Padres Acknowledge Dodgers’ Devoted Fanbase After Series
It’s well-known that the Los Angeles Dodgers boast a fiercely loyal fan base.
However, following their recent series loss, players from the San Diego Padres have come to appreciate the dedication of the Dodgers’ “die-hard” supporters.
As reported by Jeff Saunders from the San Diego Tribune, several Padres players remarked on the sea of blue filling the stands at Petco Park, making the atmosphere feel more like a Dodgers home game.
Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove, a local from El Cajon, described Saturday night’s game as “out of control,” noting that he felt about 90 percent of the fans were cheering for the Dodgers.
Musgrove, who is also a season ticket holder, suggested that the influx of Dodgers fans is largely due to other ticket holders selling their tickets for the game. “I mean, it makes sense,” he said, explaining that people are simply trying to recoup some money. “It seems like fans who’ve been to sold-out games all season are offloading their tickets for Dodger series.”
Since the start of the 2020s, the rivalry between the Dodgers and Padres has intensified. Both teams are perennial contenders for the World Series and have met in the playoffs three times over the last six years. Notably, there’s just a 194-mile distance between Petco Park and Dodger Stadium.
California, often called the “Sunshine State,” is home to five major league baseball teams: the Dodgers, Padres, San Francisco Giants, Anaheim Angels, and the Oakland Athletics, who are in the process of moving to Las Vegas.
If we exclude the Athletics, who are currently playing at a minor league stadium, four out of those five teams rank among the top 15 in average attendance this season, with the Padres at second (41,423) and the Dodgers at first (50,872).
The recent series took place right before the Fourth of July, during summer vacation, and with plenty of sunny days in southern California, it’s no surprise that fans would choose to watch baseball in droves.
Padres relief pitcher Jason Adam commented that if he lived in Los Angeles, he would gladly attend Dodgers games.
Former Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler reflected that he had witnessed Dodgers fans dominate opposing stadiums before, but claimed “this weekend was crazy.” He recalled experiences at various stadiums including Petco Park, Angel Stadium, and Chase Field in Phoenix.
In a more grounded view, before the series kicked off, Padres outfielder Samad Taylor treated the Dodgers matchup as just another game, acknowledging there would be a hefty number of fans—in either team’s colors—in attendance.
Musgrove and All-Star Jackson Merrill shared that during these high-energy games against the Dodgers, the atmosphere is simply noise to them, regardless of who is making it. “So, it doesn’t really matter if it’s our fans or theirs; if it’s loud, it all feels the same,” Musgrove remarked.
