The best part about living in San Diego is, well, that we get to live here.
But all too often, those of us in America’s Finest City stay close to home. Life’s easier when you don’t have to fight traffic, find parking or purchase tickets.
That ends today.
Here’s a look at 12 sporting events — one each month, all year long — that will help you become not only a better sports fan in 2026 but a more well-rounded San Diegan, too. The following list of local events is by no means comprehensive given that some teams have yet to announce their schedules and, of course, times and dates are subject to change. But consider it a good start.
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So let’s get moving. The first one is Friday!
January: Take in the latest Holiday Bowl in history
This year’s Holiday Bowl will technically be played next year, part of a scheduling quirk that moves San Diego’s annual bowl game to Friday, Jan. 2. The past two Holiday Bowls were marked by opt-outs — USC star Caleb Williams missed in 2024, and Washington State left its quarterback and coach at home in 2025 — but this year’s matchup at Snapdragon Stadium should be a good one. Both No. 21 Arizona (9-3) and SMU (8-4) boast star quarterbacks and pass-happy offensive schemes that fit perfectly with the Holiday Bowl’s reputation as America’s Most Exciting Bowl Game. Just make sure you know the difference between “Pony Up” and “Bear Down” before you go.
Mark your calendars:
Jan. 11: USATF National Marathon Race Walk Championships in Santee
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Jan. 16-18: San Diego Rodeo at Petco Park
Jan. 17: Monster Energy AMA Supercross at Snapdragon Stadium
Golfers walk on the green of the fifth hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South Course on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
February: Follow the leader at the Farmers Insurance Open
This year’s Farmers Insurance Open wraps on Feb. 1, giving San Diego’s golf fans a chance to take in world-class competition at Torrey Pines Golf Course. The Open returns to a more traditional Thursday-through-Sunday format after being held Wednesday through Saturday in past years. The vibe is coastal cool: even if you don’t know who won in 2025 (Harris English) or 2024 (Matthieu Pavon), you’ll never forget the sweeping views and good-time crowds at Torrey Pines. But bring a quarter-zip: It gets windy (and foggy) out there.
Mark your calendars:
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Feb. 1: Final day of the San Diego Open at the Barnes Tennis Center
Feb. 3: San Diego FC vs. Pumas UNAM in Concacaf Champions Cup first-round play at Snapdragon Stadium
Feb. 22: Harlem Globetrotters at Pechanga Arena
Feb. 26: FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifying game: USA men’s basketball national team vs. Dominican Republic at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside
Feb. 27: “No Boxing, No Life” fight card at SeaWorld’s Nautilus Arena
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Feb. 28: UC San Diego men’s basketball “Senior Night” vs. Cal Poly at LionTree Arena
March: Step into the Madness at Viejas Arena
The NCAA Tournament returns to Viejas Arena March 20 and 22 for the first two rounds of regional play. And while San Diego State won’t be there — NCAA rules prohibit teams from playing on their home courts in the tournament – there’s bound to be men’s basketball blue-bloods in the building. The nation’s top-ranked team, Arizona, is a good bet to stay in the West if it continues to win; if not, perennial powerhouses like Gonzaga or UCLA could post up in San Diego for the Friday-Sunday series. Buy your tickets now, but be warned: Watching a full day of NCAA Tournament games in person is intense, exhausting — and exhilarating.
Mark your calendars:
March 1: FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifying game: USA national basketball team vs. Mexico at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside
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March 13-14: National Women’s Soccer League’s opening weekend; San Diego Wave’s schedule/opponent TBA
March 21-22: Savannah Bananas Baseball at Petco Park
March 23: San Diego Strike Force season opener vs. Northern Arizona Wranglers at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside
March 24-25: UC San Diego baseball vs. Oregon at Triton Field
March 26: San Diego Padres’ 2026 season opener vs. Detroit Tigers at Petco Park
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March 27-29: San Diego Crew Classic on Mission Bay
March 28: Ironman 70.3 Triathlon in Oceanside
April: Guide the Gulls into the playoffs at Pechanga Arena
The San Diego Gulls last made the American Hockey League playoffs in 2021. They haven’t advanced past the first round since 2019. But hockey hope springs eternal, and there’s reason to believe that San Diego’s struggles won’t last forever. The club wraps the 2025-26 regular season on April 18 with a home game against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and there could be a playoff spot at stake. This year’s Gulls have enough Anaheim Ducks prospects that they could make a push. And if not? Well, Gulls games are always a good time. The club finished eighth in the 32-team AHL in attendance last season.
Mark your calendars:
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April 2: Final day of San Diego Lions Baseball Tournament, various sites
April 12: 40th annual Carlsbad 5000 race, Carlsbad
April 17: San Diego Seals Fan Appreciation Night vs. Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Pechanga Arena
April 23-26: Lakeside Rodeo, Lakeside
April 30: San Diego Mojo regular-season finale vs. Grand Rapids Rise at Viejas Arena
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May: Put some heat on the Whitecaps
The last time the Vancouver Whitecaps visited San Diego, they scored two goals in the first 11 minutes and ended San Diego FC’s season in the Major League Soccer Western Conference final. Well, Vancouver is back in town on May 23, and SDFC will be eager to pay back its rival. Wear your tennis shoes, bring cough drops and prepare to stand, chant and sing in SDFC’s final match before its two-month World Cup break.
Mark your calendars:
May 7-15: Etchells World Championship Regatta at San Diego Yacht Club
May 22-27: NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Carlsbad
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May 29-June 3: NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Carlsbad
May 29-31: Beach Soccer Championships (BeSoCha) in Oceanside
May 31: Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon, finishing at Balboa Park
NASCAR’s Anduril 250 Cup race will be held on Naval Base Coronado in June. (NASCAR)
June: Witness San Diego racing history in Coronado
San Diego will host its first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race as part of a three-day celebration of racing and the military at Naval Station Coronado. The June 21 Anduril 250 is named in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States and the Navy. The Cup Series race caps a weekend that includes the June 19 Craftsman Truck Series race and June 20 Xfinity Series race. El Cajon native Jimmie Johnson, one of the greatest drivers in the history of NASCAR, will attempt to qualify for all three races.
Mark your calendars:
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June 13-20: United States Police & Fire Championships, 28 venues throughout San Diego County
June 16: USA Surfing Junior Championships, Oceanside
June 26-28: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park
July: Watch California’s best
The California State Summer Games return to San Diego in July. From July 17-20, more than 10,000 kids age 18 and under will participate in 29 sports competitions spread throughout San Diego County. (We’re talking everything from archery and artistic swimming to basketball, skateboarding, squash, track and field and wrestling.) The Games begin July 17 with an opening ceremony and Athlete Parade at Pechanga Arena.
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Mark your calendars:
July 1: San Diego State moves to the Pac-12 Conference
July 11-12, 18-19: OMBAC Over-the-Line World Championships at Fiesta Island
July 17: Opening day of horse racing at Del Mar
July 26: Solana Beach Triathlon and 5K in Solana Beach
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August: Get some sun in Oceanside
The 49th annual World Bodysurfing Championships will be held Aug. 15-16 at the Oceanside Pier. As many as 400 bodysurfers will compete for awards in numerous age divisions, with men’s and women’s grand champions crowned at the end of the second day. Bodysurfing begins at 6:30 a.m. both days.
Mark your calendars:
Aug. 16: CVC San Diego Triathlon in Chula Vista
Aug. 30: Pacific Classic at Del Mar
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September: Party like it’s 1998 at Petco Park
It’ll be 1998 all over again on Sept. 4-6, when the New York Yankees visit Petco Park for an interleague series. New York is 21-10 all-time against the Padres, but it’s the Yankees’ first four wins that sting the most. Derek Jeter, Scott Brosius and Co. swept the Padres from the 1998 World Series, four games to none. The Padres haven’t reached the World Series since.
Mark your calendars:
Sept. 5: USD football opener vs. UC Davis at Torero Stadium
Sept. 11-20: World Surf League competition at Lower Trestles
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Sept. 19: San Diego State vs. Oregon State football at Snapdragon Stadium
Sept. 27: San Diego Padres’ regular-season finale vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park
October: Cross the border
October’s Binational Race might be the only half-marathon that starts in one country and finishes in a different one. The event starts at Las Americas in San Ysidro, takes runners through the San Ysidro-El Chaparral International Checkpoint and ends at Playas de Tijuana in Mexico. Race organizers say the Binational Race is “part of a regional movement promoting cultural, social, academic, sports, political, and family exchanges between San Diego and Tijuana.” Want to run? Be sure to bring your passport, global entry or sentry card.
Mark your calendars:
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Oct. 22-25: USA Ultimate Frisbee Championships at Surf Cup Sports Park in Del Mar
Oct. 31-Nov. 8: USA Pickleball National Championships at Barnes Tennis Center
November: Stuff yourself with college hoops
The Rady Children’s Invitational has brought its fair share of basketball blue-bloods to San Diego, but UCLA is special. The Bruins of the (ugh) Big Ten Conference highlight the 2026 Rady’s field at Jenny Craig Pavilion, one that also includes Georgetown, Texas and Saint Mary’s. The two-day event starts with two games on Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving — and wraps the next day with championship and third-place games.
Mark your calendars:
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Nov. 7: San Diego FC’s regular-season finale vs. Sporting Kansas City at Snapdragon Stadium
Dates TBA: CIF San Diego Section football championships, various sites
Runners at the starting line of a Santa Run in Pacific Beach. (Courtesy of San Diego Running Co.)
December: See Santa run at the Santa Run
One of San Diego’s enduring holiday traditions, the 14th annual San Diego Santa Run will take place Dec. 12 on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach. Runners can choose between a traditional 5K, a 1-mile kids run or the very P.B. “dog mile,” a 1-mile race you can run alongside your pooch. The event takes place just before the annual Pacific Beach Christmas Parade. Participants in the 5K receive a “Sunny Santa” suit, sunglasses and a drink ticket, while other racers get Santa hats, shirts and sunglasses.
Mark your calendars:
Dec. 19: San Diego Holiday Half-Marathon and 5K, starting in Rancho Penasquitos
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Date TBA: Alex Spanos All-Star Classic at Mira Mesa High School
Dates TBA: Torrey Pines Holiday Classic basketball tournament, various locations throughout San Diego County
36.9 — The percentage of groundballs that Márquez yielded in 2025, a career low and significantly below his career average (48%). Márquez’s groundball rate was regularly above 50% before requiring Tommy John surgery in early 2023. He made one start in 2024 and struggled mightily while making 26 starts last year.
TRENDING
Down — Márquez had a 4.40 ERA through his first seven years in the majors, not bad considering he pitched roughly half his games at one of the best hitting environments in the majors. In fact, Márquez has a 5.17 ERA in his career at Coors Field and a 4.22 ERA in road environments. But Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery early in 2023, made one start in the majors in mid-July in 2024 (4 IP, 3 ER) and struggled throughout his first full year back in the Rockies rotation. The season was so difficult for Márquez that he was actually worse on the road (7.32 ERA) than he was in 11 starts at Coors Field (5.98 ERA). His strikeout rate (5.9 per nine innings) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.73) were the worst of his careers, as was his walk rate (3.4 per nine innings), while his hit rate (12.0 per nine innings) was the second worst of his career. On top of that, Márquez’s groundball rate was also the lowest of his career (see stat to note) and ranked in the bottom 22nd percentile of the league and his hard-hit rate (48.5%) and average exit velocity (91.7 mph) both ranked in the bottom 2 percentile of the league. One reason: a 94.8 mph four-seamer is down a few ticks than the height of his effectiveness. Márquez reached free agency after the season and signed with the Padres in February.
2026 OUTLOOK
Márquez has a big-league deal with the Padres, but he’ll have to rediscover his pre-elbow-reconstruction form to hold onto a roster spot, as RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) is expected to push for a spot at some point this season and the likes of LHP JP Sears, RHP Matt Waldron and minor league signees like Marco Gonzales could warrant looks if Márquez’s struggles continue into 2026.
German Marquez #33 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
In today’s Daily Dirt, I mentioned that the search at San Diego was done. Here’s the official announcement from USD on the hiring of JR Blount as their next head men’s basketball coach:
University of San Diego Athletics has named JR Blount the 15th head coach in San Diego men’s basketball program history, USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey announced on Monday.
Blount arrives in San Diego with a reputation as one of college basketball’s rising coaching talents after helping lead Iowa State to four NCAA Tournament appearances in four seasons.
He joins the Toreros after five seasons on T.J. Otzelberger’s staff at Iowa State, where the Cyclones compiled a 95-45 record during his tenure, won the 2024 Big 12 Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024 — one of the most successful stretches in program history. Iowa State finished in the AP Top 15 in each of those four seasons and climbed as high as No. 2 nationally in each of the last two years. During the 2025-26 season, the Cyclones opened with a 16-0 start, highlighted by victories over No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 Houston, No. 9 Kansas and No. 14 St. John’s.
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“After a thorough and highly competitive national search, we are proud to welcome JR Blount as the next head coach of USD men’s basketball,” said Massey. “JR is an outstanding leader, a relentless competitor and one of the brightest rising coaches in college basketball. Even more importantly, throughout this process I came to know him as a humble leader with strong integrity and deep family values. JR has been a part of winning at every level of his career and understands what it takes to build a program that competes with toughness, discipline and consistency. Just as importantly, he believes in developing young men holistically and leading in a way that reflects the values of this university.
“This is a pivotal moment for our program and JR’s vision aligns with our belief that San Diego men’s basketball should compete in the upper tier of the WCC and position itself to be a regular NCAA Tournament participant. We are excited about what lies ahead under his leadership.”
“As a product of Catholic education and deeply committed to USD’s mission and values, Coach Blount is an outstanding role model for the young men in our Torero basketball program,” said USD President James T. Harris III. “He brings an impressive resume with deep experience, a winning track record and — above all — a commitment to the overall wellbeing of our student-athletes.”
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead USD men’s basketball,” Blount said. “We are so thankful to Athletic Director Kimya Massey and President Harris for this opportunity. This is more than just a coaching position for me — it’s a chance to become part of a community and build something meaningful. My wife and our three daughters are excited to make this move together and we can’t wait to invest in this university and the relationships that make it special.
I come to USD with a deep desire to win — to compete relentlessly, to develop our young men to their fullest potential and to build a program our fans can be proud of. Winning championships is important, but so is building a culture of toughness, accountability and love. We’re going to work every day to represent USD the right way, on and off the court. I’m ready to get started.”
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Blount played a key role in Iowa State’s rise under Otzelberger, helping orchestrate one of the most significant program turnarounds in recent Division I history. In his first season with the Cyclones in 2021-22, Iowa State rebounded from a two-win campaign the year before to finish 22-13 and advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Cyclones quickly established a national reputation for defensive toughness, ranking among the nation’s best in scoring defense, defensive efficiency, steals and turnovers forced.
Over the next three seasons, Blount helped Iowa State sustain that momentum. In 2022-23, the Cyclones advanced to the NCAA Tournament and recorded nine wins over AP Top 25 opponents, tied for the most in school history. In 2023-24, Iowa State won the Big 12 Championship, finished 29-8, posted an undefeated 18-0 record at Hilton Coliseum and advanced to the Sweet 16. Most recently, the 2024-25 Cyclones finished 25-10, climbed as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, earned another NCAA Tournament appearance and closed the season ranked No. 17 nationally.
Known for his work in player development, recruiting and culture-building, Blount has mentored multiple all-conference and All-America caliber players throughout his coaching career. At Iowa State, he developed some of the Big 12’s top performers while contributing to a program identity rooted in toughness, connectivity and competitive excellence.
Prior to Iowa State, Blount spent three seasons at Colorado State, where he helped elevate the Rams into one of the Mountain West’s top programs. During his tenure in Fort Collins, Colorado State signed the highest-rated recruiting class in program history and posted consecutive 20-win seasons, including a 20-8 finish and a run to the NIT semifinals in 2020-21. He also played a leadership role in Colorado State’s Together Initiative, which promoted social justice and racial equality on campus.
Blount also previously served in coaching roles at Drake and Saint Leo and began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where the program won the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship.
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A former three-year team captain and two-time team MVP at Loyola University Chicago, Blount later played professionally for the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League during the 2010-11 season. He earned degrees in psychology and sociology from Loyola in 2009 and later received his master’s degree in education from UW-Stevens Point in 2012.
A native of Milwaukee, Blount and his wife, Ashley, have three daughters: Maya, Zuri and Gema.
UNIVERSITY CITY (KGTV) — San Diego police are investigating the death of an 81-year-old woman who was found unresponsive in her apartment in the 6300 block of Genesee Avenue.
Officers and San Diego Fire-Rescue personnel responded to a 9-1-1 call at about 11:56 p.m. on March 6.
First responders found the woman in her bedroom, unresponsive and “positioned awkwardly on a bed.” Despite immediate life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives from the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit were called to the scene due to “unusual circumstances,” police said. The cause and manner of death remain undetermined.
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Investigators are working with the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine what happened.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
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