The San Diego Padres are replacing the outmoded video scoreboard in left field as part of ongoing improvements to Petco Park promised when its new ownership team took over two years ago.
The new scoreboard measures 16 feet by 123.6 feet, and covers about 7500 square feet, making it the third largest in Major League Baseball, exceeded only by video boards in Seattle and Kansas City, the Padres said.
It’s nearly five times the size of the old scoreboard that will soon be coming down.
In addition to replacing the old board, the Padres are removing 610 fixed seats from the top of the left field reserved area in three sections that will permit a new open gathering space that can accommodate 270 people, the team said.
Also, two new rows of larger seats are being added to the front of the left field lower box area in four sections, for a total of 171 seats.
The team said all season ticket holders of the seats in the affected left field sections are being offered the chance to relocate their seats to the rows being added at their existing renewal price.
The new scoreboard, made by Daktronics, can be run full-screen to show live action or replays, or split into sections to provide graphics and other statistics.
San Diego-based Sony Electronics is providing a state-of-the-art HD control room that includes in-house production, broadcast and entertainment systems.
Padres CEO Mike Dee said the planned changes are the next phase of the team’s multi-year plan to improve Petco Park, and enhance the fan experience.
No word yet on planned upgrades to the team’s roster.