This story starts with tuna fish.
A tuna corporation, to be exact. It was called the Westgate-California Tuna Packing Corporation, one of San Diego’s largest employers during the city’s tuna industry heyday.
The ownership of this Westgate-California Corps. first developed and opened The Westgate Hotel, giving the Versailles-inspired hotel its name. The Westgate Hotel was designed to give the city something it needed–a luxury hotel worthy of US Presidents, foreign dignitaries, and royalty.
But a few years before the city needed a high-caliber hotel, its beloved baseball team, the Padres, needed a new stadium to call home. And so, the Westgate ownership (which also owned the team) invested $1 million dollars to build the most modern stadium, beating out even some of the most well-known venues when it opened in 1958.
The local media declared, at the time, “Not even Yankee Stadium or Boston’s Fenway Park can surpass the comforts and conveniences of the Padres’ new home.”
They called this nationally-recognized gem of the city, Westgate Park.
Not even Yankee Stadium or Boston’s Fenway Park can surpass the comforts and conveniences of the Padres’ new home.
Glory Days at Westgate Park
What followed was one of the best winning stretches in Padres franchise history.
Not only did they win the Pacific Coast League Championships in 1962, 1964, and 1967, but individual players shined brightly in their beautiful new stadium. Four Padres players were named MVP over their 10 years in the ballpark, most notably hall-of-famer, Tony Perez.
A team on the rise in their state-of-the-art stadium, the success the Padres had during the Westgate Park period paved the way for their eventual rise into the Major Leagues in 1969.
Moving into the MLB meant moving on from Westgate Park, first to San Diego Stadium, then to their current home at Petco Park. This move was representative of San Diego’s own growth—progressing from minor league town to major league city.
Though Westgate Park’s days were comparatively brief, its legacy is at the foundation of San Diego’s history as a developing city and, likewise, intrinsically linked to the history of The Westgate Hotel.
We’re proud to be a part of this history and proud to continue connecting guests to San Diego’s home team, as we’re located just a short walk away from Petco Park.
Take A Walking Tour Through Time
Baseball fans staying at The Westgate Hotel today can trace the team’s historic evolution through a short walking tour:
- Begin by the water at the beautiful Lane Field Park, which features the original home plate location and historical markers from San Diego’s earliest professional baseball era
- Walk down Broadway, towards 2nd Avenue to The Westgate Hotel, which opened in 1970 under the same ownership as the Padres, and was the most luxurious hotel ever built in America at that time
- Continue to Petco Park, home of today’s Padres
After you watch the game, return for a celebratory drink at our rooftop bar. Our friendly hotel concierge can provide directions to Petco Park and Lane Field Park’s historical markers, helping you explore San Diego’s baseball heritage.
Make Baseball History Part of Your San Diego Stay
The Westgate Hotel proudly continues this legacy as an independent luxury property, offering an elevated experience for today’s baseball fans in the heart of downtown San Diego.
Planning to catch a Padres game? Make your stay part of San Diego baseball history by booking a room at The Westgate Hotel, where timeless elegance meets America’s pastime.