Field: Oracle Park
Official Site: https://www.mlb.com/giants/ballpark
Year Completed: 2000
Capacity: 42,300
Covered: No – Rainout policy
Mascot: Lou Seal
The Game We’ll See: Friday, September 8: Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants (see all 30 here!)
I want to give a quick hat tip to Oracle Park. Of all the ballparks I have researched, the Giants have the best layout for their information. When you get to the main site (above), all of the key information is easily accessible. Thank you!!
Parking & Transportation:
Oracle Park recommends using SpotHero to find locations in the neighborhood. However, they do have a few lots, and Lot A allows tailgating. Advanced reservations are required for Oracles Lot A and Pier 48 parking lots. Parking reservations are managed through SpotHero.
Oversized vehicle: Oracle Park has oversize vehicle parking in Lot A, subject to availability. Reservations are required and are purchased through Group Ticketing. The price is generally twice the drive-up cost for passenger car parking.
There are several options for public transportation depending on where you’ll be travelling from in the Bay Area. For more information, click here.
Stadium Tours:
Oracle Park does offer pre-game tours. The regular pregame tour begins 3 hours before first pitch, lasts one hour, and covers the history of the park. It costs $45 per person. The VIP pregame tour includes time on the warning track near home plate, a visit to the Press Box, and a glimpse in the exclusive Gotham Club. It begins 2 ½ hours before first pitch, lasts 75 minutes, and costs $125 per person.
General Information:
Bags: Oracle Park does not allow backpacks. All other bags must be no larger than 16” x 16” x 8”. Jackets and blankets must be worn or carried separately, and not put into a bag. There is onsite storage available for disallowed items. The fee is $12.
Food & Beverages: Fans may bring their own food and factory-sealed, non-alcoholic beverages in plastic containers. No hard-sided coolers are allowed. Empty plastic beverage containers are also permitted.
Cashless transactions: All transactions are cashless.
Signs: Signs are permitted if they are baseball-related, don’t block views, interfere with the game, contain advertising, or contain offensive materials. They must not be affixed to poles, and may not be greater than three feet tall.
Foul Balls: There is no explicit policy in the A-to-Z Guide. Presumably, fans may keep foul balls, as long as they don’t interfere with play or enter the playing area to retrieve them.
Gates: The Willie Mays gate opens 2 hours before the game. The other gates open 90 minutes before the first pitch.
Cameras: Oracle Park allows cameras and video equipment for personal use.
Umbrellas: Umbrellas are permitted but may not be opened in the seating areas.
Where to Sit:
This ballpark can be chilly, even in the summer. Be sure to bring layers – and a blanket!
For shade, sit on the first base line. The back rows (27 and above) of the 100 seats are consistently shady. Of course, in this stadium you might prefer to be in the sun!
If you aren’t on a tight budget, try for Club Level seats between sections 203 and 205.
The best value is behind home plate in the Upper Deck. You get a good view of the game and McCovey Cove. Look for seats in Sections 314 to 320, and as close to row 1 as possible.
If you are watching your wallet, get tickets in the bleachers (Sections 136 – 144) or in the Arcade (Sections 145 to 152).
Avoid Sections 326 and higher.
Food:
- Ballpark Chaser Eric Gray, author of Bases to Bleachers and Backyards to Ballparks, is a Giants fan. He recommends the Crazy Crab Sandwich. According to the MLB site, it’s a fan favorite. Given the description, I see why! Dungeness crab piled between two slices of buttery, grilled sourdough. Yummy! (Promenade Level, Anchor Plaza)
- Eric also mentioned Da Poke-Mon’s Poke Bowl. Fresh tuna, smothered in spicy sauce and served over rice, greens, or tortilla chips. (Section 112)
- In addition, Eric says you can find good Filipino food behind home plate (at The Lumpia Company, Sections 116 and 119), organic chicken all the way down the third base line (at the Organic Coup), and an abundance of hot dogs and sausages!
- Oracle Park has a good selection of vegetarian and vegan foods. The Garden is a vegetarian-only food kiosk on the first floor. Try the Garden Veggie Dog. At It’s Impossible, try the Impossible Cheesesteak. Vegan and gluten-free fans can enjoy Dole Whip at The Lumpia Company (Sections 116 and 119).
- Garlic fries appear to be a popular item at this ballpark, too. Look for them at Gilroy Garlic Fries. According to the MLB site, these are the iconic Oracle Park dish.
- Ballpark Chasers on Facebook caution that food lines can be very long. Be sure to get your food right away.
First Time Visitors:
To get a First Game Certificate, you’ll need to fill out a form online. The completed form will be emailed to you.
Autographs:
Oracle Park does not officially allow autographs at present.
Other Stadium Tips & Highlights:
Because the main store is outside the stadium, be sure to get a wristband before you go inside!
While Oracle Park prohibits sunblock in aerosol cans, the park provides sunscreen dispensers throughout the park for fan use.
Fans can register for the Designated Driver program at Guest Services, Promenade Level. Program details are not available online.
Oracle Park has an impressive list of artworks throughout the park. For a very thorough description, check out their A to Z guide under “Artwork in the Park.” Here are some of the highlights:
- Main Entrance: Willie Mays statue and Tribute Wall
- Promenade Level: World Series Championship Trophies and rings
- Seals Plaza: Statue is a replica of the Pacific Coast League logo
- China Basin Park: Willie McCovey statue, plaques listing every Giants team member from 1958 to 1999, and Willie Mac Award winner names
- Lefty O’Doul Plaza: Juan Marichal statue
- Second & King Street Entrance: Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry statues
- King Street Outer Wall: The Giants Wall of Fame
- Portwalk: The Giants History Walk
- The Vault: Revolving exhibits of Giants memorabilia.
- View Level Concourse: LEGO statues of Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner.
Visit the Garden at Oracle Park, a mini farm that provides fresh produce and education to the public.
Look for the Giant Mitt out past left field!
Kayakers are known to frequent McCovey Cove outside the park to catch balls launched over the wall during batting practice.
The Giants’ retired numbers include:
- Christy Mathewson (NY Giants)
- John McGraw (NY Giants – manager)
- 3 – Bill Terry
- 4 – Mel Ott
- 11 – Carl Hubbell
- 20 – Monte Irvin
- 22 – Will Clark
- 24 – Willie Mays
- 25 – Barry Bonds
- 27 – Juan Marichal
- 30 – Orlando Cepeda
- 36 – Gaylord Perry
- 44 – Willie McCovey
- 42 – Jackie Robinson (retired by the MLB)
