Ah, it’s Spring and baseball is back! The 2009 season of our national pastime started this month. The San Diego Padres “stepped up to the plate” by hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers for a four-game series. (I went to two of the four … sadly, I “struck out” and went to the two they lost, not the two they won.)
Imagine what the Padres would do without San Diego International Airport. The airport is conveniently located only 3.7 miles from Petco Park, home of the Padres. The team will make several trips through the airport this year as they visit other teams across the country in 18 cities. Who knows, maybe they’ll even fly to an as-yet-unknown city for the World Series. Here’s hoping!
Padres vs. Dodgers: April 6, 2009.
Of course, you probably won’t run into the players on your next trip to the airport. Sports teams like the Padres usually use a sports private charter service. Some sports teams are spoiled with really luxurious flight accommodations, such as the Dallas Mavericks NBA team. Check out this link to an article about the Boeing 767-200 jet they fly in, complete with first-class-style seating throughout the cabin.
Not surprisingly, some sports team owners have been known to fly around in style themselves in jets such as the Gulfstream V or Bombardier Global Express. (Must be nice! Can I “pinch hit” for one of them on their next trip?)
My husband and I enjoying the 2009 Padres home opener.
Back to the Padres! I’d like to “cover all the bases” and remind you that you can catch the team mascot, the Swinging Friar, demonstrating security procedures in an entertaining airport security tips video posted on right here on the Ambassablog as well as on the Ambassablog’s YouTube channel. The video airs at all airport security checkpoints.
By the way, I’d like to personally vouch for the new 5-for-$5 combo meal deal at Petco Park. For $5, you receive: a hot dog, a soft drink, popcorn, peanuts and a cookie. What an excellent deal! Look for it at the Friar Franks concession stands. It’s a “home run!”
If you have any comments on this post, you can “touch base” by clicking the comments link below. Many thanks to “MVP” Mario in Airside Operations for assisting with this post. As usual, he “knocked it out of the park!”
Filed under: Get to Know Your Airport, In the Community, MARY (Administration Division)
Hi Mary! I love Padres games too! During the season opener I was lucky enough to attend one of the two games that they won.
In other Padre news, my good friend Miss California 2007, Melissa Chaty, is singing the National Anthem at next Monday’s game vs. the Colorado Rockies (May 4th)!