Bay Area Sports Guy – Giants unveil AT&T Park upgrades, including a new beach (photos)

Today the Giants hosted a Media Open House (I didn’t get the invite, so now I know how the people at Deadspin feel with no access) to make some announcements about giveaways, park improvements and upcoming commercials.

Some of the biggest news, and the one that seemed to cause more than a few people to scratch their heads was the addition of a “beach” on the first base side called the Corona Beach Club. It is still under construction, but will reportedly come filled with sand and Adirondack chairs. The pictures aren’t great because it is still under construction but here they are:

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

Now for some of the less controversial changes, the Club Level is now sponsored by Virgin America.

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

A new party deck has been added to the club level too, that will include feature fire pits, a Widmer Brothers Fan Haus bar and some impressive views of the City.

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

Picture from @SFGiants

The escalators up to the club level got a refresh too.

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

One more:

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

More Virgin signage:

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

Now for some news for people who can’t afford to sit in the club level — first, a new Anchor Brewing bar has been added to the concessions area behind the center field scoreboard.

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

Another view:

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

The concourses have been opened up by moving the concessions that were behind the back row of seats on the field level. If that didn’t make sense the picture should help you out.

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

Also the bridge connecting the main bowl to the left field bleachers has been widened and has been renamed “Ghirardelli Square South”.

Picture from @SFGiantsFans

Some pretty big changes at AT&T Park, but here’s the question I have: is the idea of a beach a good idea or a dumb idea?

12 comments

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Babar

They are two different tnhgis. Many colleges offer some online courses as well as face to face classes. It's not considered bad unless you personally need the face to face. The teacher is just as available.However, online college is a separate entity from an online class given through your college/ university. There is nothing wrong with them. However, be sure to check the accreditation of the online colleges. They may not be accredited properly to transfer them.

TommyJ

Work in the beer biz and heard about the beach club a couple of weeks ago, One poster is right; Corona paid a huge amount for sponsorship. My main concern is safety being so close on the field and many not paying attention since the vibe will be "Marina District on the field". Also with the upgraded areas bringin in more revenue$$, don't want the Giants to cry poor when Cain and Lincecum contracts come up.

Cara

-Moving the concourse concessions away from the back row of seats is a good idea. Plus the Giants will/can sell more SRO tickets now. -The escalator tunnel looks a little claustrophobic in the picture. Will be nice until someone takes a shiv to it. -The "beach" will add to the ballpark's rat problem. No way they can get every morsel of dropped food out of the sand after each game. At least the rest of the park can be hosed and swept down.

CWT

Yeah, it was really crowded around the main concourse with those food carts, but I wonder where they will be relocated if at all? That's alot of revenue and convenience disappearing! That would probably mean the concession lines will be longer since those smaller stands are gone?

Spike

The beach is a terrible idea. We get bikinis in the bleachers and on the Cove, that's perfect. TERRIBLE idea.

Shaun

I agree 100% with Kathy! The Tunnel Lighting should be ORANGE!!! as the the beach idea I gotta see it to fully understand it.

Jeff

The lighting is purple to mimic the ambient lighting used inside Virgin America planes.

Kathy

It's definitely weird but I suspect Corona paid big bucks in sponsorship to have it put there. Just think how many mentions they're going to get! First rule of advertising; any mention (good or bad as long as it's not causing workers to stage a mass suicide) is good for the brand. As for the escalator tunnel - cool idea... but why isn't the lighting effect orange! :-)

Rhonda

After the first three or four games, that sand is going to be like a shag nasty sandbox. Unless they plan to swap it out every few games.

Scott Willis

I didn't even think about that. Good point. It would get pretty nasty after a few hundred beer spills and the mixture of cha cha bowls and garlic frys. Not somewhere I would want to go with bare feet but at least there probably wouldn't be any needles.

Stan

Ya got yer Palm tree's and sand..just add radiant heating and it's the San Juan Giants..

Greg Wurz

All of the beaches in San Francisco are freezing! i don't expect this one to be any different. it will probably last a season. At least it's not Candlestick though, the beach sand would have blown all over the park in the first week!