Okay, my team will be in San Diego August 13-21 for the Gay Softball World Series, and I've got a few questions not only for the guys playing, but also for anybody who lives in the area:

1. How hard are Padres tickets to get? Do they sell out? My teammates and I are thinking about going to the Saturday night game (they're playing the Phillies, and I'm dating a guy from Philadelphia), and want to know if it'll be a hassle.

2. In the opinion of the San Diegoans on the board, would we be better to find a hotel near downtown, or near the playing fields? (we'll be using Poway Sportsplex, Hourglass Community Park in Mira Mesa, and Robb Athletic Field in Ocean Beach) If we wind up playing an 8 AM game, and we are at a downtown hotel, will we have the drive from hell trying to get to the fields?? Or would it be better to just stay closer to the fields and head into downtown for the nighttime festivities?

3. How many of us softball junkies will be there???

How dare you try and put a blot on some nice Philadelphia man's virtue, you...you Floridian? wink

I went online a while back and was able to get a single ticket in the lower level right behind home plate. But if you're going as a group you might have trouble getting seats together. The Padres are in their second year at Petco and are contending, so it's not like there are tons of seats available. If you have an idea of how many of you are going, you might want to check the Padres' website or give their ticket office a call.

SFS, Glad to hear you're coming to "America's Finest City" - recent bond ratings and retirement fund scandals notwithstanding! This is the place to go for tickets to see the Friars: Padres Marketplace, the official ticket site. You'll have to register (free), but it's worth it and I've found I can always get a choice of good seats. As you'll see, quantity seats are available. Avoid the other commercial ticket sites; they'll burn you, just as at-the-park scalpers will!

As for lodging in SD, I recommend the Ramada Inn on Hotel Circle, just south of I-8 and between I-5 and Hwy. 163, the "Hillcrest Expressway." (JK, but it is centrally located between the fields and the bars and is a good value for the money. For a quiet room, ask for one facing the hill in back, on the top floor, so you'll avoid both feet and freeway sounds.) Downtown hotels are pricey* - expect to pay at least $125 a nite - but if you like being able to walk to PETCO and the excellent, albeit it pretty straight, nightlife in the Gaslamp District, that's where you'll want to stay. Expect to pay another $5 per night for parking. The Triple A guide tells all. To bone up on SD's gay scene, check out the GLT's site, which I'm sure you can google on your own.

As for whether dating a Philadelphian will prove to be a hassle, "if you don't know by now, don't mess with it!" wink
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*And worst of all, offer SHITTY, limited in-room cable, but plenty of PPV, which is NOT my idea of value when paying $125+ to stay at the Hyatt, Marriott or some other business-swank place! :mad:

I briefly toyed with the idea of seeing the Padres as well...not sure if I will. I am going to GWS, but only as a spectator this year. It is going to be my only real vacation, outside of all the trips to play in other tourneys, so I would rather just watch and cheer on all of the my 'hometown' boys and girls.

I will also be at the series. From Experience with the San diego tournament in Oct. if i remeber rite some of the fields are way the hell out. quite a drive.

also our coach sent us the world series newsletter that says they are doing a group thing for the phillies/padres game on friday night.

Since I'm in San Diego for that Fri. 8/12 game if any Outsporters want to meet before or at the game, get in touch with me. (Can't do anything afterwards as I'll have to catch the bus back to L.A.)

The bus? Why not the train?

I checked the Amtrak site and couldn't find a train late enough that I could see the whole game. I think the last one left at 10 pm, and the next one isn't until morning. I don't really want to pay for a hotel room for a night in S.D. when I'm already paying for a room in L.A. (though I suppose I could change my mind on that).

[ July 13, 2005, 07:24 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

gmginsfo has hit the info spot on, as usual. although you might wonder why he hasn't updated his name to gmginsdo or gmginsd or somethin'.

driving to the Poway fields from hillcrest or downtown or hotel circle takes about 30 minutes on the weekend with no traffic. since you'll be here during the week, there will be commuters to deal with. but driving out to the fields you should be doing a reverse commute and not in too bad of shape. but, oy, that hwy 15 can be a mess.

it's tough picking a hotel by the fields if you are changing field locations during the week. Hotel Circle is really a good, central area. Easy access to freeways and a short drive or cab ride to hillcrest or the airport.

good luck to the players coming out. maybe i'll see some of you on the fields. what teams are you guys on? i'm playing for san diego Frenz in A.

and hey, good luck to the spectators coming out. lol... never know what you'll catch out there.

Playing on RFR Firemen b here

Curt...

I remember you from the Chicago Gay sports scene. (checked out your profile) When did you move? lol

Coming back next year for the games?

Ft. Lauderdale will have a tough time hosting their world series next year, given that it will be so close to Gay Games and Montreal event. It's too bad they WILL not adjust the dates, but given their history with Gay Games/FGG...this will not happen, unfortunately.

Would love to drive down from the Inland Empire and catch some games. What's the name of the field and when does the tourney begin?

Round Robin play begins on August 15th. And depending on which division you want to watch play the fields are Poway sportsplex, hourglass community park, Robb athletic field, and kit carson park.

Heres a link the the series website.

http://www.series2005.org/

I snuck out of there about a year and a half ago now. Was just up there visiting last weekend. You guys are having a pretty spectacular summer.

I'll be at the Gay Games, but I'll likely be playing soccer.

Hey, softballstud, just what IS the history between the world series and the gay games? I guess I'm too new to the scene to know.

Perhaps this isn't the right forum for this question, I really am just curious... feel free to email me if you want to respond off-board.

Thanks!

There really isn't much of a history between them, it's just that it's gonna be difficult to get people to go to Chicago in July for the Gay Games and then have them come to Ft. Lauderdale for the Gay Softball World Series in August. Only so many gay softball dollars to go around, and each essentially requires people to be off of work for a week at a time. I do know, though, that Ft. Lauderdale's planning a HUGE World Series.

Thanks for all the hotel suggestions. My team decided to stay at a hotel central to all the fields and drive into downtown rather than stay downtown and then have to navigate through rush hour traffic to get to an 8 AM game.

As far as the Padres game, yeah, we saw that the GWS committee is doing an outing Friday night with them. Problem is, my team doesn't arrive until Saturday, so if we're gonna go, it's gotta be then.

I'm sure FLL will do the best they can, all things considered - competing around the same time with two major gay sporting events. I predict the GWS will have a great 'local' turnout, but can't imagine too many other teams outside of the 'south' will be able to attend two big week long tournaments. I've talked to quite a few teams that are disappointed they will not be able to do the GWS this year.

Personally, I've participated in 5 Gay World Series and only 1 Gay Games...so, for me, the choice is an easy one.