With constant sunshine, warm weather and a rich history in the Pacific Coast League, San Diego was a natural choice for a Major League expansion team in 1969. The franchise was awarded to a local business entrepreneur named C. Arnholt Smith and the Padres opened their history with a 2-1 win over Houston on April 9, 1969. With the beautiful setting of San Diego, San Diego Padres game tickets, one would think would be the event to attend in San Diego, one would think! Unfortunately, like most expansion teams of the time, the growing pains would be long and difficult. The Padres lost one-hundred ten games that first season, and finished last in the National League Western Division in each of its first six seasons, accumulating a winning percentage of only .368. When Smith ran into financial difficulties in the early 1970's, the team was almost moved to Washington DC, but Ray Kroc, the fast-food visionary who founded McDonalds, stepped up and bought the team. He would own them until his death in 1984, which unfortunately came only months before his team's first pennant.
With not have a long winning tradition as most Padres fans were hoping for the rise of yet another new state of the art stadium was to come. The Padres moved into their new Petco Park facility in 2004. PETCO Park is spectacular in every way, combining the best sight lines in baseball with breathtaking views of San Diego. Architecturally magnificent, it celebrates the sea, the sky, the natural beauty, cultural diversity and unique spirit of our region. Innovative design features evoke the timeless traditions of baseball in an intimate setting, with state-of-the-art fan amenities to suit every taste and budget. The natural stone and stucco exterior and lovely landscaping, including the Park at the Park beyond the outfield fence, make this the garden spot of baseball, with a relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere that reflects the San Diego lifestyle. The lifestyle of the Padre fan is a relaxed one and a winning team can only make San Diego Padre game tickets worth that much more.
