MTS ramps up Trolley service for home-field playoff games Oct. 6 and 7
San Diego – The San Diego Padres return to Petco Park for Games 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series and will host the Milwaukee Brewers on Oct. 6 and 7. With sold-out crowds and playoff excitement expected throughout downtown San Diego, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is encouraging fans to take the Trolley to the ballpark and avoid traffic, parking challenges and high fuel costs.
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.
Getting to NLDS Playoffs
Pre-Game Service – Oct. 6 (First Pitch @ 6:30 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 p.m.
- UC San Diego Blue Line & Orange Line: Trolleys will serve all stations every 15 minutes or better.
Post-Game Service – Oct. 6
- 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 10:56 p.m.
Detailed service information for the three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers is available on the MTS website.
Note: First-pitch time for Game 4 has not yet been announced. MTS will provide extra pre- and post-game service similar to Game 3, 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 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 ($3, valid for two hours). 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 $6, 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.
###