The MLB Giants officially christened Pac Bell Park
during yesterday's home opener against the Dodgers before a
sellout crowd of 40,930, and in S.F., Epstein & Rubenstein
write that for team execs "who had labored mightily and in
the face of naysayers to produce a privately financed $319
million stadium, it was an almost surreal experience."
Giants COO Larry Baer: "Over the years, eight sites were
seriously considered for a new ballpark, five elections were
held, we had four mayors, I had four children and one wife
and we had exactly 271 pubic hearings. Now, I think this is
the best ballpark in the country" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/12).
In CA, Kleffman & Hicks write that fans gave a "standing
ovation to the 20 or so investors who helped finance the
park as they lined up on the field during opening
ceremonies. But the man of the hour clearly was Giants
[Managing General Partner] Peter Magowan, who received
thunderous applause." Kleffman & Hicks write that while
"many of the glitches that annoyed fans during the two
exhibition games had been eased or eliminated," bathrooms
were "still a problem, however" (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 4/12).
But in San Jose, Dan Reed writes that yesterday was a
"replay of the two exhibition games," as "many fans queued
up in certain areas of the park, while other food stands and
bathrooms had few or no waits at all." Ballpark officials
state that a "big part of the problem" is that fans "haven't
really learned the ballpark yet" (S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 4/12).
PLENTY OF INVENTORY FOR PAC BELL TO SELL: CA-based
online real estate brokerage eHome has signed an advertising
and sponsorship deal with the Giants and will have signage
in right-centerfield and throughout the ballpark's interior
(eHome)....The team also signed an advertising and
sponsorship agreement with skills procurement site,
SkillsVillage.com (SkillsVillage). In San Jose, Mark Purdy
writes that Giants fans "had better get used to the concept
of revenue streams being maximized to the limit. This
explains why Pac Bell Park's right-field is way too
cluttered with advertising" (S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 4/12).
PAC BELL MUSINGS: ESPN's Karl Ravech, on Pac Bell Park:
"It is a gem" ("Baseball Tonight," 4/11)....In S.F., C.W.
Nevius writes that the wind "is still a factor" at the park
(S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/12)....The 652 media credentials issued
for the opener "was more than double that of the" '97
Division Series against the Marlins (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/12).
