Padres announce new entertainment options for local business community

The San Diego Padres today announced the creation of a new venture built to engage local businesses and provide hospitality and entertainment options unlike any previously available to the San Diego business community. Padres Premium Plus is a new venture, dedicated to providing the most elite guest experience in the professional sports and entertainment industry.

"Padres Premium Plus is designed to help businesses in San Diego create opportunities to drive their own success," said Padres Senior Vice President, Sales and Service Steven Ziff. "We create customized plans around each business' goals and objectives, with a focus on generating a positive return-on-investment. Our experienced team of premium hospitality professionals has one mission: to help local businesses do more business."

Padres Premium Plus offers a full slate of assets, including new and unique seating such as concept suites and club locations, five-star food and beverage, partner networking and speaking engagements. Padres Premium Plus launches with three new entertainment options for the 2014 Padres season. The On-Deck Suite, Petco Park's most high-profile asset, is an on-field suite adjacent to the visitor's dugout, with seating for eight people. Sitting just 49' 6" from home plate, spectators in the On-Deck Suite are closer to home plate than the pitcher on the mound is. This ultimate sports and entertainment experience provides its owner and guests with an unprecedented vantage point, a private concierge, Lexus Home Plate Club access and parking, and a gift card for Padres Luxe, Petco Park's premium retail location.

Petco Park's most distinctive feature, the Western Metal Supply Co. Building, sees the addition of two new concepts with the launch of Padres Premium Plus: The Rail and the Foul Pole Suite. Located in the Hall of Fame Bar & Grill, these two semi-private and exclusive seating options celebrate the history of Padres baseball in a truly unique environment. The Rail - Petco Park's tribute to the "Green Monster" seats of Boston's Fenway Park, give guests an elevated bar-rail experience on the patio deck of the Hall of Fame Bar & Grill.   Seats on The Rail are sold on a nightly basis and include in-seat service.   The Foul Pole Suite, named for its location along the 3rd base foul line, is a 12-person semi-private suite, which includes corner access seats on The Rail and a full suite experience complete with five-star food and beverage, as well as parking.

The Padres Premium Plus team, led by Senior Director Gordon Cooke, is committed to delivering each partner a world-class experience for their clients and guests. Cooke joined the Padres in January after spending the previous nine years as the director of sales and marketing for The Bridges Club and Community in Rancho Santa Fe, experience that provided him with a strong understanding of the hospitality needs of the local business community. Cooke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and government from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from UCLA.

Cooke's team includes Senior Manager Shawn Brown, a San Diego native and SDSU graduate who previously held sales roles at the Union Tribune Corporation and Barona. Manager Brad Dwight joined the Padres Premium Plus team after spending 17 years with the Baltimore Orioles. Manager Ismena Castellon will utilize past experience in marketing and sales for companies like Telemundo and New York Life Insurance in her new role, establishing and expanding relationships within San Diego's Hispanic business community. Manager Jeff Gould has been with the Padres for more than three years in a variety of roles, which has provided him with a well-rounded understanding of the local landscape.