The 2016 MLB All-Star Game at Petco Park

On July 12, 2016, Major League Baseball’s best stars took the field at Petco Park for the 87th All-Star Game. It marked a historic moment for San Diego—the third time the Padres had hosted the Midsummer Classic, but the first at their downtown ballpark.

The previous All-Star Games in San Diego were held at the old Jack Murphy Stadium (later Qualcomm Stadium) in 1978 and 1992. By 2016, Petco Park had matured into one of baseball’s premier venues, and the city was ready to showcase its crown jewel on the national stage.

The Game That Happened

The American League defeated the National League 4-2, extending the AL’s dominance in the exhibition (they’d win the next several years as well). The game featured:

• Eric Hosmer (Kansas City Royals) – Named All-Star Game MVP after going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs
• Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs) – Hit a solo home run for the NL
• Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers) – Started for the National League
• Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox) – Started for the American League
• Padres representation – San Diego had no position players selected, though Drew Pomeranz made the NL pitching staff

The game drew 42,386 fans—a sellout that filled Petco Park with baseball royalty and San Diego pride.

All-Star Weekend Events (July 10-12, 2016)

The All-Star Game was the centerpiece of a three-day celebration that took over downtown San Diego. MLB’s All-Star Weekend included:

Sunday, July 10: Celebrity Softball Game

The All-Star Sunday Celebrity Softball Game brought actors, musicians, and athletes together for a lighthearted exhibition that kicked off the festivities. Think less competition, more entertainment.

Monday, July 11: Home Run Derby

The marquee Monday night event. Baseball’s biggest power hitters competed in the annual Home Run Derby, with Petco Park’s intimate dimensions providing a perfect backdrop for moonshots into the San Diego night.

Winner: Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins) defeated Todd Frazier in the final round, launching 61 total home runs during the competition—a performance that had the crowd on its feet all night.

Tuesday, July 12: The 2016 All-Star Game

The main event. First pitch at 5:00 PM PT, broadcast nationally on FOX. The game was followed by a spectacular fireworks show over Petco Park—a San Diego summer tradition on steroids.

Concert Performances at Embarcadero Marina Park South

Live music has become a staple of All-Star Week festivities, and 2016 delivered with a packed lineup at the waterfront Embarcadero Marina Park South (capacity: 7,000).

Friday, July 8:
OneRepublic with NEEDTOBREATHE

Saturday, July 9 (Noon):
Tori Kelly with All Time Low

Saturday, July 9 (7:00 PM):
Gwen Stefani with Eve
The main attraction. The Anaheim-born, chart-topping solo artist and No Doubt frontwoman headlined the weekend. No Doubt about that.

Additional performances and appearances rounded out the week as the All-Star Game drew closer, turning downtown San Diego into a baseball and music festival for four days straight.

Ticket Information (2016)

How tickets worked: Unlike regular season games, you couldn’t buy single tickets to just the All-Star Game. MLB required fans to purchase a ticket package (or “strip”) that included all weekend events—the Celebrity Softball Game, Home Run Derby, and the All-Star Game itself.

Season Ticket Holder Priority: Padres season ticket holders received first access to All-Star packages, allocated by seniority. However, even longtime season ticket holders weren’t guaranteed tickets—demand far exceeded supply, and thousands of fans were left hoping for the secondary market.

Prices for All-Star packages ranged from several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on seating location. It was expensive, exclusive, and worth every penny for those who got in.

What It Meant for San Diego

The 2016 All-Star Game was more than just an exhibition. It was validation that Petco Park—only 12 years old at the time—had become an elite baseball venue worthy of hosting the sport’s premier annual event.

For San Diego, it meant:

• National television exposure showcasing the city’s downtown, waterfront, and near-perfect summer weather
• Economic impact estimated in the tens of millions from visiting fans, media, and MLB personnel
• Pride for a baseball town that had endured decades of losing seasons but never stopped supporting the Padres
• Proof that Petco Park belonged in conversations with Fenway, Wrigley, and other iconic ballparks

The Padres may have been struggling on the field in 2016 (they’d finish 68-94), but for one magical July week, San Diego was the center of the baseball universe.

Looking Back

Nearly a decade later, the 2016 All-Star Game stands as one of Petco Park’s defining moments. It showcased everything San Diego does well: beautiful weather, world-class hospitality, and a genuine love for baseball that transcends wins and losses.

While MLB hasn’t announced when the All-Star Game will return to San Diego, fans who were there in 2016 remember it as a perfect summer week when the world’s best players came to town and Petco Park proved it was ready for the spotlight.