San Diego Padres to host series at Petco Park
Tolley service being ramped up to accommodate expected sold-out crowds
San Diego – The San Diego Padres clinched a coveted spot in the 2026 Major League Baseball Wild Card Series, and the team will be hosting three postseason games at Petco Park this week. To help fans get to the postseason action when the Padres face the Chicago Cubs, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will increase Trolley service for all three games to help fans avoid traffic, parking hassles and high fuel costs.
"The excitement across San Diego is building as our hometown team begins its postseason journey, and MTS is ready to help fans get to every pitch," said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, who represents the area surrounding Petco Park. "With direct service to Petco Park, the Trolley remains the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to get to the ballpark so fans can focus on cheering on the Padres, not sitting in traffic."
Taking the Trolley is the easiest way to get to Petco Park. Three Trolley lines—the UC San Diego Blue Line, Orange Line and Green Line—provide direct service to stations just steps from Petco Park. Before and after each game, Trolleys will arrive every 15 minutes or better, giving fans a convenient and reliable ride to the ballpark.
Pre-Game Service – Sept. 29-Sept. 30 (First Pitch @ 7 p.m.)
- Green Line: Trolleys will serve all stations every 15 minutes or better, with extra service added between Stadium Station and Gaslamp Quarter Station starting at 5:30 p.m.
- UC San Diego Blue Line & Orange Line: Trolleys will serve all stations every 15 minutes or better.
Post-Game Service – Sept. 29-Sept. 30
- UC San Diego Blue Line: Trolleys will depart 12th & Imperial Transit Center every 15 minutes to San Ysidro and to UTC.
- Green Line: Trolleys will depart 12th & Imperial Transit Center and Gaslamp Quarter stations every 15 minutes, with extra trips added as needed until crowds diminish.
- Orange Line: Trolleys will depart 12th & Imperial Transit Center every 15 minutes until crowds diminish or until 11:26 p.m.
Detailed service information for the three-game series against the Chicago Cubs is available on the MTS website.
Note: First-pitch time for Game 3 has not yet been announced. MTS will provide extra pre- and post-game service similar to Games 1 and 2, with schedules adjusted accordingly once the game time is confirmed.
Easy Parking Options
Padres fans can park at one of MTS' free Park & Ride lots throughout the Trolley system. The most convenient locations are:
- Old Town Transit Center (Green Line and UC San Diego Blue Line North – 400+ free parking spots)
- Overflow parking option available across the street at Caltrans District 11 – (4050 Taylor St., San Diego, CA, 92110 – 300+ additional free parking spots)
- Morena/Linda Vista (Green Line – 200 spaces, most parking available off Friars Road)
- Grossmont Transit Center (Green Line and Orange Line – 220 free parking spots)
- Amaya Drive (Green Line and Orange Line – 230 free parking spots)
- El Cajon Transit Center (Green and Orange Line, 400+ 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)
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; $3 starting Oct. 1). This allows fans to bypass the ticket machine and speed up boarding times.
PRONTO: Fans can download the PRONTO app in advance and load at least $5 ($6 starting Oct. 1), which covers a round-trip fare for adult riders. All riders must tap or scan their pass on Trolley platform validators 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.
About MTS
The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates 93 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 250,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system, taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2026, MTS served more than 81 million riders. In 2026, MTS was recognized by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) as the Outstanding Public Transportation System in North America among agencies providing 50 million or more annual passenger trips. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
###
