Friday, June 26, 2026

‘Unprecedented Demand’ Forces Padres to Cap Season Tickets

  • The San Diego Padres are seeing a surge in fan interest in their star-studded team.
  • The team has six players making at least $20 million per season.
San-Diego-Padres
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres are being rewarded for their big spending.

The team is capping season-ticket sales for the upcoming season “due to unprecedented demand.”

The final day to purchase Padres season tickets is on Feb. 4, coinciding with the team’s fanfest. 

  • After that date, interested fans will be put on a waitlist — a first in the club’s 54-year existence.
  • “It is important for us to cap our season-ticket memberships at this time to ensure that every Padres fan has an opportunity to attend a game at Petco Park during the 2023 season,” said Padres CEO Erik Greupner. 
  • Single-game tickets go on sale Feb. 7.

The Padres drew 3 million fans across 81 home games in 2022, fifth in Major League Baseball in both average and total attendance.

High-Flying Friars

The uptick in fan interest follows a playoff run and big offseason additions to an already star-studded roster.

San Diego signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million contract, bringing its estimated 2023 payroll to $251 million, third-highest in MLB.

Bogaerts is one of six Padres on a contract with an average annual value at $20 million or more, along with Manny Machado ($32 million per year), Juan Soto ($23 million), Yu Darvish ($21.5 million), Fernando Tatis Jr. ($21.3 million), and Joe Musgrove ($20 million).

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Norway national soccer team fans show support accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Met during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field.

World Cup Fans Are Taking Over MLB Stadiums

About 8,000 Scottish fans attended the Marlins game Monday night.
Feb 24, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels A general view of the MLB logo and first base during the first inning of a spring training game between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

MLBPA: Owners’ Aggressive Labor Proposals Unite Players

The union has decried the perceived attack on “player choice.”

MLB Owners Escalate Labor Fight With New Contract Proposal

MLB team owners make another radical labor proposal.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation With Jay Williams About the Awkward Draft Night with Richard Jefferson

0:00

Featured Today

June 25, 2026

Italian Americans Have Severe World Cup FOMO

Bars and restaurants in Boston, Philly, and beyond are missing the Azzurri.
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) celebrates a three-point basket Monday, June 22, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 86-77
June 24, 2026

Female Athletes Are Trying to Build the ‘Athleisure of Beauty’

“Performance cosmetics” have emerged alongside the women’s sports boom.
June 18, 2026

Why U.S. Open Host Sites Are on a 25-Year Plan

The U.S. Open has already picked out 22 future sites through 2051.
Wisconsin Badgers forward Laila Edwards, left, and defender Caroline Harvey celebrate after Edwards scored against the Minnesota Gophers in the first period in a game Saturday, February 8, 2025, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
June 15, 2026

Two Rookies Are Rewriting Women’s Hockey Stardom

Their platforms are a mutual boon for the PWHL and its players.

Cardinals Shake Up Front Office in Long-Term Leadership Plan

Club owner Bill DeWitt Jr. begins to prepare the club for life without him.
Jun 18, 2026; New York, NY, USA; A New York Knicks Champions bus passes during the New York Knicks Championship Parade through the Canyon of Heroes.
June 18, 2026

Knicks Get Key to NYC in Front of Huge Crowds

The city deployed 10,000 police officers to the one-mile parade route.
Jan 22, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Spirit team owner Michele Kang talks to media during a press conference at BMO Stadium.
June 24, 2026

Michele Kang to Buy Lyon in Deal That Would End Textor’s Ownership

Kang will pay $30 million for around 88% of Lyon.
Sponsored

How Daktronics Is Reshaping the Modern MLB Ballpark Experience

The technology powering baseball’s next chapter.
June 17, 2026

Dolan: Knicks Have Accepted White House Invite

The NBA champs are headed to the White House.
June 17, 2026

Knicks Championship Parade Will Have Record 10,000 NYPD Officers

The Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973 on Saturday.
June 16, 2026

Portland Fire GM Says Team Is Chasing Playoffs, Not Lottery Odds

Vanja Černivec was with the Golden State Valkyries last year.
June 15, 2026

Fernando Mendoza’s Rookie Edge With Raiders? Access to Tom Brady 

Fernando Mendoza’s relationship with Tom Brady is growing.