SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres announced details today surrounding the 2019 Opening Series presented by Sycuan Casino Resort against the San Francisco Giants, including Opening Day on Thursday, March 28, when left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer takes the mound for his 2019 debut and first career Opening Day start. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m., and every fan in attendance will receive a Padres Opening Day Hat presented by Sycuan Casino Resort.

Thursday’s pregame ceremony will feature all the pageantry of Opening Day, including the unfurling of the Holiday Bowl Big Flag, held by sailors from numerous units stationed throughout San Diego. In celebration of the Padres 50th Anniversary, the Ceremonial Bell presented by Mission Federal Credit Union will be rung by an original Season Ticket Member from 1969, the Padres’ inaugural season as a Major League franchise. San Diego native Brian Justin Crum, former contestant on NBC’s hit show America’s Got Talent, will perform the National Anthem and will be followed by a flyover performed by four F-18 Hornets from the VMFAT–101 Sharp Shooters stationed at MCAS Miramar. Former Padres Trevor Hoffman and Randy Jones — Class of 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and 1976 Cy Young Award winner, respectively — will throw the game’s Ceremonial First Pitch. In addition, Petty Officer First Class Yarrick Sharod Conner of the United States Navy will perform God Bless America prior to the 7th-inning stretch

With a sellout on Opening Day and high attendance expected the remaining three games of the series, fans attending the opening series are advised to enter the ballpark early and pre-purchase parking. Fans will be able to purchase parking for off-site locations, including the San Diego Convention Center, Bayfront Hilton and Horton Plaza by visiting this page. Guests without pre-purchased parking passes are encouraged to utilize public transportation.

All Petco Park gates will open at 10:30 a.m. on Opening Day. This will afford fans the opportunity to watch the Padres take batting practice. Home team batting practice concludes at approximately 11:00 a.m., followed by visitors’ batting practice at approximately 11:05 a.m. Fans should be in their seats no later than 12:30 p.m. to enjoy the entire 2019 Opening Day pregame ceremony.

Continuing this year, standard Petco Park security procedures, including walk-through metal detectors, will be in place for every game. All fans must be screened as they enter the ballpark. Fans also will continue to have their bags checked by ballpark security staff prior to reaching entry gates and going through metal detectors. Express Entry lines will be available at all main gates for fans without bags and dedicated entrances are available for Season Ticket Members at the Home Plate and Park Blvd. Gates. Additional information, including a list of items that are permitted and prohibited at Petco Park, can be found here.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will offer additional "Special Event" trolley service for the opening series from SDCCU Stadium (with 5,000 free parking spots) and Mission Valley stations to the ballpark area. All three Trolley Lines — the Sycuan Green Line, the UC San Diego Blue Line and the Orange Line — offer direct service to Petco Park and increased service following the game. The North County Transit District (NCTD) will offer extra Coaster service with trains departing from Oceanside Station at 9:37 a.m. and 11:08 a.m. on Opening Day. Free parking is available at all North County Coaster stations and Coaster Regional Day passes include free trolley connections. After each game Thursday through Sunday, a northbound Coaster train will leave Santa Fe Depot 60 minutes after the last out.For more information and updates, visit the Petco Park transportation page here.

Game two of the Opening Series presented by Sycuan Casino Resort will feature the first Party in the Park presented by Southwest Airlines of the 2019 season as the Padres face the Giants at 7:10 p.m. Party in the Park is a pregame happy hour in Park at the Park from 4:30-7:00 p.m. featuring $5 drink specials and live entertainment. Friday’s theme will beBeerFest, featuring beer specials from local and national breweries, including the refreshing new Swingin’ Friar Ale collaboration from the Padres and Ballast Point. First Responder Opening Day will also take place on Friday, where the Padres will be honoring the Police Departments of San Diego County with a baseline ceremony and a $10,000 donation to the San Diego Police Foundation for the purchase of special “plate carriers.” Officer Marco Christomo, an 18-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, will ring the Ceremonial Bell presented by Mission Federal Credit Union. Detective Alicia “Chudy” McLaughlin from the Chula Vista Police Department will perform the National Anthem and Chula Vista Police Officer Christopher Lawrence will throw Friday’s Ceremonial First Pitch. To conclude the pregame ceremonies, nine officers from each police department will take the field to greet Padres starters at their positions.

The first Baseball Night in San Diego will take place on Saturday, highlighted by an all-fan giveaway and postgame entertainment. All fans in attendance will receive a 50**th** Anniversary Swingin’ Friar Bobblehead presented by Sycuan Casino Resort and are encouraged to stick around after the game for a Postgame Fireworks Show presented by T-Mobile set to classic rock music.

The fourth and final game of the Opening Series presented by Sycuan Casino Resort against the Giants will be highlighted by Military Opening Day presented by USAA. Sunday’s pregame events will include the U.S. Navy Parachute Team known as the “Leap Frogs” and a baseline ceremony with more than 100 servicemembers representing each branch of the armed forces. The Ceremonial Bell presented by Mission Federal Credit Union will be rung by Staff Sergeant Nicholas Shumway of the U.S. Army San Diego Recruiting Company. U.S. Navy (Ret.) Captain Jack Ensch, who served as the Padres first-ever director of military affairs, will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch. A flyover will be performed by four F-18 Super-Hornets from the VFA-154 Black Knights, stationed at NAS Lemoore, Calif., and nine active duty representatives from all branches of the military will take the field to greet Padres starters as part of the “Military Take the Field.” U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Mike Dalager will perform Sunday’s National Anthem prior to the game as well as God Bless America during the 7th-inning stretch.

KidsFest presented by Chick-fil-A will also take place on Sunday, which features bounce houses and other inflatables, games, face painters, balloon artists and more kid-friendly activities. Additionally, there will be a Compadres Kids Sunday Signings autograph opportunity with Padres players in Park at the Park prior to the game exclusively for children with a Compadres Kids membership, as well as Postgame Run the Bases for kids 14 and under following Sunday’s game. The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive aPadres & Puppies Calendar presented by Petco.

Following Sunday’s game, the Padres will conclude their opening homestand with a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks from April 1-3. Each game of the series and the final game of the Giants series on March 31 will feature Friar Family Days presented by Denny’s — a ticket package that includes $20 tickets for adults, $15 tickets for children (14 and younger) and a hot dog and soda — as well as the first Taco Tuesday of 2019 on April 2, with $2.50 tacos from some of the most popular local restaurants featured at Park at the Park. Padres infielder, Ian Kinsler, will also be presented with his 2018 Gold Glove award during Tuesday’s pregame ceremony.

In addition to Friar Family Day’s presented by Denny’s, the Padres provide a variety of special value offerings for the military and first responders. The Padres will continue to offer discounts for the military (50 percent off on Sundays and 25 percent off all other days) and first responders (50 percent off on Fridays and 25 percent off all other days). The Freedom Reserve Section presented by Budweiser ($5 tickets for Monday through Thursday games and $10 tickets for Friday through Sunday games) will be available every home game for active duty military and their dependents.

Tickets for all home games can be purchased by visiting www.padres.com or the Advance Ticket Windows at Petco Park. In addition, fans are encouraged to download the MLB Ballpark app and select the Padres as their favorite team to access their digital tickets throughout the 2019 season.