San Diegans have a reputation for being fair-weather fans—literally and figuratively. Whether or not that reputation is deserved is up for debate, but the fact is that professional sports teams struggle at times to generate sustained interest among local fans—unless, of course, the team is in the hunt for a championship. If the Padres or the Chargers are having a dismal season, chances are that more than a few Insiders will look elsewhere for entertainment, mainly because there’s so darn much to do here. Why waste an afternoon or evening watching the hometown boys turn in yet another lackluster performance when you could bask on the beach or sip champagne at an outdoor concert by the bay?
That said, don’t think for a moment that San Diegans don’t appreciate our sports teams. Scores of die-hard fans attend every home game (and many away games, too) simply out of sheer devotion and loyalty, regardless of the standings. And when the team is winning or an out-of-town superstar is making an appearance, tickets can be hard to come by.
In addition to the standards—football, baseball, golf, tennis, and auto racing—San Diegans are blessed with a couple of oddball (but highly entertaining) sports spectacles. Among them is Over-the-Line, a three-person-per-team softball game invented by some beach guys who believed that running the bases interfered too much with their beer drinking. From that philosophy was born a game celebrated every summer in a two-weekend tournament that draws players and spectators from all over the world. Somewhere along the line it has earned some actual credibility.
The X Games have been to San Diego twice, bringing along such extreme sports as sky surfing, bicycle stunt riding, and the downhill luge. Everyone hopes they’ll be back for future meets. Another repeat performer is the Super Bowl. In 1998 both the event itself and its weeklong festivities were so successful that the NFL brought it back in 2003. San Diegans were thrilled to watch the total rout of their archrivals, the Oakland Raiders, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Although San Diego does not have an NBA basketball team, there is no lack of exciting sporting events to fill the gap. Thunderboats—high-speed racing boats—roar across Mission Bay in an annual competition, thrilling onlookers with their death-defying speeds. A short trip south of the border is all you need to see the ancient and historic sport of bullfighting. And the beautifully renovated Del Mar Thoroughbred Club plays host to the sport of kings every summer.
We’ll fill you in on them all in this chapter. Some sports are annual events; some are held during a regular season. We’ll give you dates, ticket prices, and venues—all you have to do is make up your mind what appeals to you most. You’re likely to find a sporting event to watch on any day of the year. And if it’s a nice day, which it usually is, ignore the lure of the beach. The sun will be out at the stadium, too, and we guarantee you’ll have a great time.