The San Diego Padres are giving back while encouraging local students to improve their attendance.
The Padres have announced they will be giving out free tickets to San Diego Unified School District elementary school students, their families, and the staff who oversee the best increases in attendance.
Padres star Manny Machado has been one of the leading spokespeople for this campaign, sending a message to students to encourage them to be present for school.
“Being on the field every day develops my skills as a player. Being in the classroom every day develops your skills as a student. This way you, too, can achieve your dreams. The sky’s the limit. So remember to be like a pro, always go.”
— Manny Machado, via Domenick Candelieri of Fox 5 San Diego.
Qualified students who improve their attendance will be entered for tickets to a game. The contest will occur from March to April, and the winners will be picked in May.
Tickets were scarce in 2023, when the Padres ranked third in average home attendance at Petco Park. They're still the only ticket in town among major pro sports franchises, but the Padres might not be as hot a ticket in 2024 with the absence of Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Josh Hader and other stars.
Hopefully, attending a game is enough of an incentive to encourage students to attend school.
More must-reads: