Overall construction of Petco Park reached three-quarters completion this month, and while the progress of the exterior and seating bowl has been highly visible for many months, the public got its first real look inside the new ballpark in June, when the first 10 lockers were installed in the home clubhouse.

Third baseman Sean Burroughs and outfielder Xavier Nady, two of the home-grown position players who figure to be future stars for the Padres, were on hand to hang ceremonial jerseys in two of the ash lockers installed by Pacific Architectural Millwork. The 3,500-square-foot clubhouse was designed as a circle to enhance team camaraderie and unity. This will enable an individual speaking from the center of the clubhouse to be easily heard at every locker.

Petco Park is just 25 percent away from completion, which is scheduled for April 2004. The aerial view of the ballpark's progress was taken on June 3.

"This is a very important place for our players," said Kevin Towers, Padres executive vice president/general manager. "One of the things we're hoping for is to have our players live in San Diego year-round. The players spend a lot of time in this clubhouse. It's their home away from home."

Erik Judson, Padres vice president/development, recently led a media tour of the clubhouse and adjacent areas under construction. "The same attention to detail and attention to quality that characterize the public areas of the ballpark go into the behind-the-scenes work," Judson said.

But for most fans, the sure sign that a new ballpark is nearing completion is installation of the playing field. When a diamond appears in the rough of a construction site, you know that the cry of "Play ball!" cannot be far behind.

In early July, drainage and irrigation systems were installed at Petco Park in downtown San Diego's East Village. These will soon be covered by orange pea gravel and a 12-inch "root zone" of sand and soil. Then the base paths and warning tracks and outfield will be "formed up" and meticulously contoured to final grade. And finally the sod -- a state-of-the-art turf known as Bull's-Eye Bermuda -- will complete a major-league Field of Dreams.

The playing surface is on schedule to be installed by the end of this month.

In the seating bowl, the Padres and San Diego Ballpark Builders installed the first seat at Petco Park on May 5. By December, approximately 42,000 seats will be in place, designed to provide the best sight lines in baseball, as the countdown continues to Opening Day of the Padres' new downtown home in April 2004. The color of the seats at Petco Park is "Pacific Blue," celebrating the sea, sky, sun and special spirit of San Diego.

The seats were selected following a two-year competitive process based on comfort, aesthetics, function and durability. The seat contractor, Hussey Seating, will use redirected seating angles to maximize sight lines and comfort, providing fans at Petco Park with a viewing experience specifically designed for baseball. The fixed seats in the general seating bowl areas will measure 19, 20 or 21 inches wide and will come equipped with cup-holders.

Founded in 1835, Hussey is one of America's oldest family companies and the global leader in spectator seating for sports and other venues. Installation of seats is being completed by Installation Solutions, a subcontractor of Hussey Seating.

On the exterior of Petco Park, a clefted sandstone called "Padre Gold," imported from India by Modern Builders Supply, is being adhered over a plaster substrate by Klaser Tile Co. Inc. Klaser Tile has 45 employees installing approximately 150,000 square feet of exterior stone veneer at the new ballpark.

A privately owned family business that began in 1974 with small residential projects, Klaser Tile transitioned into commercial tile, thin-brick and stone projects. The company has expertise in all phases of ceramic tile and stone work, but has chosen to specialize in adhered veneers and has successfully installed more than a million square feet of adhered projects since 1995.

The Bratton Corp. is installing metal railing throughout Petco Park. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Bratton has been a fabricator and erector of miscellaneous steel, handrails and stairs for more than 50 years and has approximately 50 skilled trade workers on site daily at Petco Park.

Vic Ross Masonry Inc., which is constructing concrete masonry units and major partitions at the ballpark, has specialized in commercial masonry projects in San Diego since 1972. The company's founder, Ardell V. Ross, has more than 42 years of experience in the masonry industry and has been a masonry contractor in San Diego for 30 years.

Petco Park is still 25 percent away from being complete but the Padres are not letting that get in the way of kicking off an early celebration of the opening of San Diego's new downtown jewel. The 2004 Padres season tickets for Petco Park have been on sale since Saturday, Aug. 2.