Pacific Bell Park (San Francisco Giants)
Approval Rate: 80%
Reviews 49
by minkey
Mon Feb 16 2009Pac Bell, then SBC, now AT&T is a nice place. Very unique and a cool place to watch a game. Bundle up cause it's almost always cold even (especially) on summer nights. Fans are generally passive and are regarded as such but with that there isn't a lot of annoying taunting or drunkenness. The park is located in an area that has been built up (SOMA) and is quite nice. Behind the outfield is the Bay where Barry used to hit his home runs. You can stand and watch the game for free under the right field bleachers.
by irishgit
Mon Feb 16 2009Nice park and a huge step up from the outdoor meatlocker called Candlestick the Giants used to play in. Another of the new retro-stadiums, it has a lot of charm, albeit all of it manufactured. Good sightlines, the bleachers are excellent seats, and there`s a number of excellent bars nearby to spend time before the game or argue about it later.
by hdgfhfdgjhgfjt_rhtfjtyh
Thu May 29 2008b
by sschroed
Mon Jul 09 2007Only the night time weather would make you want to miss a game at this incredible ball park. The best views in all of baseball!
by gmills1224
Wed Apr 11 2007If this park wasn't on the bay, I don't think anyone would be raving about it!
by mikenolan
Sat Oct 14 2006Its a beautiful ball park that only yuppies can go to. Candlestick park is where the real hardcore Giants fans go. I miss the Stick.
by genghisthehun
Thu Sep 15 2005This is a nice venue after the long suffering decades at the 'Stick. One day at a day game, at Candlestick, I swear the wind was blowing 40-50 miles an hour through the interior walk-ways when I went to buy a beer. You had to hunch over so the wind wouldn't blow your beer out of the cup. At night you had to bring a wool blanket and a north woods parka. I never was there for an extra inning game and missed being awarded the coveted Croix de Candlestick given to those who finished an extra innings night game in windy 40-50 degree tempatures.
by dodgerdre
Wed Aug 17 2005Even for a Dodger fan, this yard receives high marks. A huge upgrade from Candlestick, SBC has great views from just about anywhere, especially of the bay. This stadium is also easily accesible by public transit. Willie Mays statue behind home plate entrance adds a nice touch.
by padde434
Fri Jul 22 2005great garlic fries,great location....crappy team
by mtbmlb
Mon Mar 07 2005A beautiful ballpark and a friendly atmosphere. There's not many places where home runs have a chance of going into water.
by jmerfj
Fri Feb 04 2005Excelent park! A perfect place to a game. The only possible negative is that, because it is a new park, it doesn't have the history of Fenway, Wrigley and Yankee stadium. Anybody who has not been yet, go to a game at Pac Bell and you will have a great time. Remember to bring a jacket, though, if you go to a night game. To anybody complaining that it is too cold: you are in San Francisco in the summer, of course it is cold at night. Stop complaining! To anybondy complaining about the wind: you were obviously never at a game in Candlestick (by the way, the stadium faces the bay instead of downtown and the bay bridge to minimize the wind as much as possible). Stop complaining! To anybody complaining about how close the fence is down the right field line: Stop being ignorant and look at the numbers...Pac Bell, or now SBC, is NOT a hitter's park, especially for left handers. The 421 ft. wall in the right-center field gap robs lefties of a lot more home runs than the short porch... Read more
by alexg681
Fri Feb 04 2005I'm a Dodger fan and don't really like the Giants, but this is an excellent new stadium.
by golden_bear
Mon Jan 24 2005After all those years at Candlestick Park, this place is a godsend. Giants management deserves 5 stars for choosing a neighborhood park over cheap land and a huge parking lot like so many other teams did. The location and the unique quirks (ferry access, splash hits), more than make up for all the advertising and pricy seats. Even in its 5th season, the place is in great shape.
by jrf29201
Sat Dec 18 2004Nothing really special about the parks design but I love right field being on the bay. That really helps the stadium. Otherwise it's what we'll one day call the average design of the time. Also very confusing signs and crowded hallways made it very difficult to get anywhere. And I don't want to even comment on the beer prices. You'll be depressed all night after purchasing one. They are around 9$ a piece.
by onehungrymonst_er
Wed Aug 25 2004Excellent ballpark.
by alohaal
Mon Apr 26 2004Needs a cell phone ban.
by spike94010
Fri Apr 16 2004great park, but the fans at candlestick were much better.
by atrain
Wed Mar 24 2004A great place to watch a game, I've been to probably 2 dozen games now at Pac Bell (SBC), and it is light years better than candlestick. Now I can actually go to Giants game and not have to wear four jackets to stay warm. Great views, great (if expensive) food, and a competitive baseball team. It is sold out almost every game, and while some fans are there just to talk on their cell phones, many are very into the game and it can get very loud there. Awesome experience.
by bi289bf2
Sat Feb 28 2004GREAT STADIUM
by jensen
Tue Feb 24 2004Very windy the two times I've been there, and it was very cold for the night game. Lines are much too long at the concessions and restrooms. The view is overrated. The park is turned the wrong way---for scenic purposes, it should be turned toward downtown and the Bay Bridge. The way it faces now, you look out on the worst view in SF, the ugly southeastern portion of the city. The other thing that is scary is that the seats next to field on the first and third-base lines are too close to the field and fans sitting there are easily open to serious injury from batted balls. A lady near us got hammered in the face by a foul ball that lined into our section and her cheek bone was swollen up five inches and her eye completely closed when they wheeled her out of there. If you go, bring a catcher's mask, a parka and gloves, and a pot to pee in---and, oh yeah---don't forget to bring plenty of money because everything is very expensive there.
by excelsior30
Wed Feb 18 2004This park is as good as the team despite that it's now SBC Park. It is a great idea to have the cove outside of the park named ofter Wille McCovey and having the chance ot see the game from there and catching record hitting HR's from Bonds. Great experience!
by babababama
Thu Nov 20 2003ugliest park in baseball, the backdrop is ugly, and so are the worthless fans -now ive been to olympic stadium and that's a beauty
by pabobe99
Mon Sep 01 2003It would almost seem that a California-biased West Coast media hype exists about this place, but that would not be fair. Pac Bell is top notch and deserving of all praise. It's a definite five, even though I personally rate it behind Camden Yards and PNC of the new parks built since'92. This place was done right and is a treasure that the sport of baseball and Giant fans should be proud of for many years to come.
by bryght
Wed Jul 16 2003Pac Bell (SBC) Park has the shortest right field fence in baseball and the second-shortest in the history of baseball (Ebbets Field was shorter by only a few feet). Barry Bonds uses that short fence advantage to justify his homerun count. He also uses steroids, but that's another story.
by tigercap
Sat Jun 07 2003over-rated
by kkuhnhoff
Thu Jun 05 2003The fans don't even care about the game. Worst fans in baseball. This ballpark is for sushi eaters and starbucks drinkers.
by 37102002
Tue May 13 2003Cant imagine a park with better landscape views than SBC Bell. You look out and see the hills of N California, and the Bay, and Bay Bridge in distance. McCovey Cove splashdown was genius. Can do without smell of garlic fries, though.
by heydrin
Fri Apr 25 2003Pacbel has cool new traditions and good quality accomodations. Also the materials used for the field are good
by basshawg
Fri Apr 11 2003Nothing like seeing a ball splash down in the ocean.
by cubbies
Wed Apr 09 2003great park home runs left and right bonds away
by gobe7f97
Wed Jan 08 2003Beautiful Stadium, great looking field, love the background and the scenery, and the building, one problem- TOO DAMN COLD!
by bla_a7dc
Thu Dec 19 2002Are u kidding!! A great park for the kids, adults, and any baseball liking fan. The food=great. The seats are amazing! Even if you're in the upper deck it's even a good view of the game. As what to do, the kids can go to the fan lot and go down the cokacola slide or the speed pitch or even for the littler ones there's a little baseball field. It's only right for the best team in baseball to have the best field too.
by ratere95
Fri Jan 18 2002Great stadium for kids, adults and has a beatifull view of San Francisco!!!!! IT is the best stadium
by ballparkdude
Sun Aug 12 2001This place is #1, and I know my ballparks. I have been to 23 out of the 30 current MLB ballparks, and thankfully I have been here more than one time. PNC can boast about their great views of the river and downtown. Pac Bell has a great view of the Bay Bridge and McCovey Cove. Unlike Pittsburgh's occasional jet skier, the cove is filled with many crazy giant fans on their many different ocean vessels. Pac Bell also has the best broad cast level which sits onto of the first level of seating unlike PNC's which sits ontop of the park! If you haven't noticed yet, I can't see how anyone can rate PNC over Pac Bell. This park is just as good as it's Gilroy Garlic Fries!
by danmuse
Tue Jun 26 2001A helluva ballpark! Good seats, a beautiful setting, dogs fetching homeruns out of the Bay. They really need to work on the long lines, especially the restrooms (jeez! when you gotta go, you gotta go, but you can't go). But since it's still new, I think they'll work out the bugs. Buy food to take into the park rather than paying super high prices. You can't beat it for location and scenery, plus the world's greatest baseball team!
by stewartm
Thu Mar 22 2001I've was at Pacific Bell Park quite a few times last season. I think it is the most beautiful park in the Major Leagues. I've sat in almost every section (except the luxury boxes and lower box seats) and teh sight lines are great everywhere I've been. The rest rooms are bad and the food and beer are expensive so I usually stop at a nearby deli, buy lunch there at a reasonable price and bring it in to the park. If you want beer, you can always stop for one at the many nearby establishments where you won't pay more than 4 bucks for one. This park is very fan friendly for people of all ages.
by lpoulain
Sat Feb 03 2001Great sight lines, lively atmosphere and (somehow) warmer than the 'Stick.
by c_walk
Fri Nov 17 2000The Giants are #1! The team alone represents SF. The park has a mini-mall inside. They even have a section to interact in ball games.
by alicat
Tue Sep 19 2000Nothing is better than after a day of work, walking along the water front to the ball park to watch a Barry Bonds, JT Snow or any of the other great Giants play. Every seat in the stadium is great. I have sat in every section this year (top left, bleachers, top right etc.) and every seat has a good view. It is so cool. Yes, the lines are long for food but it is the price you pay for when you go to a sporting event. You don't have to buy food there either because it is expensive but it is all part of the game. The location is amazing. There are the most amazing views of the Bay, and the city from the stadium. I really can't say enough about the new park. It is really something everyone in SF should experience.
by wiggum
Mon Sep 18 2000The stadium and the setting are fantastic, but the expense and the long lines take away some of the appeal. I was just there for a Montreal game, and, although the stadium wasn't nearly full, there was always at least a 10 minute wait for the men's restrooms. And you want a Sierra Nevada? Be prepared to drop $6.50 a beer. Still, I saw Bonds hit one into the water, which was a unique experience. And on the same night Estes hit a grand slam (1st time a MLB pitcher as done that since 1998). Add that to some great views of the city and you've got a pretty good night. The park is definitely worth a visit when you're in town.
by 1_2_8126om
Tue Jul 04 2000Best Ballpark ever
by kimb7891om
Mon Jun 26 2000Great views, close to the action, blocks the wind,but restroom lines & food lines endless
by jthd7222om
Wed Jun 07 2000Absolutely beautiful.
by see_7006om
Tue May 30 2000Pacific Bell is a jewel shining on the waterfront. It is unique like San Francisco and gives homage to the game. It is modern, but traditional. The architecture is grand, the vistas are the best in baseball, there are things for the kids to do, there is a competitive team, a diversity of food and fans. Where else can a homerun splash into the water. The best ballpark in the best city with a great team and fans
by cfc06981du
Sun May 28 2000BEST NEW PARK IN BASEBALL. TELL EVERYONE TO STOP CALLING IT "PAC" - it's called PACIFIC, not PAC, the Pacific ocean is much more pertinent to this park than pacman.
by magellan
Wed May 10 2000Pac Bell is a lot like San Francisco - it is picturesque, charming, and a nice place to hang out. Also like San Francisco, however, it is congested, expensive, and at times, cold and windy. While it really is a nice park, I am not dying go back - primarily because of the long lines for everything - atm machines, bathrooms, garlic fries - you name it - the unbelievably high prices ($13 for a Carl's Junior Burger, Fries, and large beer), hassle (packed public transportation), and temperature. I'm glad to be able say that I've been there, but am not sure that I'll be going back anytime soon.
by munson
Thu May 04 2000Pac Bell is undoubtedly a beautiful park. It is right on the water and offers a scenic view. Unfortunately, in terms of the total event experience, it has a long way to go. My biggest complaint is that there were lines EVERYWHERE. There was a huge back-up getting into the stadium (they don't rip tickets, but have you scan them which caused long delays); there were long lines for the bathroom; long lines for the food stands; and a crowded concourse. You would think that these problems would not exist at a new stadium.
by jdom6222om
Thu Apr 27 2000It is the best of the dozen I have been to. You are as close as a cactus league game, but in the middle of a major league city. People are upset they cannot get tickets, but that is life, what were the giants supposed to do, hold 10,000 per game? You should have got 'em when you had the chance.
by frig5754om
Thu Apr 13 2000I don't like the fact that nearly 75% of the seats, which means all of the very best seats, are reserved for season ticket buyers; and time will tell whether the short porch by the bay remains a charming feature or becomes an agonizing Achilles heal for the home team. To me, 307 feet down the line is just ridiculously short for a major league ballpark. Still, the park in its bayside location is a spectacular sight, maybe the most beautiful in MLB.