Questions about Qualcomm Stadium (Lions game Sunday)
I was thinking of grabbing a couple last minute tickets to the Lions/Chargers game on Sunday. I had a couple questions for those who are familiar with Qualcomm.
-Parking: I've heard parking can be a nightmare. Does anyone have a recommendation on where I should try, or an idea on how much I can expect to pay? I don't know anyone out here so tailgating isn't a priority.
-A lot of the StubHub tickets are listed as "no alcohol." Are these in fact alcohol-free sections of the stadium? I asked my coworker, a SD resident about this, and he was really confused.
-How bad are nosebleed seats? Is it more like Michigan Stadium where there are no bad seats in the house, or will it be like the Final Four in Atlanta where you can't tell who's on the field?
Thanks in advance...Go Lions, but more importantly Go Blue.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^
When I went I would usually park near Fashion Valley and cab it or walk up. It was about a 45 minute walk, but such was my aversion to stadium traffic. It all depends how early you are willing to go. Also with back to school and the Ikea being nearby earlier is better.
Granted I haven't been to a game since I last lived there which is going on 8 years now so there may be a better way
September 11th, 2015 at 12:11 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
You and me both. I'll be there again for a week in late November and my girlfriend has already prepared herself for the inevitable onslaught of whinging about the weather in Toronto that will follow our return
September 11th, 2015 at 4:14 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
Parking: You're screwed and there is no real way around it. There isn't even really a way to be able to pay for convinient parking. Expect to sit in traffic like there is a 10 car pile up ahead when trying to get to wherever you are going to park.
Alcohol: I've only been a few times but I've never seen an alcohol free section.
I've only sat in the lower sections but it seemed like all seats are decent enough.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^
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September 11th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
I agree -- park downtown and take the trolley and then trolley back to the gaslamp for after game fun.
The highways leading to the stadium get pretty jammed up, as others have mentioned and it's not really in a neighborhood setting.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
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September 11th, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^
Nose bleed seats are ok. I saw Michigan play Colorado St there in '94. I was in the lower bowl but near the top. Great seats actually. Back in the day it was called Jack Murphy stadium. Watched alot of Padre games there
September 11th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
http://www.sdmts.com/trolley/chargers.asp
Those are lists of places where you can park and take the trolley.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^
The stadium is at the bottom of Mission Valley with very limited ways to get out. So, after the game you're stuck for ages. It probably isn't quite as bad as the Rose Bowl, but not a lot better. And there are very few or no other options nearby to park and walk to the game. Taking a trolley or some other shuttle is a very good idea.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
Took trolley from Gaslamp to stadium. Was very easy. Sat in lower bowl. Have been in upper sections before and the view is fine, but they are steep. Trolley line leaving the game was fairly long, but car traffic looked even worse. Stopped in Old Town via trolley for dinner, and made it back to Gaslamp to watch the Sunday Night game at a bar. Would recommend taking the trolley, just prepare for a decent line on way back from stadium.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^
Wow, you don't get out much
September 11th, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 8:11 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^
Parking can take up to 30minutes just to get into the tailgating lot. Get off at Mission Valley, have a beer or two at the Titled Kilt then walk across the street and jump on the trolley (for two stops). Just be warned that it can take a long time to get on the trolley after the game and you get stuffed in on it like sardines. I wouldn't advise tailgating too loudly as a Lions fan...opposing fans don't get treated to friendly from the rougher part of the Charger fan base that probably resides closer to the Mexican border. The Dallas game a few years ago had an ugly incident since a lot of people go JUST to tailgate and get rowdy but never make it into the game. Inside the stadium it's much more civil.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
Either bite the bullet and park/tailgate at the stadium or do the trolley. Traffic will be a nightmare afterward regardless of where you park because Southern California.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^
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September 11th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
Nosebleed seats are not bad.. view is incredible of both the field/stadium as well as the background scenery (especially if you're facing the mountains towards the East). Also it's cooler up there, its supposed to be in the mid-80's meaning field level will be at least mid-90's and scorching. I've sat sideline before on a similarly hot day and it was not enjoyable.
I'll be there rooting for both teams with a rowdy group from Michigan.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 1:30 PM ^
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September 11th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
Last time I was in San Diego, I was driving around with my wife and we saw a sign for "Petco Park" and my wife said, "aww, that's so cute, San Diego must have a really big dog park."
September 11th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
due north of the stadium and walked down the hill. also can park across the freeway and walk over. unaware of no-booze sections but it make sense given that charger games aren't much better than raider games. be prepared to take beers and batteries in the back of the head if you are in the cheap seats and sporting lions gear.
much more fun to play at qualcomm (and park at the tunnel entrance to the stadium) than to watch.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
Just a warning about the trolly - lines leaving can be an absolute nightmare. Like, a couple hours waiting kind of nightmare.
Nosebleeds are fine, not especially bad or especially good compared to other stadiums. If you want to park onsite and tailgate, it's...ok. Again, not really much better or worse than other stadiums I've been to. There's a lot of parking available, but it can be a nightmare to navigate to an open spot; I would advise getting there well early, both so it's not as bad parking and you have adequate tailgating time. If you hang out and post-game tailgate for an hour or so after the game, traffic will have cleared to a tolerable degree.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
the trolley, which isn't far from the stadium there, I got seats in press level across from the scoreboard in the end zone and I'm pretty sure in the shade, it's really hot there in Sept.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:59 PM ^
The Hazzard Center trolley stop usually has plenty of parking and is several stops closer than Old Town...probably a lot more available parking than Old Town too. Echo that the trolley line to leave after the game is very long so hit the head on your way out.
September 11th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
September 11th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^
Take the trolley it is a must. Most seats are pretty good tall stadium fits like 65,000. Plenty of places to drink.
September 11th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
I used to have season tickets to the Chargers. The parking situation is not that bad if you are planning on getting there early (say 10am) to Tailgate or at least enjoy the Tailgate acitivities around you, which are a blast either way. If you are planning of showing up for game time, you might want to Park & Ride using the trolley as suggested by others. The only problem being if the game goes down to the wire and everyone stays, the trolley will be a nightmare to get onto at 4:30-5pm.
There are no alcohol free sections. The owner of the tickets might be saying he does not want you to be drinking and getting rowdy and jeopardizing his Season Tickets (picture a Chargers vs. Raiders game). When I had season tickets, we were in more of a family section and there was less drinking out of courtesy, but not any drinking altogether.
Hope this helps and I am super jealous you are going!