MTS Boosts Trolley Service for Padres Opening Weekend and Beyond, Making It Easier for Fans to Get to Petco Park

MTS and Padres kicked off 2025 season with new Trolley wrap featuring key players

San Diego – As the San Diego Padres gear up for their 2025 home opener, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is making it easy for fans to get to Petco Park without the hassle of traffic and parking. With sellout crowds expected on Opening Day and all weekend, MTS and the Padres are reminding fans to avoid traffic hassles and high parking costs and take the easy way with MTS.

 “There’s nothing like the energy of seeing thousands of Padres fans riding the Trolley to Petco Park in their brown and gold,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember. “As a Padres fan myself, I know how special gamedays are for our community. We’re making it easier than ever for everyone to be part of the excitement. Taking transit isn’t just a ride—it’s the perfect way to kick off the gameday experience and dive straight into the action.”

For Opening Weekend, MTS will offer ramped up service with Trolleys serving all stations every 15 minutes or better before and after games, providing fans with a quick and easy ride to Petco Park. To promote the convenience and affordability of transit, MTS and the Padres unveiled a new Trolley wrap featuring key players from the team, showcasing the easy way to get to Petco Park in Padres’ brown and gold.

Taking transit to Padres games has been a longstanding tradition for many fans, and MTS is proud to continue offering this essential service. Last season, an average of 8,000 fans rode the Trolley to Padres games on sellout gamedays. This year, MTS is prepared to meet the increasing demand with extra Trolley service. As the Padres look to build on their impressive 2024 postseason run, fans can count on MTS to help them get there – stress-free!

Getting to Padres Opening Day

Pre-Game Service – March 27 (First Pitch 1:10 p.m.)

• All Trolley Lines: Trolleys will serve all stations every 15 minutes or better, with extra service added closer to game time. 

Post-Game Service – March 27

• UC San Diego Blue Line: Trolleys will depart 12th & Imperial Transit Center every 7.5 minutes to San Ysidro and every 15 minutes to UTC.
• Green Line: Trolleys will depart 12th & Imperial every 15 minutes, with extra trips as needed from Gaslamp Quarter Station until crowds diminish.
• Orange Line: Trolleys will depart 12th & Imperial every 15 minutes.

Easy Ways to Pay Your Fare

Contactless Payment: Fans now have the option to simply tap a credit card or other contactless payment options, such as a smartphone or smartwatch, on a station validator to pay for a one-way ride ($2.50, valid for two hours). This allows fans to bypass the ticket vending machine and speed up wait times.

Kids ride free! Families going to the soccer match can save money by taking MTS. During weekends, two children 12 and under ride for free with every paying adult. Youth ages 18 and under with a registered Youth PRONTO card or app account can ride free with the Youth Opportunity Pass.

PRONTO: Fans should download the PRONTO app in advance. Load at least $5 on your virtual card, which covers a round-trip fare for adult riders. All riders must tap or scan on validators to activate their pass or fare prior to boarding.

Every person needs their own payment option, you cannot buy fares for multiple people on the same account, card or payment method.

Parking Options

Fans can park at one of MTS’ free Park & Ride lots throughout the Trolley system. The most convenient locations are:

• Old Town Transit Center (UC San Diego Blue and Green Line, 400+ free parking spots)
• Grossmont Transit Center (Green and Orange Line, 220 free parking spots)
• El Cajon Transit Center (Green and Orange Line, 400+ free parking spots)
• Amaya Drive (Green and Orange Line, 236 free parking spots)
• H Street (UC San Diego Blue Line, 295 free parking spots)
• Balboa Avenue Transit Center (UC San Diego Blue Line, 227 free parking spots)
• Tecolote Station (UC San Diego Blue Line, 279 free parking spots)

About MTS

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 92 bus routes and four Trolley lines in 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego. MTS is a leader in advancing initiatives to create a greener, cleaner and better-connected transit system in San Diego. Each weekday more than 238,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2024, MTS served more than 75 million riders. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.

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