San Diego – Comic-Con attendees will have a new way to arrive at this year's convention: the Magic: The Gathering Event Line.
In a first-of-its-kind sponsorship, Magic: The Gathering is taking over the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System's (MTS) Special Event Line for the four days of Comic-Con, bringing themed branding and fan experiences to riders traveling to and from the convention.
San Diego Comic-Con returns July 23–26, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans from around the globe to downtown San Diego. To help attendees avoid traffic and get straight to the action, MTS is expanding Trolley service throughout the convention weekend and introducing the newly branded Magic: The Gathering Event Line (MTG Event Line). The specialized service was created to increase transit capacity and accommodate the large crowds expected to travel to the San Diego Convention Center.
"San Diego Comic-Con is one of the region's most celebrated events, bringing together creativity, imagination and fans from around the world," said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3. We're proud to welcome Magic: The Gathering as the sponsor of MTS's Special Event Line and grateful for their investment in making transit an integral part of the Comic-Con experience. This partnership helps connect tens of thousands of attendees to the excitement of the convention while supporting safe, convenient and sustainable transportation throughout our region."
Originally launched as the Special Event Line in 2023, the route has quickly become a favorite among Comic-Con attendees. Ridership has grown 18 percent since its debut, increasing from 98,747 passenger trips in 2023 to 117,040 passenger trips in 2025. The line's popularity underscores the demand for convenient transit options during one of San Diego's busiest weekends. The MTG Event Line also overlaps portions of the Blue and Green Trolley lines, extending the sponsorship's visibility to tens of thousands of additional riders traveling to Comic-Con-related activities.
The MTG Event Line will operate between Balboa Avenue Transit Center and 12th & Imperial Transit Center, providing attendees with convenient access to downtown. Riders can take advantage of free parking at several stations along the route, including Balboa Avenue Transit Center, Clairemont Drive Station, Tecolote Road Station, and Old Town Transit Center.
As part of the partnership, Comic-Con attendees will experience Magic: The Gathering-themed elements throughout the transit system, including branded maps, onboard rider guides, station announcements and digital displays. Fans can also enjoy promotional activations and giveaways at select stations along the MTG Event Line during the convention weekend.
Riders can see the full schedule, service information and maps on the MTS Comic-Con webpage.
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 250,000 passenger trips are taken throughout the MTS system taking people to work, school, health appointments and other essential trips. In FY 2025, MTS made more than 81 million passenger trips. For service schedule updates, news, alerts and more information on how you can use public transportation, go to www.sdmts.com.
###
