San Diego implements $10/hr parking meters for Petco Park special events

Aug 5, 2025 - 00:00

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The City of San Diego is implementing a Special Event Parking Zone around Petco Park in downtown San Diego which will significantly increase parking meter rates during large events.

A new Special Event Parking Zone will take effect Sept. 1, 2025, for the area within a half mile of Petco Park, the City announced Monday. This means during major stadium events, meters in those areas will now cost $10 per hour. Meters on a normal day cost $2.50 per hour, which increased from $1.25 per hour back in January.

On Monday, the special event parking signs could be seen being installed throughout downtown.

According to the City, the special event parking rates will begin two hours before scheduled Padres games and Petco Park events with over 10,000 people in attendance, and will remain in place until four hours after the event starts.

All special event parking meters will have a six-hour time limit during events.

*Special Event Parking Map (PHOTO: City of San Diego)*

The move comes after San Diego City Council in early June approved new parking regulations to allow the city to adjust parking fees for times with high demand and during special events, along with increasing parking enforcement to seven days a week.

The City is putting up signs around Petco Park in downtown San Diego so the public is informed of the special event pricing and can access a full schedule of special events through the end of 2025, which includes Padres games, Savannah Bananas games, the Chris Brown concert and WWE: Survivor Series in November.

*Special Event zone signs to be put up in downtown San Diego near Petco Park (PHOTO: City of San Diego)*

The City noted those with a Disabled Person parking placard are allowed to park for free at metered spaces, including during special events.

Locals are encouraged to take the MTS bus or Trolley to get to Petco Park during special events as the City said the move was in an effort to reduce congestion of drivers circling for free or cheaper spots near the stadium.

The San Diego Padres, whose home stadium is Petco Park, sent a statement on the parking increases to FOX 5/KUSI, “The city’s decision to raise parking meter rates by 700 percent since last year, reaching $10 per hour before and during events at Petco Park, will make it significantly more expensive for fans, workers, and residents to park on the streets surrounding the ballpark."

“The city made this decision without meaningful input from key stakeholders, including the Padres organization. We have not yet received information regarding how the new parking revenue will be reinvested locally but look forward to better understanding the city’s plan.”

Council President Joe LaCava said this reflects supply and demand.

"This was an opportunity to do something that we probably should have taken care of because the private parking lots figured this out," LaCava said.

The city has turned to parking fee increases as a way to help the city's budget. This summer, metered parking rates went up, and hours have been extended for downtown parking, which now ends at 10 p.m. Plus there are ongoing discussions on how much to charge for parking at Balboa Park, which is currently free.

There's no estimate yet on how much money this can bring in.

"It's really a good opportunity to fix what everybody complains about downtown, as well as protect the services that San Diegans want," LaCava said.

According to the City, the increased revenues from the special event parking meters will be used on improvements within the Special Event Parking Zone.

Zara Barker contributed to this report