This past week I traveled to San Diego California for an education conference.  The conference was held in a hotel very near the Convention Center, which is across the railroad tracks from Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres.

On my first night in San Diego I found myself wanting to go to a major league baseball game.  The Padres were playing the Atlanta Braves literally within a block of my Airbnb apartment.  I walked over, went to the ticket booth, purchased a ticket and very much enjoyed the game and the entire experience.

My second night in San Diego I thought I would do the same thing — go to another baseball game at Petco Field.   I walked over just before game time and went up to the ticket office just like the night before.  When I asked for a ticket for a seat, I was shocked to hear back that there were none available.

“Let me get that right.  You said that there are no seats available.  Did I hear that correctly?”  I immediately shot back.

“Yes, sir.  We are sold out” came the response.

“No,” I responded.  “Are you serious?  Every single seat in the stadium is taken?”  I ask again.  “You have to be kidding.  I cannot believe it.  I was here last night and there were plenty of seats available.“

“Last night was very unusual.  We usually sell out.”  Was the response.

Wow.  I cannot believe it.  “What is the capacity of the stadium?” I ask.

“42,445” was the response.

I finally walk away but in amazement.  Unbelievable, I say to myself.  42,445 seats sold out on a Tuesday evening, just three weeks into the 162 game season.  This makes no sense.  I am shocked.

I end up going to a restaurant across the street from the stadium and watching the game on TV, while getting a bite to eat.

But what has bothered me ever since this happened is the question of why.  Why…why…why would there be a sell out for a baseball game on a Tuesday evening in San Diego.  Why in the world would this be happening?

I still don’t understand the reason, but i have uncovered some possible reasons.

One, the Padres fans love their team, which last season defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs for the World Series.  This was huge!   Still, there are fans in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Milwaukee, Seattle, and St. Louis that love their MLB team.  Why is San Diego different?

Two, the start time?   San Diego starts its evening games at 6:40.  Does this along with the new 15 second pitch time clock rule in MLB make a difference?   Does this allow a family to bring the kids and still be home in time for a good night’s sleep before school tomorrow morning?

Three, possible excitement about the return of one of the team’s stars – Fernando Tatis – who has been suspended from MLB for the last 80 games for using performance enhancing drugs.  However, I double checked on this theory, and found out that Tatis actually returned on the next night, Wednesday, and not on Tuesday.  So, this could not have been the reason for a sell out on Tuesday night.

Four, USA Today has voted Petco Park the very best MLB park in 2023.  Does this make a difference?  I must admit the experience in the stadium was wonderful. For example, you can order food through an app to be delivered to your seat.  Wow!

Five, the weather.  I was told by more than one person going to the game that this was the nicest weather that they have had in San Diego all winter.  The temperature was in the low 70’s and the sun was setting beautifully across the Pacific Ocean.  No wind.  It was a delightful evening.   Several people mentioned to me that San Diego had had more rain this winter than Seattle.  Maybe people just had to get out of the house!

Whatever the reason, the fact that Tuesday’s night game was a sell out is amazing.  And it is not just last Tuesday.  The Padres have had 13 home games so far this season.  They have averaged 40,342 per game, which is just 2,103 short of selling out every single home game!   A 95% attendance.  This percentage is the highest in Major League Baseball.

The Dodgers have more people attend each home game (49,418), but they have a capacity of 56,000 so their percentage attendance (88%) is lower than San Diego’s.  For contrast, the Oakland A’s have an average of 11,025 attend each home game, but have a capacity of 56,782 for an attendance percentage of 19%, the worst in MLB.

This year the Padres had to halt season ticket sales at 24,000 so that other individuals could purchase tickets to games throughout the season.  the Padres expect most games to be sell outs!

More power to the San Diego Padres and to Petco Park.  Congratulations!  What a spark the team is to this community.

I still am not sure why these sell outs are happening, but maybe someone reading this will have an idea or know why this is happening in San Diego.