San Diego Padres' Open House

San Diego is home to beautiful beaches, delicious fish tacos, and one of the best ballparks in all of Major League Baseball: PETCO Park. Thanks to classmate (and current SMBA student) Roberto Castro, our class found out about and, subsequently, took part in the San Diego Padres' Open House tonight.

Starting at 6 PM, we were allowed to enter the front gates of PETCO Park. We snacked on free hot dogs, cookies, chips, and non-alcoholic drinks. A large crowd of current and potential season ticket holders took their seats in a blocked off section of the park as members of the Padres front office talked to the fans and even answered questions.

Among the speakers were Vice Chairman and CEO, Jeff Moorad, President and COO, Tom Garfinkel, new General Manager Jed Hoyer, and a handful of current Padres players. They all (particularly pitcher Chris Young and Manager Bud Black) discussed the upcoming season and how vital the fans will be to the team's success.

For a team that isn't predicted to reach the playoffs, it was amazing to see how many fans turned out to listen to the team. After the last question, everyone in attendance was allowed on the field. The Padres' mascot posed for pictures, Jed Hoyer answered more questions, players signed autographs, and guests slowly made their way to the ticket booth to inquire about season ticket packages.

Everyone had a great time, but even more compelling was how the Padres used an Open House, some free food, and front office interaction to garner more interest in season tickets.