Transit Recommendations for Jimmy Buffett Concert and Padres Games this Weekend

MTS gives San Diegans a convenient ride to their favorite venues during sold out events

San Diego – This upcoming weekend will be one of firsts in San Diego entertainment, as Snapdragon Stadium hosts Jimmy Buffett for its first-ever concert on Saturday, May 6.  The San Diego Padres will also go head-to-head against a familiar foe, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for the first time this season at Petco Park Friday, May 5 – Sunday, May 7. MTS will be releasing limited edition Padres PRONTO cards ahead of the Padres-Dodgers series. All events are expected to be sold out crowds, and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) encourages those attending to take the Trolley to avoid long wait times in traffic, as well as save money on parking. 

MTS will provide extra Trolley service for both Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium throughout the weekend.

Getting to Snapdragon for the Jimmy Buffett Concert (Saturday, May 6), concert begins at 7 p.m.: 

Margaritaville comes to Snapdragon Stadium with a full cup! With capacity crowds expected, the Green Line Trolley will provide concert-goers with direct service to and from the stadium every 15 minutes or better. Before the show, MTS will operate normal Trolley service, and increase frequency after the show until crowds diminish. 

Pre-Event

• Green Line will be running 15 minutes eastbound to Snapdragon through 10:07pm and westbound to Snapdragon through 8:22pm, when service will become every 30 minutes.

Post-Event: 

• Green Line: MTS will run extra 15-minute westbound Trolley service from the Stadium until after midnight, with extra service as needed. The last Trolley to downtown will depart the Stadium Station at approximately midnight. MTS will run regularly-scheduled 30-minute service from the Stadium to Santee until 10:37 p.m., with additional service as needed. Service to Santee will be available until approximately 45 minutes after event ends. The final trip to SDSU will depart the Stadium Station at 12:07 a.m. 
• UC San Diego Blue and Orange lines: MTS will run standard 30-minute service with one additional northbound Blue Line trip from Old Town to UTC at 12:01 a.m.  Passengers intending to transfer to Blue Line should head to Trolley station immediately after concert, needing to depart Stadium Station by about 11:40pm to ensure transfer.

Getting to Petco Park for Padres vs Dodgers:

Friday game starts at 6:40 p.m., Saturday game starts at 5:40 p.m., and Sunday game starts at 4:10 p.m.

All three Trolley lines provide direct access to Petco Park. Fans can use the 12th & Imperial Transit Center or Gaslamp Quarter Station for convenient access to the game. People heading to downtown for the festivities should expect limited parking and added traffic.

In celebration of the first homestand against their division rivals, MTS has released limited edition Padres PRONTO cards at select ticket machines throughout the Trolley system. Fans can also purchase the Padres PRONTO cards for $2 through the MTS Transit Store, or by calling the PRONTO Support Center. Padres PRONTO cards will be made available at the following stations, starting today and through the weekend. Ticket machines on westbound platforms (towards downtown) will have cards, while supplies last:

• Balboa Avenue Transit Center
• El Cajon Transit Center
• Euclid Avenue Transit Center
• Fashion Valley Transit Center 
• Gaslamp Quarter Station (all stations)
• H Street Transit Center
• Old Town Transit Center
• Palomar Transit Center
• Spring Street Station 

Pre-Game:

• All Trolley lines will run standard 15-minute service or better on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Post-Game:

• UC San Diego Blue Line: 15-minute service will be extended north to UTC for approximately 45 minutes after the game Friday and Saturday. 15-minute service to San Ysidro is available until 11:37 p.m., with the final train departing downtown at 12:07 a.m. Normal 15-minute service will run post-game Sunday. Extra southbound service will be added as needed.
• Orange Line: 30-minute service after the game, with additional 15-minute service as needed. The last train departs downtown at 11:56 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:26 p.m. on Sunday.
• Green Line: 15-minute service (to Santee) will be extended until 10:36 p.m. Friday (final trip to Santee), 9:36 p.m. Saturday and 8:06 p.m. Sunday, with additional service as needed. Last trips to Santee will depart downtown at 10:06 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and final trips to SDSU will be 11:36 p.m. all days.

Park & Ride Lots:

Fans are able to park for free at dozens of MTS transit centers, and ride the Trolley to the doorstep of both stadiums. Fans should travel early with sellout crowds expected. Prime locations to park:

• Old Town Transit Center (Green Line, UC San Diego Blue Line) 412 free spots
• El Cajon Transit Center (Green Line, Orange Line) 469 free spots
• Balboa Avenue (UC San Diego Blue Line) 227 free spots
• Palomar Street (UC San Diego Blue Line) 305 spots
• Spring Street (Orange Line) 324 spots

Buy Your Transit Fare with PRONTO: 

• For the fastest service: Use your phone as your Trolley pass with the PRONTO app
• Fans can also load money on a PRONTO Card in advance online at RidePRONTO.com, or at any Trolley ticket machine. MTS does not recommend fans buy one-way paper tickets, due to crowding post game at ticket machines for return-trips. Whenever possible, load $5 to a PRONTO Card, which covers a round-trip. PRONTO cards are available at all ticket machines (one-time $2 fee).
• Fans must tap or scan PRONTO on a station validator before they board the train.
• Pro tip: Kids ride free! Take advantage of the MTS Youth Opportunity Pass or Family Weekends (two kids 12 and under ride free with an adult, no PRONTO card needed) promotions.

For additional information, fans can visit www.sdmts.com/padres or www.sdmts.com/snapdragon.

About MTS

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates more than 100 bus routes and three 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 220,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2022, MTS made more than 57 million passenger trips. 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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