Welcome back, Slam Diego. The San Diego Padres will be sliding home to Petco Park Opening Day tomorrow for their first home game of the 2022 MLB season against the Atlanta Braves. We’re excited to catch up with our team + sport our Padres jerseys proudly, but before we play ball, we wanted to look at what’s new at Petco Park this year.

⏰ Start times

The season will have a familiar start with the return of the East Village Block Party, starting at 12 p.m. + ends when the game starts at 5:10 p.m. — a special time for the Home Opener. After this, home games will start at 6:40 Monday-Friday, 30 minutes earlier than last year’s weekday games.

🚎 Transportation

Getting to the park will be easier with the Metropolitan Transit System’s Mid-Coast Extension of the Trolley’s UC San Diego Blue Line, offering daily southbound trips from UTC to the 12th + Imperial station by Petco Park.

⚾ Lineup

One fan favorite will be missing on the field — Fernando Tatís Jr. The shortstop is recovering from wrist surgery for the next two months, but it hasn’t hurt the team too much, they won their road opener series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

🍺 Perks

If you’re watching home games in luxury, the suites saw their biggest remodel since the park opened in 2004, including a redesigned suite entrance, 65-inch TVs + new furniture. Season ticket holders will enjoy extra perks like more time watching Padres Batting Practice + additional happy hours.

🌭 Food

Anyone who’s been to Petco Park knows its idea of ballpark food exceeds expectations. This year, fans will find more options throughout the park including:

Sambazon in Section 109 will offer plant-based dishes like açaí bowls.
Holy Paleta will help you cool down near Section 112 with the frozen Mexican treat.
San Diego’s Finest Hot Chicken, a new concept restaurant, will bring the heat near Section 316 with its signature dish “The Hot Hen.”
San Diego-founded fast food chain Jack in the Box is now near Section 323.
Cucina Stella offers pizzas + Italian sandwiches in the Mercado.
Negihama Sushi, a sister restaurant to Umi Sushi offering grab-and–go rolls in the Mercado.

Additionally, The Lexus Club has a new menu, designed by Petco Park’s Executive Chef + Del Mar’s Brandt Beef/Ranch 45.