Padres announce 2013 promotional schedule

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced the club's 2013 promotional schedule, including Friday night festivities, Saturday fan giveaways and Military Salute Sundays. Single-game tickets for the 2013 season will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, March 7.

Petco Park will once again be the place to be on Friday nights in San Diego, with the return of pregame theme parties at the Park at the Park nearly every week. Themes include Ultimate Cookout (April 12), two Beerfest events (May 3, Sept. 6), Wine Festival (Aug. 16) and Hispanic Heritage Night presented by Verizon (Sept. 20).  The events may feature food and drink specials starting at 5:00 p.m. New in 2013, every Friday home game will feature live music from local San Diego bands at Park at the Park. Entry to the Friday parties is included with a paid ticket to that night's game.

Three Friday night Retro Nights in 2013 will pay tribute to past Padres teams, including the 1998 National League Championship team (June 14), the Pacific Coast League Padres (July 12) and a 1980's team (May 17), which will be announced at a later date.

Four Friday nights (April 26, July 12, Aug. 23 and Sept. 20) will feature postgame fireworks shows, while Summer Sky Blast will return to Petco Park on Saturday, June 15.

Saturdays are Baseball Nights in San Diego. The 2013 fan giveaway lineup features the return of a fan favorite with the Chase Headley bobblehead presented by FOX Sports San Diego (April 13) and five wearable items – an Opening Day T-shirt presented by Sycuan (April 9), a Padres T-shirt presented by Cymer (May 18), a Padres replica jersey and matching pet bandana presented by Petco (June 1), a Padres ballcap (August 24) and a Padres Fan Appreciation T-shirt (September 26). Popular items like the Padres beach towel presented by COX (May 4) and the Padres rally towel presented by TaylorMade (June 22) round out the giveaway schedule.

Home Sundays this season will continue the tradition of a family-focused day honoring San Diego's military, with 13 Military Salute Sunday games and Sunday Signings every home weekend. Military Opening Day presented by Northrop Grumman is set for Sunday, April 14. In addition to six individual branch appreciation days presented by USAA in 2013, the Padres will bring back Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 5), Salute to the Military Child (June 16), Salute to Veterans (Aug. 18) and a Military Family Salute presented by USAA (Sept. 22).

On six Tuesdays during the 2013 season (April 23, May 21, June 25, July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 24), the Padres will salute representatives of San Diego's First Responder community, including Police, Fire-Rescue and Sheriff.

Every Thursday night home game in 2013 is College Night, with specially-priced tickets for college students with a valid student ID.

Single-game tickets for the 2013 season will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, March 7. In the meantime, this Saturday's FanFest presented by State Farm will be the first opportunity for fans to guarantee their seats for some of the biggest match-ups of the 2013 season, including the New York Yankees' first-ever visit to Petco Park. The Padres Budweiser 6 Pack includes the choice of one Yankees game (either Friday Aug. 2 or Sunday Aug. 4), and five additional games, with Opening Day and select other games excluded. The Budweiser 6 Pack is available in three seating locations, with prices starting at $99. The package will be available online, at the Petco Park box office and by phone at 619.795.5555 beginning at 7:30 a.m. on February 9.

The only way for fans to guarantee their seats now for the Padres' 2013 home opener, Tuesday, April 9 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, is through a Padres Membership. As is always the case, Blue, Gold and Platinum Members receive the best seats and prices, as well as access to year-round events and discounts. Visit www.padres.com for the complete 2013 schedule.