BRENDEN TUCCINARDI
An Opening Day in the Life: Petco Park
2021 April
America's pastime is back!
While every year the return of baseball is a celebration, it is made more special by the return of fans after a year unlike any other. In the proceeding images, I attempted to capture the excitement around an event that symbolizes new beginnings, and in this case, the beginning of the pandemic's end. Even a month ago, fans in the stands of Petco Park would have seemed unimaginable. However, a monumental effort by all government levels to get vaccinations in the arms of millions paid off.
Yet, there is still an uneasy feeling among many who remember not too long ago, case surges brought on by relaxed restrictions. The sting of reopening and then closing weeks later is still fresh in the minds of many. The funny thing is, in all of these images, the only thing that would indicate a pandemic – which took the lives of more than 500,000 Americans – rages on are the masks around peoples' chins.
On Thursday, April 1, about 8,700 fans streamed through the gates at Petco Park – the first time since the pandemic began over a year ago – for the Padres’ first game of Opening Weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Capacity at the downtown San Diego ballpark was capped at 20%, per California Department of Public Health guidelines.
The game began with the singing of the national anthem by San Diego-native Jason Mraz. A naval aircraft flyover followed, drowning out the cheering of the limited number of fans.
On Thursday, April 1, about 8,700 fans streamed through the gates at Petco Park – the first time since the pandemic began over a year ago – for the Padres’ first game of Opening Weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Capacity at the downtown San Diego ballpark was capped at 20%, per California Department of Public Health guidelines.