This weekend, San Diego Trolley Inc. (SDTI) will mark a major ridership milestone – it will deliver the 500,000th passenger to the new PETCO Park.

The partnership between the Padres and the San Diego Trolley during PETCO Park’s inaugural season has resulted in booming business. Padres’ game attendance is up over 50% and trolley ridership to the games (compared to last year) increased a whopping 285%.

Based on the projected game attendance for this weekend’s home stand, San Diego Trolley will bring its 500,000th fan to PETCO Park on Sunday, August 22nd somewhere between 12:15 p.m. and 12:45 p.m.  Compared to previous baseball seasons, that’s nearly twice as high as the regular season ridership record set when the San Diego Trolley carried 255,000 fans during the Padres’
World Series race in 1998.

“It has been exciting and highly satisfying to see all of our planning succeed in bringing people to the new ballpark,” said SDTI President & General Manager Peter Tereschuck. “We’ve worked closely with the San Diego Padres in planning and communications and our joint success can be seen in the faces of the happy trolley riders and fans.”

This Sunday, one lucky passenger arriving at the Gaslamp Quarter Transit Center for the Padres vs. the 2003 World Series Champions Florida Marlins 1:05 p.m. game will be deemed the San Diego Trolley’s 500,000th passenger to PETCO Park. The honorary titleholder will help celebrate the successful partnership between baseball fans, the San Diego Padres and the Metropolitan Transit System, particularly the San Diego Trolley.

The “half millionth passenger” will receive a number of gifts to show appreciation. Items will include a gift bag of Trolley specialty items, transit passes, gift certificates to Gaslamp Quarter restaurants, including Dick’s Last Resort, Osetra the Fishhouse, Side Bar, Deco’s Restaurant & Nightclub, and On Broadway Events Center, and Coca-Cola products.

The Padres have created a special replica Padres jersey imprinted with “SD TROLLEY 500K” plus they will present the honorary passenger with a Padres’ “goody bag” filled with Padres logo items. The Padres’ Swingin’ Friar and Ambassador Team will also be on hand to congratulate the half millionth passenger.

“A significant part of the overall baseball experience for all Padres guests is getting to and returning home in a safe and timely manner from the ballpark,” noted Richard Andersen, the Padres Executive Vice President and Managing Director/Ballpark Operations. “Clearly, the role that the San Diego Trolley has played in the general transportation plan has been significant. It's not only the remarkable number of passengers the Trolley has carried but also the high quality of service delivered. In short, the Trolley has been a great partner for the Padres and for all of our fans,” continued Andersen.

The San Diego Trolley has carried an average of about 25% of the Padres’ attendance gate so far this year. “We hope the 500,000th passenger recognition will encourage even more people to discover that the San Diego Trolley is the way to go, especially if it means a trip downtown to the new ballpark,” said Tereschuck.

To learn more about the San Diego Trolley and other local transportation alternatives, visit sdcommute.com.