SAN FRANCISCO -- Fans arriving at Oracle Park for Friday's Opening Day will be greeted by a level of familiarity not seen since 2019, but they'll also discover plenty that's new for the 2022 season.
In describing his trip to the ballpark for a media event in advance of the season, Giants president and chief executive officer Larry Baer said, "I had a feeling about two hours ago that I haven't had in a while. I was walking up the Embarcadero and it just felt great. ... It felt like the eve of the baseball season as we have come to know it.
"There were people with Giants swag, there were people saying, 'Go Giants,' there were a couple of horns honking, and it just felt like what we've come to know here on the Embarcadero for two decades. It's a terrific feeling to be kind of back in that zone."
Come Opening Day, fans will see the return of many favorites at Oracle Park, joined by new food items, technology and special events. Perhaps the most notable enhancement at Oracle Park is the Bullpen Boardwalk, an upgrade of the area behind lower center field and adjacent to The Garden.
The Bullpen Boardwalk features games like skeeball, pop-a-shot and a batting cage, all located behind The 415 rooting section. Carnival-style food offerings will be available, such as Mission-style bacon-wrapped hot dogs, a Frito pie, alcoholic and non-alcoholic slushies and a popcorn stand with a wide array of choices from ghost pepper to grape.
Other areas of the ballpark will also get expanded food options, including a new fish taco at Orlando's Caribbean BBQ, a veggie slice at Tony's Slice House and new varieties at The Lumpia Company, including a vegan option. The Sweet Spot cart will now offer a strawberry shortcake, while Say Hey! Sausage Grill adds a spicy andouille sausage and fennel-infused Italian sausage.
Returning for the first time since 2019 is the wildly popular Carvery, where fans can get sandwiches from brisket, corned beef and turkey roasted in-house and sliced to order. Barchetta will offer slow-roasted porchetta sandwiches, and Pita Gyros will reopen on the view level with its Mediterranean menu.
Getting those food offerings should be more quick and convenient as the Giants have implemented a new point-of-sale system from Oracle and expanded contactless payment throughout the ballpark.
Fans coming for Opening Day on Friday are encouraged to arrive early, not only to check out everything that's new at Oracle Park but also to catch the festivities. That morning, the Giants will add a plaque to their history walk to commemorate last season's franchise-record 107th win, and before the game, they'll raise their National League West champions flag. The U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team will deliver the American flag, and R&B singer Brian McKnight will perform the national anthem. The first pitch, per Giants tradition, will be a surprise.
"This year is really going to be a celebration because there's so much to celebrate," said Mario Alioto, the Giants' executive vice president for business operations. "Think about the last two years, what we've all been through, it's going to be just a really great feeling at the ballpark."
Later in the season, the Giants will honor both Buster Posey, who announced his retirement last November, and Will Clark, whose No. 22 will be retired on July 30 after a two-year postponement.
Aug. 13 brings the 2012 World Series championship team reunion, with the first 20,000 fans receiving one of three bobbleheads commemorating iconic moments from that title run.
Other notable promotions and special events:
• Giants captain's hat (April 9)
• City Connect fannypack (May 21)
• Metallica Night (May 24)
• Pride Day (June 11)
• Matt Cain perfect game "bobblecard" (June 12)
• E-40 bobblehead (June 25)
• Giants aloha shirt (July 16)
• Star Wars Day (Sept. 4)
• Peanuts Day (Sept. 29)