Petco Park earns safety act certification
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres and Petco Park have received a Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act certification by the United States Department of Homeland Security, becoming the fifth team in Major League Baseball to earn the distinction. After receiving a SAFETY Act designation in August of 2020, the ballpark earned a red seal indicating certification and the highest level of liability protection. The SAFETY Act, enacted by Congress in 2002, serves as one of the highest levels of accreditation offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and promotes the development and deployment of effective anti-terrorism measures including technologies, services, and personnel trainings. The certification reflects the club’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Petco Park guests for games, concerts, and other special events held in and around the ballpark.
“Petco Park continues to be at the forefront of bringing premier events to San Diego, whether in the form of a game, concert or other major event and the safety and comfort of our guests is of the utmost importance,” said Caroline Perry, the Padres’ COO. “To receive the highest level of recognition through this certification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is a testament to all the hard work that our staff, local law enforcement agencies and emergency service personnel put in to assure a safe environment within our ballpark. We are honored and grateful to have these efforts recognized.”
In order to achieve the SAFETY Act certification, the club continued to develop and implement a comprehensive, integrated security program throughout Petco Park consisting of technology based on Major League Baseball’s Best Stadium Operating Practices, other sports industry best practices, government recommendations and more. This technology includes physical and electronic anti-terrorism security measures, tools, policies and procedures, and properly trained personnel. These protocols were designed to detect, deter, prevent, respond to, and mitigate acts of terrorism against Petco Park and any guest, visitors, staff or employees.
Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, is a premier entertainment venue in Southern California. Built in 2004, Petco Park will celebrate its 20th Anniversary in 2024. It is a destination location known for providing a quintessential San Diego experience with its convenient downtown location, scenic views of the Coronado Bridge and city buildings, and local food and beverage. Petco Park has been named America’s #1 Ballpark across Major League Baseball multiple times and the Padres have continue to see through their promise to make the venue more than a ballpark. With the area known as Gallagher Square serving as both event space and a public park, Petco Park hosts hundreds of events of all sizes throughout the year, including Padres baseball games, full venue, and general admission concerts with headlining talent, the Holiday Bowl, The Links at Petco Park (a nine-hole golf experience), the Holiday Market at Petco Park, and much more. It has also served as home to the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2017, as well as the 2016 MLB All-Star Game.