MTS Trolley Special Event Service for Big Bay Balloon Parade, Holiday Bowl Game

America’s largest balloon parade expected to draw more than 100,000 people

San Diego, Calif. – The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will enhance service levels in anticipation of large crowds and offer riders mobile ticketing options to expedite the ticket purchasing process for the Big Bay Balloon Parade and the Holiday Bowl game. Both events are expected to draw large crowds and spectators are encouraged to travel early.

The Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade steps off at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 26 along North Harbor Drive. To get a good vantage point to see the parade, spectators should travel up to an hour before the parade begins. MTS will operate extra Green Line Trolley service between Mission Valley and downtown San Diego before the parade, between 1 and 3 p.m., and after the parade from 4:45 p.m. until crowds diminish.

The National University Holiday Bowl kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27 and MTS will increase the number of Green Line trains that provide direct service to Qualcomm Stadium beginning at 12:51 p.m., running trains every 7 ½ minutes. After the game, extra Green Line service will be operating in both directions as needed.

MTS will be offering passengers a mobile ticketing option called mTicket for both events. A discounted two-day mTicket will also be available for fans attending both events. With mTicket, passengers can purchase and store their Trolley tickets on their smartphones at any time prior to arriving at transit stations to speed up boarding and avoid lines at ticket vending machines. To avoid Trolley lines after the Holiday Bowl, passengers who have downloaded and purchased their Trolley tickets on mTicket will have access to an exclusive express line on the west side of the ramp that bypasses the general line. To download the app, visit www.sdmts.com/mTicket.asp. Fans can also find the app by searching for “mTicket” in the App Store or on Google Play.

In addition to one-way paper tickets and day passes on Compass Cards, MTS has printed a limited quantity of commemorative Trolley passes for both the Big Bay Balloon Parade and the Holiday Bowl game. The $6 commemorative day passes are sold at select ticket booths along the Green Line. Commemorative day passes provide unlimited rides on all Trolley lines and most MTS bus routes.

MTS operates more than 93 bus routes and three Trolley lines on 53 miles of double-tracked railway. Every weekday more than 300,000 passenger trips are taken on MTS bus and Trolley services. For more information on how you can use public transportation and save money, go to www.sdmts.com.

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