Tomorrow the Padres will host Celebrate San Diego at Petco Park. It's a chance for fans of all San Diego sports teams (the Padres, San Diego Sockers, San Diego Gulls, SDSU Aztecs, UCSD Tritons, USD Toreros, CSUSM Cougars, and PLNU Sea Lions) to come together and rally around their teams and the city of San Diego. It's also basically a middle finger to the former San Diego professional football team who abandoned America's Finest City for smoggier pastures.
The gates at Petco Park will open at 10:00 am PT, with Padres season ticket holders (or "members," as they like to call them) able to take advantage of a special line at each of the gates. Just like with all Padres games and pretty much every event at Petco Park, all guests will be subject to bag checks and metal detectors; Normal Petco Park policies regarding food, drink, and other allowable/prohibited items will be in place.
Upon entry, attendees will receive a commemorative hat (sponsored by Sycuan). The hats are navy blue with a white interlocking SD logo (of course) and they'll be available in both adult and youth sizes. From the promotional picture, it looks like a good quality hat, but we'll see if it looks as nice in person. The picture also doesn't show a sponsor logo, but there could easily be one on the back or the other side of the hat (it wouldn't be the first time Sycuan slapped its logo on something at Petco Park).
All fans at the #CelebrateSD Rally on Saturday will receive a special commemorative hat giveaway! Don't miss it https://t.co/XQDFX5qHfr pic.twitter.com/dCZcBJB2h2
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 6, 2017
Another nice perk for fans in attendance is a $25 voucher for each person who brings in a [former San Diego football team] clothing/hat donation. The vouchers will be redeemable at the Padres team store, and all of the items donated will be distributed to local charities.
Aside from the giveaways, guests will be able to enjoy live music, games, photo booths, food, and beer. Medical experts from UCSD Health will also be on hand, offering free heart health, cholesterol, and blood pressure screenings. Also, the ballpark's namesake Petco, will be bringing adoptable pets from the San Diego Chihuahua Rescue.
And then at 1:00 pm the rally itself will begin. Naturally, Ted Leitner will emcee the event. Speakers ranging from athletes and coaches to San Diego officials will say some inspiring words, probably. Personally what I am looking forward to the most is just being back at the ballpark and seeing everyone out there for the first time this year. It'll be nice to reconnect with fellow Padres fans whom I haven't seen since last season and probably won't see again until FanFest all the way in April.
For those planning to drive out to Petco Park tomorrow, free parking will be provided in all Padres-controlled lots. I imagine it will run out quickly, so I'd suggest getting there early, before the gates open. If you're planning on taking public transportation, North County Transit will be providing extra services for the event.
Heading to the #CelebrateSD Rally this Saturday @PetcoPark? Extra COASTER service will be available! https://t.co/hdCB9AKK8C pic.twitter.com/s75idPwOhc
— North County Transit (@GoNCTD) February 9, 2017
More detailed information about the event (including parking and entry info and a full lineup of speakers) can be found on the Padres website as well as Fox Sports SD's website.
Hopefully I'll see some of you out there tomorrow!