Two years ago at our gappy Holiday party our founder and CEO, Gary Peterson, made a very exciting announcement: gap intelligence purchased Padres season tickets! I am a huge baseball fan. This news brought me an overwhelming amount of joy. I could hardly contain my excitement.
My experience with baseball began when I was a small child in San Francisco cheering on the Giants at Candlestick Park. I can remember my Mom asking me if I would like to go to a game on such and such date. My response was always to ask if I could get hot chocolate. A delicious chocolaty treat was my main motivation for going to the games.
As I grew into my adult life my motivation changed from hot chocolate into a genuine love for the game of baseball. There is something about what the game represents that resonates with me. I love that we refer to players as the “boys of summer”. There is something so fun about walking into a ballpark; I love the sights, smells, and sounds. The crack of a bat is one of my favorite things on this earth.
When I moved to San Diego in 2007 I was wondering if I was going to be able to get my baseball fix in my new home. Being from the Bay Area I grew up going to Candlestick and then later AT&T when the Giants moved to their fancy new stadium. I was delighted when I attended my first Padres game at Petco Park and more than satisfied at the thought of attending games in the heart of downtown’s East Village. Petco Park is stunning.
gap intelligence having season tickets has only intensified my love of baseball that much more. In addition to going to many games (which I LOVE), I have had the privilege of going to several special events at Petco Park as a lovely company perk. I have gone on behind the scenes tours of the park that even included the Padres Clubhouse. I have had lunch on the field and even got to sit in the dugout. Our amazing Account Specialist, Maggie Vandura, even had a “Happy Birthday” message flash on the screen for my Birthday this last year. The Padres go above and beyond. It’s really been such a wonderful experience. gappers look forward to going to the games every week. It’s been a huge bonus and we are a bit spoiled by it to be honest. It’s good to be a gapper!
I had the luxury of attending the sold out Padres game against the Yankees on Sunday, August 4th. Petco Park is quite the site when it is brimming with Baseball fans. I sat in the upper deck in section 303. I must say that despite my fear of heights I had the most fun I have had at a Padres game ever. It was a perfect San Diego Summer day. My master dance skills even made it onto the jumbotron at one point. The Padres won. Life doesn’t get much better than that.
I will be attending the Padres again on Friday, August 16th, against the Mets. I can hardly wait. Word on the street is our company mascot, Herbie the Fighting Hedgehog, will be in attendance too. Herbie loves baseball. I’m hoping to get a picture of Herbie with the Padres mascot. GO PADRES!
