The San Diego Padres are determined to ensure that their home crowd dominates the stands at Petco Park during the upcoming National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In a move that has garnered attention, the Padres are actively working to limit the presence of Dodgers fans at their home games by restricting ticket sales to specific regions.
On Thursday, a message appeared for anyone attempting to purchase tickets for the NLDS matchup between the Padres and Dodgers. The note made it clear that the Padres are taking steps to prevent Dodgers fans from flooding the stands next week. The message reads:
“Petco Park is located in San Diego. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of San Diego County, southern Orange County, western Arizona, Las Vegas and the surrounding area, and all of Baja California. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside San Diego County, southern Orange County, western Arizona, Las Vegas and the surrounding area, and all of Baja California will be canceled without notice and refunds given.”
In essence, the Padres have drawn a geographic line to keep out Dodgers fans, limiting ticket sales to regions far removed from Los Angeles. It’s a strategic move to ensure that Padres supporters make up the bulk of the crowd during the home games in San Diego.
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While the boundaries include a wide area, covering places like western Arizona, Las Vegas, and even Baja California, the message is clear: fans from Los Angeles County are not welcome to fill the seats at Petco Park.
The restrictions could be seen as an attempt to avoid the sight of a sea of Dodgers blue in their home stadium during such a crucial series.
Some fans and commentators have humorously pointed out the extensive list of excluded regions, suggesting that the Padres could have gone even further by including places as far west as Portland, Seattle, or even Jackson Hole. But the bottom line is that the Padres are doing everything they can to prevent Dodgers fans from “invading” their ballpark.
The NLDS showdown between these two rivals kicks off with Games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles on Saturday and Sunday. The series then shifts to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday, and if necessary, Game 4 will take place on Wednesday at Petco Park. The Padres are eager to have a hometown advantage in those games, and their ticket restrictions are part of a larger effort to secure that edge.
By limiting ticket sales to certain areas, the Padres are hoping to create a sea of San Diego fans cheering them on in what could be the biggest series of their season.
