Scene & Heard: Fans enjoy Padres-Aztecs doubleheader from Petco Park

The Padres pulled out all the stops for Thursday’s home opener against the Giants.

Fans were given yellow “Let’s go, Padres” towels as they entered the ballpark.

There was more bunting — red, white and blue — than we’ll see the remainder of the season.

Sheel Seidler, the wife of late Padres chairman Peter Seidler, threw out the first pitch.

Switchfoot lead singer Jon Foreman sang the national anthem as the Holiday Bowl’s Big Flag was unfurled.

A pair of Navy EA18-G Growler jets buzzed the ballpark.

And the Padres rallied late for a 6-4 win over the Giants.

Those who didn’t want the party to end were treated to a double feature. Gallagher Square remained open after the baseball game so fans could watch San Diego State’s Sweet 16 game against UConn on the new Sycuan Stage video board.

About 2,000 fans stuck around to cheer for the Aztecs.

Fans watch San Diego State play UConn in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Gallagher Square.

(Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Earlier, the video board pictured a man in the stands who was particularly prepared.

He pulled down his No. 19 Tony Gwynn Padres jersey to reveal a No. 24 Gwynn SDSU basketball jersey.

Don’t know if he was among the postgame crowd. It was like looking for Waldo out there, the Gallagher Square hillsides packed with people. The new Tony Gwynn Terrace also drew a crowd, the railing in front of the Gwynn statue providing the perfect position for enjoying the atmosphere — be it baseball or basketball.

Not everyone who stayed at the ballpark was into the game.

Two dozen seagulls searched the upper-level seats for half-eaten hot dogs or chunks of churros as the sun headed for the horizon.

The Gallagher crowd urged on the Aztecs from the opening tip, though UConn soon had the upper hand.

SDSU guard Micah Parrish’s 3-pointer elicited the biggest cheer making it a five-point game, 33-28, with five minutes remaining in the first half.

The crowd thinned substantially when UConn turned a 40-31 halftime lead into double digits soon after intermission. About 100 people were left in the waning minutes as the Huskies’ advantage approached 30 points.

Even the seagulls headed for home.

Perfect promotion

Moments after reading the starting lineups during the pregame radio broadcast, Tony Gwynn Jr. said Chula Vista’s Steven Hall was chosen for a chance to win a new Ford F-150 from Ken Grody Ford.

There was one catch — the Padres had to pitch a perfect game.

Considering the Padres went 8,246 games over 52 years before Joe Musgrove’s no-no in 2021 against the Texas Rangers, it’s a safe bet that Grody won’t have to top off the tank and wash the truck anytime soon before handing over the keys to a winner.

Heck, there’s only been 24 perfect games in major league history. The Padres are now at 8,737 games without one after the Giants’ Michael Conforto hit a leadoff double in the third inning to end Yu Darvish’s bid for perfection.

Mad hatter

Life is hard enough, now this: The Hat Shuffle, where fans try to locate which hat the ball is under, debuted on the video board before the start of the fifth inning with five hats, a change from the typical three or four.

Are you kidding?

For those who have difficulty keeping track of the remote control to change the TV channel, tracking a baseball is a big, big ask.

For the record: the ball was under Hat No. 5.

Full transparency: we were convinced it was under Hat 2.

The guys at Fire Station 4 enjoy a little down time to watch the Padres play the Giants.

(Kirk Kenney / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Where’s the fire?

The guys at Fire Station 4, located at the corner of 8th Avenue and J Street, were sitting in front of a gleaming red engine with the game on a 55” flatscreen TV in the firehouse garage.

It was a welcome respite after six calls — none related to the baseball game — before first pitch.

Fire Station 4 is the city’s oldest operating station. Since 1938, the station has served East Village and the surrounding area. That includes Petco Park, though mainly as backup support.

“They have their own EMS system set up, so it’s pretty rare that we have to go over there to help,” said fire captain Dustin Kuhn. “If it’s something like a CPR or something really significant, then we’ll go over and help them out. They have their own little ecosystem as far as emergency services.”

Like a closer, they’re more likely to be called on late in games, or following the final out when 40,000 fans are heading for the exits.

“After the game, because everyone is outside, downtown in the Gaslamp after a few drinks,” Kuhn said. “If it’s hot out, (people need) drinking water, stuff like that. We may get a little uptick in business.”

Jamie Robinson of Canada sat in Section 309, Row 9, Seat 24, which was deemed the “worst seat” in Petco Park.

(Kirk Kenney / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Down in front

Petco Park is annually rated atop the list of the nation’s best ballparks.

Some would go so far to say there’s not a bad seat in the house.

Then there’s Bookies.com, which recently said “some of the most beloved MLB ballparks have some seats that leave much to be desired.”

Bookies considered six metrics — view obstruction, distance from home plate, plate/seat angle, exposure to the elements, proximity to concessions/restrooms and overall comfort — in its analysis.

Drum roll ...

“Based on our scale, the worst seat at Petco Park is Section 309, Row 9, Seat 24” a Bookies spokesman noted in an email this week.

The upper-level seat is along the first base line, the first row behind a walkway. Railings block views of both the mound and plate. Tickets in the section start at $24 go up from there, depending on the day and opponent.

Jamie Robinson was sitting in the “worst seat” for Thursday’s home opener.

“It’s a bit of a surprise ... but I can understand why,” said Robinson, visiting from British Columbia, Canada, with wife Jill. “I’m looking into the railing and it’s covering the pitcher. And then there’s a lot of traffic here.”

Robinson said he is more accustomed to attending hockey games — go figure — and noted that ushers prevent fans from moving around until breaks in the action.

That happens in some sections at Petco Park. It was not the case in the upper level, where people were coming and going nonstop.

“Then again, first-world problem,” Robinson said. “It’s pretty nice to be here at the baseball game. It’s a beautiful day, the Padres are in the game, it’s been really exciting so far, so we’re enjoying ourselves.”

Robinson said this was his first Padres game in 30 years, back when the team still called the stadium in Mission Valley home.

“We definitely, next time we’re in town, are coming back to watch another Padres game,” Robinson said. “It’s been really fun.”

But, he added: “We probably will choose another seat.”

Blank spot between UC San Diego Health and National University signs would be good spot to put .394. If you know, you know.

(Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Parting thought

An oversized “396” on the outfield wall at Petco Park represents how many feet it is from home plate to deepest center field.

Immediately to the right of the number is signage for UC San Diego Health and National University.

In between the signs is a blank space, maybe two feet closer than dead center.

It seems like a perfect place to put this number — .394.

The Padres do a fine job of providing little touches around the ballpark, whether fan-friendly features as well as nods to local landmarks and the team’s history.

We suggest one more touch, a little Easter egg — as it were — in honor of the 30th anniversary of Tony Gwynn’s bid to bat .400 before the 1994 baseball strike wiped out the season.