Oracle Park — Attraction in San Francisco

I like Oracle Park, I really do, but there's a few reasons it tops off at 4 stars for me (probably closer to 3 stars) and I’ll explain here.

The park itself is great, I've been going here since it was AT&T park, and with some upgrades now that it is owned by Oracle, it truly is a fun ballpark. These seats here in these pictures and videos are PFC122, row B, right behind the Giants’ dugout, and they were great. No one sitting in front of us, plenty of room to stand and move past fellow patrons, and the view was awesome. The seats are padded on the butt area, and they do have Uber's eat food and drink delivery so you don’t even have to leave your spot if you don’t want to. That being said, these tickets were field club, which meant a short walk would get you to the concession stands, and with access to the exclusive club lounge, there were plenty of places to get refreshments with relatively short lines.

Since we were in front of the dugout, Lou Seal came and fired off some T-shirts (no ND's thankfully) all right in front of us, it was very cool. We were behind a net, so we had no fear of a hot foul ball coming to smack us in the face, but also meant we likely weren't going to be able to catch one unless it was a short hop over the net and down to us, but that's ok.

Staff was friendly, the park was clean for the most part, great views, no gripes with any of that.

My problem with Oracle Park (and to be fair, most sports avenues these days) is that the cost of everything is just out of control. You want two beers, no problem, that'll be $39. You want two hotdogs to go with that, cool, a chill $38 please. Oh, did you want a New Era hat from the shop, you got it, $68 if you don't mind.

I get it, the "experience" is amazing, and the cost is all part of it. But if that really is the case, then this will end up being a once-a-year event for us instead of going back to support the Giants in person multiple times a year. We drive from Sac, so it's not terribly long, but you add in the bridge tolls, gas, and parking, it adds up. My wife found parking for $60 in a garage about a half-mile away that could barely fit anything bigger than a Honda Civic in there, so we parked there, but if you want to park in the official Giants parking garage, be ready to shell out $155. Yes, $155 to park, I thought my wife was joking when she told me that, but alas, she wasn't.

Overall, the park is great and certainly something we will continue to patronize, but with the "locked-in" pricing scheme (like airports do to you) being out of control, it will be less frequent than I would like. Hats off to the folks doing it with a group of 4 kids with them. Make those memories, and enjoy the Giants, no doubt about it, just be ready to take that hit each time you swipe your...

The stadium offers a truly great experience for any baseball fan. I was thrilled to witness an amazing Giants team secure a victory in the final moments, thanks to J.H. Lee's impressive play. The entry process was remarkably smooth; there's a clear lane, and all you need is your barcode ready. Unlike airports, they don't use facial scanning. For those looking for parking, a convenient option is near the Bay Bridge, about a 20-30 minute walk away. This walk is actually quite pleasant, as it takes you right along the ocean. Inside the stadium, there are three distinct floors. I was on the second floor, which they call the Club Level, and it offers an excellent view of the entire game. However, the one major reason I'm docking a star is because of the vendors. The prices are so difficult to see—they are either very far away or written in very small print. By the time you get to the counter, you'll see the price and likely hesitate to order. At a bar on the second floor, the lady literally told me there was no menu and expected me to order without knowing the price. I had to ask her twice, and she repeated that there was no menu. While the game itself is great, you need to prepare yourself for the vendors to rip you off. The prices for food and drinks are very high. Beer is categorized into domestic and premium, with the cheapest domestic option costing about $17. Prices go up from there. The food selections include hot dogs, nachos, and burgers, most of which are priced between $15 and $20. If you want to order a combo, it could set you back $35 or even $40. You really have to prepare your wallet, even after paying for the ticket. I bought a beer from another vendor who actually had a menu, and I decided to try the nuts. I immediately regretted it. The nuts were just a pack that cost $7, and I literally had to peel every single one, so I ended up throwing them away. A helpful tip for anyone going is to bring a reusable bottle, as there are water machines inside where you can...

I’ve been attending games at Oracle Park for decades, and in recent years, we’ve had annual season tickets for the Giants. That long-term view has given me a deeper understanding of the ballpark experience—both the highs and the occasional lows.

A few months ago, we attended the Hello Kitty giveaway game, which turned out to be hugely disappointing. It was extremely overwhelming, especially with our four-year-old niece in tow. The crowd felt overly aggressive searching for free jerseys, and the event was poorly managed overall.

On the other hand, more recent visits—particularly in the club level—have been much more positive. The staff there is consistently kind, attentive, and many have been working at the park for decades. Their experience really shines through in the service.

Getting in and out of the park, however, can be frustrating. Rideshare options like Uber and Lyft are often unpredictable. Prices can surge dramatically—sometimes four to five times the usual rate from the same location. In my experience, the best alternatives are:

• taking public transportation if possible. • parking a bit farther from the stadium in a more affordable lot.

Pro tip: even if it’s an afternoon game in the middle of summer, if your seats are in the shade, it can get windy cold—something we’ve experienced firsthand the last few days. Just because it’s 70° or 80° out doesn’t mean you’ll be warm in the shaded areas. Conversely, if you’re in the sun, you might be boiling. So dress and plan accordingly based on your seat location, the time of day, and the season.

One of the best things about Oracle Park is that you’re allowed to bring in your own food and unopened bottles of water or sodas—a huge help for families who can’t or prefer not to pay the high prices at the food vendors. Just remember: no backpacks allowed, so plan...