Oracle Park—aka AT&T Park, Pacific Bell Park and SBC Park—is where the San Francisco Giants hold court, and where a statue of Willie Mays adorns the entrance at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, which is surrounded by 24 palm trees, in honor of Mays’ number, 24.
The ballpark opened March 2000, replacing Candlestick (“The Stick”) as the Giants’ home ballpark. Oracle Park is a bit windy at times, but reportedly only half as windy as The Stick.
One of the most prominent features of the ballpark is the right field wall, which is 24 feet high – also in honor of Mays.
In 2000 there was Rusty, a two-dimensional robotic ballplayer (14 feet tall and weighing 5½ tons) sponsored by Old Navy, that adorned the right field wall. Sadly, Rusty didn’t live up to original scouting reports, suffered technical problems, and was unceremoniously dumped from Old Navy Splash Landing – then renamed Levi’s Landing – in 2008. Beyond the wall is a section of the Bay dubbed McCovey Cove, which every Giants fan knows is named after Willie McCovey. Through July 2020, there were 145 “splash hits,” all by lefthanders, including 35 by Barry Bonds.
While there are many outfield “attractions,” such as the giant Coke bottle (lights up after a Giants’ HR), 4-finger glove, cable car, miniature baseball diamond, and more, there are two less obvious and member-only experiences available for a minimum of $10,000.
One is called the Gotham Club, and is hidden behind the manual scoreboard in center field. It serves food and drink, and has two bowling alleys and pool tables to entertain members and guests.
There is also the members-only Cloud Club, located on the suite level in the grandstand. While it doesn’t have any bowling alleys, it has other amenities, including a special game viewing area at ground level – where the players are.
Other stats:
- Capacity: 41,265
- Average attendance/game: 40,000+
- Biggest concert: 2005 Rolling Stones/88,264
- General Contractor: Hunt Construction, Indianapolis, IN (acquired by AECOM in 2014)
- Ballpark Designer: HOK Sport of Kansas City (designer of Camden Yards)
- Cost to build: $357 million
- Annual rent: $1.2 million (to Port Authority)
LISA Insights are intended to tell readers something they don’t know about their hometown buildings that they think they know quite well, or pass every day (pre-Covid, of course).
With some 20 San Francisco Insights in our rear-view mirror, we are planning Insights for other metros and need a sponsor assist.
So, if you know of a company interested in discussing sponsorship for one or more metros, please ask them to contact malcolm@thelisamovement.com.
Interested in reading previous Insights? You can access all of them here.
