Padres take bold steps to keep Dodgers fans away from Petco Park for NLDS showdown – NBC Los Angeles

The rivalry between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers is about to reach new heights as the 2024 MLB Playoffs are in full swing.

While the National League Division Series (NLDS) will feature these two NL West heavyweights, the Padres are doing everything they can to ensure Petco Park remains a fortress of San Diego pride.

To prevent the Dodgers' sea from encroaching on their home stadium, the Padres implemented strict ticket limits for Games 3 and 4, a move that has caught the attention of both fan bases.

The Padres have restrictions on who can purchase NLDS tickets 👀 pic.twitter.com/lmhbRA2qrL

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 3, 2024

The Padres' recent success, including their Wild Card Series win over the Atlanta Braves, has electrified the city of San Diego. Now, as they prepare for their NLDS match against their long-time division rivals, the team is taking proactive measures to keep the energy local.

Beginning with Game 3 on October 8th and possibly Game 4 on October 9th, Petco Park ticket purchases will be limited to residents of San Diego County, southern Orange County, western Arizona, Las Vegas and Baja California.

If you're a Los Angeles County Dodgers fan, don't even think about buying a ticket – your order will be canceled.

The Padres have taken a hard line and ensured the Petco crowd is full of Padres faithful, hoping to prevent a repeat of the previous playoff series in which Dodger fans showed up in droves and turned the stadium into something , which seemed like an away game for San Diego .

This tactic is not new. Teams across sports have tried similar strategies, from the Philadelphia 76ers blocking Knicks fans in the 2024 NBA playoffs to the Florida Panthers keeping Maple Leafs supporters at bay during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs . It's a calculated move designed to give the Padres every advantage in an epic postseason battle ahead.

The Dodgers and Padres have one of the fiercest rivalries in baseball, and this series will only add fuel to the fire. On one side, you have the Dodgers – a team that has been a perennial powerhouse, winning the NL West year after year.

On the other hand, the Padres, a team loaded with talent, have been waiting for the moment to dethrone their northern rivals. Now that the NLDS is set, this match feels more personal than ever.

Is it fair to limit ticket sales based on geography? For Padres fans, it’s a given.

For years, Dodgers fans have flooded Petco Park when the two teams meet, turning what should have been home-field advantage into an unpleasant mix of cheers and jeers. By implementing these restrictions, the Padres are redoubling their commitment to making Petco Park an intimidating place for opponents to play, especially in October.

However, not everyone is enthusiastic. Dodgers fans, known for traveling well, feel this is an unfair move that prevents them from supporting their team during one of the biggest series of the year. Some even called it a desperate attempt by the Padres to level the playing field, knowing full well that Los Angeles fans could easily overrun their home stadium.

However, from a business perspective, it is a smart move by the Padres organization. When the stadium is packed with home fans, it creates an electric atmosphere that can make a real difference in a high-stakes playoff game. This strategy has worked for other teams in the past, including in the 2022 NLDS matchup between the two teams, a series in which San Diego shocked the mighty Dodgers in four games.

As the series progresses, the atmosphere at Petco Park will be a deciding factor. The Padres want their fans to be loud, passionate and, most importantly, present. And if that means a few unhappy Dodgers fans can't get tickets, then so be it.

This is playoff baseball, after all. Every advantage counts.