Oracle Park, or as it used to be called AT&T Park, was built right on the San Francisco Bay being completed on April 11th, 2000. It seats 41,915 people and costs around $357 million. The stadium was precisely placed to a fantastic sea breeze from the bay, keeping all players and spectators cool in the brutal California heat. The stadium was built mainly of brick and steel, incorporating brick clock towers and taking influence from many of the buildings surrounding it.
My first time visiting this stadium was when I was around five, and it was amazing! I remember going to the giant coke bottle in left field, which also happened to be a slide, and using it while semi-watching the games and getting a phenomenal view of the city. They also shoot up bay water rather than fireworks for home runs. The way Oracle parks works with its surroundings instead of against it is incredible, and it’s one of the many reasons this is my favorite park.
One of the great things about baseball stadiums is that no two are exactly the same, and they all have something unique. Oracle accentuates their bay and wharf and almost makes it part of the stadium as well. As a result, the stadium truly looks like it belongs there rather than shooting up out of nowhere, as many others do. I hope to go back soon to relive some of those positive childhood experiences.
