SAN FRANCISCO -- Imagine Giants closer Camilo Doval entering in the ninth inning to a dazzling light show that compares to an arena rock concert. That will be the experience at Oracle Park this season, thanks to a new sound and lighting system that highlights what's new at San Francisco's downtown ballpark.
The Giants have replaced the traditional sports lights with programmable LED fixtures that have full color spectrum capabilities and motion lighting effects. Oracle Park will also be the first MLB ballpark to have spotlights, in the form of 12 advanced moving light fixtures.
“We are pulling out all the stops this offseason in an effort to truly elevate the Oracle Park experience, and we’re confident that our new lighting system will fire up Giants fans -- and players -- like never before,” said Giants chief information officer Bill Schlough.
The new sound system now features subwoofers and promises "a significant increase in intelligibility of PA announcements and dialogue in video content," according to the team. With the departure of longtime PA announcer Renel Brooks-Moon, those announcements will initially be delivered by a rotating group of announcers during the search for a permanent replacement.
But even before entering Oracle Park, fans will notice enhancements to the gameday experience, starting with the addition of MLB Go-Ahead Entry at the Lefty O’Doul and 2nd & King gates. Fans who opt in and register by uploading a selfie to the MLB Ballpark app will be able to simply walk through the gate without having to stop or pull up tickets on their phones. Facial recognition will validate tickets associated with fans' accounts.
Once inside, new food offerings await, highlighted by chef David Chang's fuku spicy chicken concept, including the OG Chicken Sando. New concessionaire Diamond 58 also plans to expand "grab and go" locations, eventually reaching 10 across the ballpark.
"Food is an important part of the Oracle Park experience," said Giants chief marketing officer Rachel Heit. "We are known for unique and first-of-its-kind food."
Other new food items include "Cove Crab Noodles," a waffle mitt sundae in a souvenir batting helmet and a signature cocktail called the Orange Splash.
The Giants have also remodeled the ballpark's flagship Dugout Store and are in the process of modernizing the suite level. The ballpark restaurant formerly known as Public House will boast a new name, 58 Social.
While marking the 25th season at Oracle Park, the Giants have plenty of other celebrations planned for 2024. They'll commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the 2014 World Series championship and induct the "Core Four" of relievers Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo onto the Wall of Fame.
Japanese Heritage Night on May 17 will see the return of Masanori "Mashi" Murakami, who became the first Japanese player in the Majors when he debuted with the Giants in 1964. The team will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Junior Giants youth baseball program, as well as Jon Miller's 50th year in broadcasting.
The Giants will play a scheduled doubleheader vs. the Rockies on July 27, and they've made that Country Music Day, with a cowboy hat giveaway and a concert by Tyler Rich between games. Among the rest of the 25 scheduled gate giveaways is a Willie Mays Birmingham Black Barons bobblehead on African American Heritage Night (May 31), three weeks before the Giants play a game at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama -- America’s oldest professional ballpark and the home of the Negro Leagues team Mays played for as a teenager.