Western Metal Supply Co. Building: Everything You Need To Know

The Western Metal Supply Co. building is iconic and dramatic, and provides an essential cornerstone of the character of Petco Park. Its gorgeous brick presence serves as a metaphorical handshake between baseball’s past and future.

Western Metal Supply Building Fast Facts

• Built in 1909
• 51,400 sq. feet
• 4 stories
• Architect Henry Lord Gay
• Declared a historic landmark in 1978
• Renovated for 2025 in a roughly $10 million project designed by Gensler

History

The business that became the Western Metal Supply Company was established in 1888. The building was commissioned by brothers Bernard and George McKenzie at a cost of $60,000 according to the city. It stayed in the family for more than 80 years until the company was sold and the new owners filed for bankruptcy in 1975.

Baseball

Instead of being demolished, the Western Metal Supply Co. building stands stoutly on the perimeter of the ball field inside Petco Park. In fact, the ballpark was built around the building to accommodate it, designed from the building outward and even repositioned slightly toward the north (instead of the more common north-east).

Its corner represents the left field foul pole at 336 feet from home plate. If you hit the east side of the building, that’s a home run. That yellow line painted on the corner? It’s for show. Phil Nevin hit the first home run into the building on April 15, 2004.

Home Runs Onto the Roof

Plenty of right-handed hitters have put balls into the building’s balconies and off its bricks. Clearing all of it and landing one on the roof is a different story. In more than 20 seasons, it has happened three times in a game, and two of those belong to the same guy:

• Sept. 28, 2016: Rookie Hunter Renfroe, in his seventh big-league game, off the Dodgers’ Jose De Leon. 434 feet, and the first in ballpark history. Giancarlo Stanton and Mark Trumbo had both reached the roof at the Home Run Derby that July, but those don’t count.
• July 24, 2017: Renfroe again, this time off the Mets’ Jacob deGrom. 449 feet.
• Aug. 27, 2020: Fernando Tatis Jr. off the Mariners’ Matt Magill. 448 feet. It was the pandemic season, so there was nobody up there to catch it.

What’s Inside The Western Metal Supply Building

• Padres New Era Team Store (ground level)
• Private suites (3rd and 4th floors)
• Budweiser Loft bar and lounge (5th level)
• Foul Pole Suite and Entertainment Suite (group spaces)
• Western Metal Rooftop (group space)

2025 Renovations

The Padres overhauled the building in time for 2025 Opening Day, touching the team store, the Budweiser Loft, the Foul Pole Suite, the Entertainment Suite and the Rooftop. The brick facade wasn’t touched.

The Budweiser Loft got a renovated bar, new seating and games, while keeping the exposed brick and old-warehouse feel. The big change is a new grand staircase that connects the Loft directly to the Rooftop for the first time.

The Rooftop is now a 4,000-square-foot raised deck with better sightlines, lounge seating, a covered trellis for shade, overhead heaters and two videoboards. The field-facing wall lights up for big moments. It handles groups of up to 1,000.

The Foul Pole Suite, next to the Loft and right on the foul pole, has new finishes, more seating, a new catering layout and semi-private restrooms. It’s built for groups of 20 or more.

The Entertainment Suite got a larger deck, upgraded seating and more privacy. Catering is included.

The Padres New Era Team Store grew by 1,000 square feet, with more checkout stations, better lighting and remodeled restrooms.

The Budweiser Loft is open to any ticketed fan on game days unless it’s booked for a private group. The Rooftop, Foul Pole Suite and Entertainment Suite are group spaces you book through the Padres.

The Rail seating

The balconies attached to the Budweiser Loft are called “The Rail“ and are often compared to Petco Park’s version of Boston’s Green Monster seating.

Tickets

You don’t need a special ticket to enjoy the game from the Budweiser Loft. In fact, for one of the best values in the park, buy the cheapest ticket you can and then make your way to the Western Metal Supply Building. The Rail is sold separately by the Padres as an all-inclusive hospitality ticket with food and drinks included, and it can also be bought out for groups and private events.

Parties and Group Events

The Western Metal Supply Building offers a unique atmosphere and a direct connection to the ballpark’s history. The Rooftop, Loft and suites can be booked separately or combined, for groups from 20 up to 1,000.

The other building inside Petco Park is The Legend condominiums.

Additional Reading

• From 2021, MLB.com’s The history of Petco’s Western Metal building
• From 2026, MLB.com’s Every homer hit to the warehouse roof
• Every home run hit on top of the Western Metal Supply Company Building: Video
• High resolution historical photo from 1968: SD County Digital Archives
• Before and after photo: Reddit