to get a good idea of just how much vitamin D they will be intaking when watching the Friars compete at home. 

1. Looking for a full tan?

It appears that more than half of the stadium falls in the yellow zone, meaning that those sections are the ones that are hit with direct sunlight. The amount will depend on the day-to-day weather, but fans will get the full Southern California experience buying tickets for those seats. Petco Park was meant to give visitors an immersive experience and utilize their nature — and the yellow zone was meant for this.

2. Perfectly balanced as all things should be.

Padres fans looking to soak in the warmth of the sun but also remain somewhat covered will likely find themselves residing in the blue areas on the map. These fall under the category of partial sun/partial shade, and a majority of them are on the front-left side of the stadium where there are roof towers. Not many balls are hit in this direction but those looking to enjoy the game and not have their ice cream melt too much will be satisfied here.

3. First time in San Diego?

That brand new Manny Machado jersey is only meant to get perspiration all over it from the man himself and we understand it. For fans who heat up very fast and want to enjoy the game without feeling like they just went for a run, let me introduce you to the grey area of the map. The seats are limited but they will allow their suitors to enjoy the Padres and stay cool in the process.

The San Padres officially start their season on March 30 against the Colorado Rockies, secure your tickets in any of these areas now!