Coronado Golf Course

Coronado Golf Course, opened in 1957, is one of San Diego’s more walkable courses. Cited as a top SD course by the Golf Channel, the well-maintained public course offers views of the Coronado bridge and boats out on the water. The onsite restaurant serves American bites (including vegan options) for brunch and lunch.

2000 Visalia Row, Coronado

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Consistently ranked as one of Golf Digest’s 100 greatest courses, the challenging Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla hosted the 2021 US Open and puts on the annual PGA TOUR’s Farmers Insurance Open. Named after the rare Torrey Pine tree, which only grows along the San Diego coastline and Santa Rosa Island, the course has made its way onto many golfers’ bucket lists.

11480 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla

The Grand Golf Club

Located at the luxurious Fairmont Grand Del Mar, The Grand Golf Club and its 50,000-square-foot driving range are open to hotel guests. Three-hundred-and-sixty degree views of each hole are available online, helping give you a leg up if you’re trying to improve your handicap. And if your kiddo dreams of becoming a future Masters champion, this course is the perfect place to take them, as children 12 and under can play and rent clubs for free.

5300 Grand Del Mar Way, Del Mar

Aviara Golf Club

Aviara Golf Club is San Diego’s only course designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. Situated within Carlsbad’s Park Hyatt Aviara, this layout includes strategically placed bunkers and water features that provide both pretty views and tough obstacles. And, if you’d like to level up your gear game, the course’s TaylorMade Aviara Performance Center allows you to test clubs with 3D motion analysis technology. The club offers both public and resort fees, as well as online course videos that provide insight into hole details and potential strategies.

7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad

Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course

Designed by golf course architect William Francis Bell, the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course has hosted both PGA and LPGA events. Its 18th hole, surrounded by old-growth trees, is a fan favorite. Golf lessons are also available at the Carlsbad course, whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned golfer needing a couple tips or tweaks.

17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr, Rancho Bernardo

Singing Hills Golf Club

Singing Hills Golf Club supplies golfers with three courses in the Dehesa Valley of San Diego County. The Willow Glen course runs along the Sweetwater River and features narrow fairways, while the Oak Glen course is known for rolling greens and a beautiful, yet difficult, fifth hole. The nine-hole Pine Glen course is ideal for beginners or those looking to squeeze in a quick round. 

3007 Dehesa Road, El Cajon

Mt. Woodson Golf Club

The course at Mt. Woodson Golf Club in Ramona is tough—but you don’t need to worry about having an audience for any whiffs. Each hole is so secluded it’ll feel like you and your buddies are the only ones on the course. Open to the public and surrounded by serene, rocky hills, the club also houses a bar and grill with some of the best prices in town (hello, post-birdie BLT for under $9). 

16422 North Woodson Drive, Ramona

Goat Hill Park Golf Club

Originally built in 1952, Oceanside’s Goat Hill Park Golf Club was one of the first golf courses in San Diego County and began as a regulation-length nine-hole setup. In the early 1990s, it was redesigned into an 18-hole course, enhancing its appeal to golfers seeking a fun time on the links and a laid-back atmosphere.

2323 Goat Hill Drive, Oceanside

August 13, 2024

17 of San Diego's Best Tennis Courts and ClubsRELATED ARTICLE

Admiral Baker Golf Course

Admiral Baker Golf Course, located within the historic Navy complex near Tierrasanta, is notable for its two distinct 18-hole courses—the North and South. The lush fairways and well-maintained greens are complemented by facilities like a driving range and eatery.

2400 Admiral Baker Road, No. 3604, Tierrasanta

Carlton Oaks Golf Club

Once Phil Mickelson’s playing spot in his youth, Santee’s Carlton Oaks Golf Club has hosted a range of golf tournaments and events, including the Callaway Junior World Championships and NCAA Championships. The course tests players with pot bunkers and water hazards while still highlighting the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.

9200 Inwood Drive, Santee

Maderas Golf Club

Maderas Golf Club is a championship public course that winds through the rolling hills of Poway. Its 40 acres have been recognized by numerous golf publications. Players can rent Callaway clubs and also book lessons for themselves or their little golfers.

17750 Old Coach Road, Poway

Steele Canyon Golf Club

A 27-hole championship course in Jamul, Steele Canyon Golf Club was designed by Gary Player, one of golf’s all-time greats. Three nine-hole courses—The Canyon, The Ranch, and The Vineyard—offer diverse and challenging holes, earning the club a four-and-a-half-star rating from Golf Digest (it’s one of only three golf clubs in San Diego County with that honor).

3199 Stonefield Drive, Jamul

The Crossings at Carlsbad

Named after the bridges designed into the layout, The Crossings at Carlsbad offers a variety of terrains and elevation changes. Each hole features five separate areas to tee off, allowing players to customize both the length of the hole and their overall strategy. There are also stay-and-play rates and tee times for players through specific Carlsbad hotels and resorts.

5800 The Crossings Drive, Carlsbad

Rams Hill Golf Club

Nestled in the Anza-Borrego Desert is the Rams Hill Golf Club, a previously private but now public course that features captivating views of the mountains. The design tests golfers, especially the fifth hole, which includes deep bunkers and sits next to a lake you’ll have to work hard to keep your ball out of. 

1881 Rams Hill Road, Borrego Springs

Encinitas Ranch

Perched on a sweep of bluffs, Encinitas Ranch Golf Course offers magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean from every hole, making it one of the most picturesque courses in Southern California. The course offers rates for the public, with special discounts for Encinitas and Southern California residents. Encinitas Ranch includes the usual driving range and chipping green, along with a putting course that features two sets of six holes, a windmill, and benches if you’d rather crack open a cold one and watch your friends warm up.

1275 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas

The post 15 of the Best Golf Courses in San Diego appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

SDSU Men’s Basketball vs. UC San Diego

Wednesday, November 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Viejas Arena

Quick—since 2018, what men’s college basketball program has three conference championships, five NCAA tournament bids, two Sweet Sixteen appearances, and a Final Four victory? It’s not powerhouse Kentucky, which hasn’t been to the Final Four since 2015, or Duke, which has only two conference titles in that span. 

The answer is the San Diego State Aztecs. Head coach Brian Dutcher has built one of the best programs in the country, and he’s looking to hang even more banners at Viejas Arena this year after recruiting star guard Nick Boyd from Florida Atlantic University. But the Aztecs have a new rival to contend with.

October 24, 2024

The New Era of D1 Athletics for UCSDRELATED ARTICLE

In 2020, UC San Diego moved up to Division I, and, after a four-year “reclassification period,” the school is eligible for postseason play. San Diego could have two teams regularly competing in March Madness, and those teams kick off the 2024–25 season with their matchup on November 6. It could also be the start of a new era in San Diego sports, one where crosstown competition receives national attention. “The respect that we’re getting now at UC San Diego, they recognize that we’re forced to be reckoned with,” UCSD athletic director Earl Edwards told San Diego Magazine.  

San Diego Clippers vs. Rip City Remix

Friday, November 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Frontwave Arena

The wait is over. San Diego once again plays host to professional basketball after 40 long years, and that’s thanks to Oceanside’s brand-new Frontwave Arena. Before the venue’s opening in September, the team behind Frontwave Arena announced that the Los Angeles Clippers’ G League affiliate, the erstwhile Ontario Clippers, would be moving to North County. The now-San Diego Clippers are making their home opener even more special by dedicating it to Bill Walton.

One of San Diego’s favorite sons, Walton died in May at the age of 71. After starting at La Mesa’s Helix High, then playing for UCLA, he had a hall-of-fame career in the NBA and spent six years with the original San Diego Clippers. The game against Portland’s Rip City Remix will include a ceremony honoring Walton’s career and contributions, and the first 3,000 fans will receive a tie-dye t-shirt—Walton was well-known for his Grateful Dead fandom. Fittingly, the Electric Waste Band, a Grateful Dead tribute act, will perform at the pregame Fan Fest. 

San Diego Gulls vs. Bakersfield Condors

Saturday, November 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Pechanga Arena

Watch: AHLTV on FloHockey

It’s been a tough few years for the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ minor-league affiliate. They’ve missed the AHL playoffs the last two seasons, and so far this year, they’re last in the Pacific Division. It’s early in the season, though, and the Gulls have an opportunity to turn things around against the Bakersfield Condors when the team hosts Military Appreciation Night at Pechanga Arena. The first 8,000 fans in attendance will receive a Gulls Navy Hat sponsored by Indian Motorcycle of San Diego, and the players will wear special jerseys that honor the armed forces. 

Rady’s Children Invitational

Nov 28-29 | 7:30 p.m. | LionTree Arena

Watch: Fox / FS1

Hours of football and pounds of turkey aren’t the only things you can consume on Thanksgiving. In its few years of existence, the Rady’s Children Invitational (hosted by UC San Diego) has become a premier showcase in college basketball. Staged over the holiday weekend, this year’s edition features Purdue and NC State in a rematch of the 2024 Final Four semifinal, as well as March Madness regulars in BYU and Ole Miss. 

But you’ll have to catch the mini-tournament from the comforts of your couch if you don’t already have tickets. “Selling out the event months before tipoff is spectacular!” Jackie Reed, 2024 president of Sports San Diego, said in a statement. “We are grateful the basketball community and our local San Diego community are supporting this event with so much enthusiasm in our third year.”

SDSU Football vs. Air Force

Saturday, November 30 | Time: TBA | Snapdragon Stadium

Watch: Fox Sports Networks

It’s been a roller coaster season for first-year head coach Sean Lewis. After a blowout win in the opener, the Aztecs football team lost the next three games, then they emerged victorious in two straight match-ups, only to face defeat in the two games following that. At 3-5, the Aztecs will need to go 3-1 the rest of the way to qualify for a postseason bowl game, which would be a huge feat for the rookie coach and his team led by freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil. That’s not out of the question. Three of those games are against opponents with losing records, including Air Force, who the Aztecs will take on at Snapdragon Stadium in the regular season’s final game. “I think we’re really meshing together well right now and getting to know each other better every single week,” Lewis recently said about his team. 

The post 5 San Diego Sporting Events to Watch: Nov. 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Fame came anyway.

Najjar and her brother Sean were students together at Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley. Sean was on the wrestling team before eventually moving into mixed martial arts. “He was like, ‘Come to the fighting gym with me,’” Najjar recalls. She wasn’t very active at the time but was curious about the sport. “I went to my first boxing class and I fell in love.”

Soon, she began helping her brother sell tickets to his fights and promoting his merch while learning to coach. As she improved her skills, she quickly became one of the most sought-after boxing trainers in the area. While Sean now occasionally competes in jiu-jitsu tournaments, Najjar found a space in the boxing world that few women occupy: mitt holding. Ever seen a fighter in training, jabbing at a strike pad while the person clutching the pads deftly matches their strikes and absorbs the impact? Najjar is that person.

Her talents garnered her the nickname “Mitt Queen” amongst her male counterparts in the gym. Now 36, the Carmel Mountain resident counts pro fighters, high-profile athletes, and celebrities among her trainees.

“She made herself into her own. She carried the torch,” says Berlin Kerney, a boxing coach at Bomber Squad Academy in El Cajon. He has known Najjar since she was 18. “I feel like she helped [women] think it’s possible to achieve a level that wasn’t really seen before. There was no market, no spot for a female mitt holder. I see a lot of [women] now doing the same thing that she has done.”

But her rise took time. In 2020, when Covid was keeping us indoors, Najjar quit her job at Louis Vuitton (her other love is high fashion) to begin filming her workouts.

“I cleaned up my whole Instagram, got rid of everything, [and] said, ‘I’m going to stick to just mitt work and I’ll show a little bit of myself,’” Najjar says. “I posted my first video with [pro boxer] Jonny [Mansour], and it went viral.”

She began posting regularly, growing over months from hundreds of views per video to sometimes over a million. It’s easy to get lost in her clips. She’s quick, nimble, strong—often meeting the punches of men nearly twice her size.

As her account took off, she caught the attention of actor Michael B. Jordan, who direct messaged her, asking her to be in the latest installment of the Creed franchise, boxing movies set in the Rocky universe. “I didn’t know who he was,” Najjar says. She had to Google him before responding. “He was like, ‘You’ve never seen Creed? Black Panther?’ I was like, ‘No, I live and breathe fighting.’”

Next thing she knew, she was moving to Atlanta, Georgia for a year to work as a trainer for the cast and play herself, Ann “Mitt Queen” Najjar, in 2023’s Creed III. Pro boxers like Canelo Álvarez, José Benavidez Jr., Florian Munteanu, and Tony Bellew shared the big screen with her, acting as characters or as themselves.

“That’s the cool thing about the movie. All the fighters are real; all the refs are real. All the commentators are real,” Najjar says. “I worked with [pro boxer Terence Crawford] on the movie set. He went 28 rounds straight with me. No budging.”

But being a great mitt holder isn’t as simple as knowing how to catch a punch. One of the most important skills a coach can have, mitt holding requires balance, skill, and the ability to clearly communicate with your fighter as they move around—as well as hours of daily practice. Doing it well is a key step on the road to creating a world champ.

“When you’re the holder, you’re guiding,” Najjar says. She determines her trainees’ combinations—as she calls out movements, they follow her lead.

Bomber Squad Academy strength and conditioning coach Tez Avant says Najjar’s competitive nature is a huge part of what makes her so good at what she does. “If there’s an obstacle, she wants to beat it. No matter who’s there, she wants to try to beat them,” he says. “I think that’s the thing that will keep her thriving.”

Najjar trains four to six hours a day. When she’s not in the gym with clients, she’s running to improve her cardio and posting on social media, hoping to inspire more young women to become holders.

“I was Sean’s little sister, and now, my brother is the Mitt Queen’s brother,” Najjar says with a smirk. Sometimes, a bit of sibling rivalry is all you need to become great.

The post Inside the Ring with Ann “Mitt Queen” Najjar appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

For the first time in school history, the men’s basketball program is eligible for the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. Affectionately and better known as March Madness, it’s the single-elimination tournament for the national championship that pits powerful “blue bloods” like Kentucky and Duke against mid-major “Cinderellas” like San Diego State University and, now, UCSD. 

“I think everybody’s excited about the opportunity to play in the postseason and be in that win-or-go home environment,” Olen said before a recent practice session. “There’s really nothing else like it.” 

In 2020, the UCSD men’s basketball program transitioned from Division II to the Big West Conference in Division I, the highest level of collegiate sports. NCAA rules prohibited UCSD from postseason play during a four-year “reclassification period.” This didn’t stop the team from acting like a postseason team. 

January 22, 2024

San Diego is Basketball City USARELATED ARTICLE

They went 21-12 last season, their best showing in Division I so far, and finished second in the Big West. Had they been eligible, UCSD would have needed to win just two games in the conference tournament to book their first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament. 

“I think our guys did a great job during the period where we didn’t have [postseason play],” said Olen, who became head coach in 2013 after serving as an assistant for nine years. “It was a little bit of that light at the end of the tunnel, that purpose at the end, like, ‘This is what we’re working towards, this is what we’re working for.’”

To build on that success, the team will need returning senior Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones to show why he was named to the Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team, though Tait-Jones brushed aside the significance of that recognition. “We’ve got a pretty new group of guys coming in, and it’s my last year, so I just want to be a leader out there,” the New Zealand native said. “A goal of ours is to win the league and go to March Madness this year and get out of the first round.” That won’t be easy, not with former Triton star Bryce Pope now at the University of Southern California as a graduate transfer, but the versatile Tait-Jones did rank among team leaders last year in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

When asked if the campus is anticipating the upcoming season, which starts November 6 at SDSU, he beamed and seemed relieved to talk about his classmates rather than himself. “I just saw some students yesterday and they were super excited for the year and they were saying, ‘Oh, we’re going to make March Madness!’ I think there’s a real buzz around campus. I think everyone’s excited for the year and we’re all excited for it.”

This year’s homecoming being the first that revolves around the team’s home opener—the November 9 tilt against Pepperdine—indicates it’s a new era at the school, one that is known far more for its Nobel Prizes than for its championship trophies. (As if the nearby “Nobel Drive” left any doubt.)

The architect of the rise of sports at UCSD is athletics director Earl Edwards. On the job since 2000, Edwards has guided the school’s 23 sports programs from the depths of Division III, where no conference welcomed the school and few others wanted to play it. UCSD was too big, too resourceful, and its teams beat up on schools whose enrollments rarely eclipsed 2,000 students. 

“We had a lot of success [in Division III], but we wanted to be an extension of the university as a whole. Everything we do at UC San Diego is about the pursuit of excellence. So it became more of a discussion of, ‘Why don’t we have an athletic program that reflects that?’” Edwards said, though, like Tait-Jones, he invariably credited others. 

“The students were the ones that created the impetus for Division I because as they looked at UC San Diego, and they looked at other high-profile schools, athletics was the missing denominator. So then students came to us and said, ‘We’d like to move to Division I.’” 

Like a proud parent that refuses to play favorites, Edwards offered highlights beyond the men’s basketball team: The baseball team that won the Big West Conference championship. The women’s rowing team that took second in the Coastal Atlantic Association conference championships and whose coach, Colin Truex, won CAA’s Coach of the Year award. The fencing team that regularly sends athletes to the national championships. 

In all, 21 of the school’s 23 sports teams would have participated in postseason competition last year if not for the NCAA’s prohibitions. But Edwards seemed most proud of the “scholar-athletes,” as they’re called at UCSD, having a higher grade-point average than the school’s general student body. 

But if the poets and quants on campus are resentful of the ascendance of sports, then there’s little indication of it. In fact, UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla was selected in March to serve a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors to represent the Big West Conference. It’s one of the most influential governing bodies in American sports. Through Pradeep, UCSD is now a power broker in collegiate athletics. This institutional backing isn’t lost on Edwards. “Now that we’re Division I—looking at the branding, the messaging, the signage around campus—it’s definitely a D-I program in terms of the overall support and enthusiasm,” he said.

Merely getting to Division I was not the goal, though. Edwards wants the school to compete every year for the Big West’s Commissioner’s Cup, which is awarded annually to the university with the greatest success across all sports, and he wants the men’s basketball team playing in the NCAA tournament every year. “I expect that March Madness will be part of who we are,” he said.

It’s an ambitious, if not astonishing vision for a university long perceived as a sleep retreat for academics. Edwards even wants San Diego to one day replicate Philadelphia’s legendary “Big 5” of University of Pennsylvania, LaSalle, St. Joseph’s, Temple, and Villanova which compete every year for the best college basketball team in the city.

Along with SDSU and the University of San Diego, there are now three Division I programs within a trolley ride of each other, and the newcomer to the party is planting its flag. “The respect that we’re getting now at UC San Diego, they recognize that we’re forced to be reckoned with.”

The post The New Era of D1 Athletics for UCSD appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers NLDS Game 1

Saturday, October 5 | 5:38 p.m. | Dodger Stadium

Watch: FS1

The Friar Faithful’s prayers have been answered as the San Diego Padres surged past the Atlanta Braves in a decisive two-game Wild Card sweep. Chants of “Beat LA” reverberated through Petco Park on Tuesday night, with fans already gearing up for the next postseason showdown. The highly anticipated best-of-five series kicks off Saturday at Dodger Stadium, where Padres ace Dylan Cease is projected to face off against Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Riding the momentum of their dominant 43-19 finish to the regular season and jaw-dropping triple play that clinched their Wild Card spot against the Dodgers just weeks earlier, the Padres are ready for their biggest challenge yet. To topple the Dodgers, they’ll need to minimize the impact of Shohei Ohtani, who led the NL with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first-ever member of the illustrious “50/50 club“—a feat never before achieved in MLB history. All of San Diego will be rooting for the Friars, seeking a shot of redemption following their inspiring postseason run in 2022.

XTERRA Wetsuits Mission Bay Triathlon

Sunday, October 13 | 11:30 a.m. | Ventura Cove at Mission Bay

Did you know that San Diego is the “birthplace of the triathlon”? While the history of the sport dates back to the early 1900s, the first modern triathlon was staged in 1974 on Mission Bay’s Fiesta Island. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, Koz Events, a San Diego-based company that organizes endurance sports competitions, is hosting the Mission Bay Triathlon. The event offers races for athletes of all ages and all experience levels, and proceeds benefit the Life Sports Foundation, which is dedicated to increasing access to sports for youth, disadvantaged, and physically challenged athletes. Register by Saturday, October 12, to help kick off the next 50 years of triathlon history. 

San Diego Wave vs Club América Femenil

Wednesday, October 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium

The top two teams in each group of the Concacaf W Champions Cup advance to the knockout round. With the Wave looking up at Group B leaders Club América Femenil, their matchup at Snapdragon Stadium could decide their fate in the annual competition among the top club teams spanning North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

What’s more, the Wave are in uncharted territory after the retirement of star forward Alex Morgan. Currently in 10th place in the NWSL standings, they are at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Their game against Club América Femenil, a strong side from Mexico City, gives them an opportunity to solidify their identity under interim coach Landon Donovan and build toward a late-season push for trophies.

USA Ultimate National Championships

October 24-27 | Surf Cup Sports Park, Del Mar

If ultimate frisbee is a minor sport, then its competitors aren’t aware of that. Their throwing, catching, and running after a plastic disc results in some of the most mesmerizing displays of athleticism, and this month the highest level of the sport is coming to the region when the USA Ultimate National Championships land at Del Mar. The Nationals, as it’s referred to, will crown champions in three divisions—men’s, mixed, and women’s—with 48 teams vying for the titles.

“We are excited to have Nationals back for the next three years after five successful years of the event at Surf Cup Sports Park,” Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, said in a statement. “We recognize the positive impact that events like Nationals can have on our local economy, tourism industry and community spirit.” 

SDSU Football vs. Washington State

Saturday, October 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium

Watch: CBS Sports Network

As the San Diego State football team heads into October, head coach Sean Lewis is searching for answers with his team 1-3 in his first year at the helm. “We have to learn from these lessons.” Lewis said after a recent loss to Central Michigan University. “We have to learn to come together and make sure that this adversity galvanizes the guys in the locker room.” The Aztecs’ game against Washington State offers a welcome reprieve: it’s the culminating event of SDSU’s 2024 Homecoming Week. Revel with Aztecs past, present, and future as their team tries to get back on track against the Cougars.

The post 5 San Diego Sporting Events to Watch: Oct. 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

New York Jets Sports Bar

Taste and Thirst

Taste and Thirst is a New Yorkers home away from home when it comes to football. This Jets’ fan homebase is always packed during game days—and win or lose—the bar serves happy hour from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., which is a win-win in our opinion.

Upcoming Games: New York Jets 2024 Schedule

715 Fourth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter

Buffalo Bills Sports Bar

The Local Pacific Beach

Bring those red, whites, and blues out. The Local PB shows up for Bills games in a big way. Arrive early on game days, though, the line to get upstairs fills up quickly. But with TVs indoors, outdoors and a spacious pet-friendly patio, there are plenty of ways to cheer on your favorite team.

Upcoming Games: Buffalo Bills 2024 Schedule

809 Thomas Ave, Pacific Beach

San Francisco 49ers Sports Bar

Saddle Bar

Originally a 1920’s era bike shop that was transformed into a bar 60 years ago, Saddle Bar is the quintessential San Francisco bar in town. Wear your Rice or Montana jersey and stick around for live music from local rock bands and DJs weekly.

Upcoming Games: San Francisco 49ers 2024 Schedule

123 Plaza St, Solana Beach

Arizona Cardinals Sports Bar

Arizona Café

A block away from the beach on Bacon street, Arizona Café is the local spot for Cardinal fans to catch the game. With a kitchen that’s open till 1 a.m daily., it’s the ideal spot for your post game discussion, late-night fantasy football trades, and an opportunity to win back your failed parlay bet during pool.

Upcoming Games: Arizona Cardinals 2024 Schedule

1925 Bacon St, Ocean Beach

Kansas City Chiefs Sports Bar

Kansas City BBQ

Catch the reigning 2022 Super Bowl champs at Kansas City BBQ take on the Detroit lions at this legendary outpost Downtown. Gather with local Chiefs fans to relish in historic San Diego memorabilia, recount your favorite Top Gun lines and watch Patrick Mahomes score six while enjoying their daily happy hour from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Upcoming Games: Kansas City Chiefs 2024 Schedule

600 W Harbor Dr, Downtown

Philadelphia Eagles Sports Bar

Pretzels & Pints

Immerse yourself in Philadelphia sports at this tucked-away gem in North Park ideal for America’s most passionate sports city. Like the name implies, Pretzels and Pints has an excellent selection of hot pretzels baked daily paired with local craft beer and even an irresistible beer cheese to fumble over as Jalen Hurts scrambles for another touchdown.

Upcoming Games: Philadelphia Eagles 2024 Schedule

3812 Ray St, North Park

Los Angeles Chargers Sports Bar

Park 101

Watch Sunday night football with the remnants and hold-outs from the Chargers fan base at Park 101 in Carlsbad. With large outdoor LED screens, a spacious outdoor patio, a rooftop deck complete with a bar, this BBQ joint is the perfect space for parents, dogs, and kids to enjoy a bolts game.

Upcoming Games: Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Schedule

3040 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad

New England Patriots Sports Bar

The Sandbox

Come see if the New England Patriots can earn themselves another Super Bowl ring this year at The Sandbox in Ocean Beach. Wear your Patriots jersey, paint your face red and blue, or don your signature Bill Belichick hoodie to this island-themed bar. Order one of their specialty pizzas like their meat lover’s Hungry Surfer and enjoy a game of skeeball or pool while you count down to kick off in Foxborough.

Upcoming Games: New England Patriots 2024 Schedule

1466 Garnet Ave, Ocean Beach

Los Angeles Rams Sports Bar

Ocean Beach Brewery

Despite a disappointing 2022 season following their 2021 Super Bowl win, Ram’s fans can rejoice at this three-story hotspot on the beach. On game day, members of the “ramily” can gather at Ocean Beach Brewery featuring a rooftop bar with oceanfront views, plenty of activities to after a quarter, and even their own microbrewery offering up craft beer brewed daily. 

Upcoming Games: Los Angeles Rams 2024 Schedule

5041 Newport Ave, Ocean Beach

Dallas Cowboys Sports Bar

Union Kitchen & Tap

Root for America’s Team on the gridiron each week at this bustling Gaslamp sports bar. Wear your silver stars, your favorite cowboy boots, or your Dallas cheerleader outfit studded with rhinestones each week. You can even bring your furry Cowboys fan to accompany you on their pet-friendly outdoor patio to catch a breather after another nail-biting game.

Upcoming Games: Dallas Cowboys 2024 Schedule

333 Fifth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter

Seattle Seahawks Sports Bar

Thrusters Lounge

Join the loudest fans in the league, the 12s, at this no frills bar in the heart of PB. This Seahawks nest features 22 beers on tap, skeeball, and even a beer vending machine for a quick buzz during halftime.

Upcoming Games: Seattle Seahawks 2024 Schedule

4633 Mission Blvd, Pacific Beach

Denver Broncos Sports Bar

Chief’s Burgers and Brew

A Broncos bar named Chiefs may confuse you, but their excellent chili cheese fries, buffalo wings, and other great bites shouldn’t. Cheer on the “No Fly Zone” at this Broncos hub featuring a special NFL Football Sunday Breakfast with a unique menu available from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. before the Broncos kick-off.

Upcoming Games: Denver Broncos 2024 Schedule

124 Lomas Santa Fe Dr #108, Solana Beach

Green Bay Packers Sports Bar

El Prez

Gather your local cheeseheads and rush down to El Prez to cheer on the Packers each week. Located steps away from the Pacific Beach boardwalk, this Packers rooftop bar offers tacos and tequila to munch on while you watch fans on TV bundle for warmth in Green Bay. For the most dedicated of Packers fans, the beachside spot opens early at 9:30 a.m. on game days for fans to enjoy pregame festivities.

Upcoming Games: Green Bay Packers 2024 Schedule

4190 Mission Blvd, Pacific Beach

Las Vegas Raiders Sports Bar

El Chingon

El Chingon is all the rage for Raiders fans on game day offering refreshing margarita flights and late hours (closes at 2 a.m. daily) ideal for watching the “Men in Black” each week. Gear up in your Davante Adams jersey, your favorite spiky outfit, and watch the Raiders take on the Broncos on opening night. Swing by for Monday Night Football and enjoy their generous happy hour weekdays from 2-6 p.m. featuring $7 off their signature cocktails.

Upcoming Games: Las Vegas Raiders 2024 Schedule

560 Fifth Ave, Gaslamp

Chicago Bears Sports Bar

710 Beach Club

Will 2024 be the year Da Bears make a run for the Super Bowl? Join the excitement each week at this breezy beach club offering a den for Bears fans trying to catch the game at Soldier Field. On Sundays when the Bears take the field, indulge in their all-you-can-eat brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for traditional breakfast staples, Bloody Marys, slushies, and bottomless mimosas to sustain you through four quarters.

NfUpcoming Games: Chicago Bears 2024 Schedule

710 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach

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When her shoulders relaxed, she charged toward the penalty spot and swung her famous left foot through the ball. It seemed destined for the back of the net, an equalizer for the Wave and another of Morgan’s 200-plus goals for club and country. But then, like a beach volleyball player in full stretch, North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy dove and threw out her right hand, deflecting the ball harmlessly over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Morgan was subbed off, her retirement starting on a hot September night at Snapdragon Stadium.

The soccer world focused on what had ended—a legendary playing career that inspired millions around the globe. But in the weeks since Morgan’s final game, one big question lingers for the Wave: What does the future hold for the team that she left?

The Wave signed Morgan, a two-time World Cup champion, ahead of the team’s inaugural 2022 season. Their first home game at Snapdragon Stadium attracted a sold-out crowd of 32,000, at the time an NWSL record. That excitement, and Morgan’s league-leading 15 goals, carried the Wave to the NWSL semifinals.

The Wave did one better the next season, winning the NWSL Shield, an award given to the best team during the regular season. Fans reciprocated, providing the Wave with the highest average attendance in the league. Morgan again ranked among the leaders in goals, assists, and total scoring attempts, and the team made the semifinals once more. 

July 29, 2023

Alex Morgan Signs on for Del Mar Wine + Food FestivalRELATED ARTICLE

The Wave were like a newly licensed teenager test-driving a Porsche. Blowing by more established opponents, the club ignored its inexperience and relished the playing power at its disposal. The players felt that they belonged in their new league. “We deserve to be here. We earned the right to play here, but we deserve more,” star goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan roared to her teammates moments before last year’s NWSL semifinal against the OL Reign.

This season, Wave fans hoped the third time was the charm, the year the team put it all together to do something that no local team has done since 1963—win a major sports championship. At the Wave’s home opener in March 2024, the team broke the single-game attendance record they set in 2022.

But in many ways, Morgan’s final shot of her career is the perfect encapsulation of the Wave’s 2024 season so far. It was a shot that could have and should have gone in. In the past, it would have. This has been a season of change, not progress. 

In March, Ron Burkle, the Wave’s founding owner, sold the team to Los Angeles–based investors Lauren Lichtman and Arthur Levine. Over the summer, amid a seven-game winless streak, Wave president Jill Ellis fired head coach Casey Stoney. Then, the club was rocked by accusations of workplace misconduct by a former employee. (The Wave denied the allegations.) Four franchise stalwarts—forward Sofia Jakobssen; defenders Abby Dahlkemper and Sierra Enge; and, of course, Alex Morgan—left for various reasons.

On the pitch, the Wave’s performance suffered. With just four wins, they are out of a playoff spot by six points with six league games left to play. They’ve netted the third-fewest goals in the NWSL so far this year, with 17—just two more than Morgan scored by herself in 2022. According to The Athletic, the Wave ranked second-to-last in direct speed at the time of Stoney’s dismissal, despite ranking second in possession rate. In other words, their offense, once daring and opportunistic, had become a slog. 

But all is not lost, not this year and not in the future. 

Few club teams have as much high-end talent as the Wave. The versatile 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw is poised to claim the mantle from Morgan and become a goal-scoring star for both the Wave and the US Women’s National Team. (Shaw was a reserve on the Olympic gold medal–winning squad this summer in Paris.) Fellow forward Maria Sanchez is finding her footing after being acquired from the Houston Dash in April. On Wednesday, Sanchez scored a hat trick in the Wave’s 3-2 win over the Portland Thorns in a Concacaf W Champions Cup game. 

And there is arguably no better defensive duo in the world than Sheridan, the starting keeper for the Canadian national team, and defender Naomi Girma. “She’s the best defender I’ve ever seen,” USWNT coach Emma Hayes said after the team’s victory over Germany in the Olympic semifinals. In one sequence against the Courage, in Morgan’s final game, Girma baited an attacking player into cutting in, then effortlessly plucked the ball, single-handedly ending the threat. 

That reliability in the back creates possibility up forward. The nucleus of the next great Wave team is there. It just needs the right structure and supporting pieces, especially in the midfield. Landon Donovan, the interim head coach and a soccer legend in his own right, is trying to bring that to fruition with a more pressing style of play.

A commitment to excellence starts at the top, though, and it appears the new owners understand that. “This investment aligns with our values and vision for supporting initiatives that empower women and foster opportunities for aspiring female athletes,” Lauren Leichtman said in a statement when the sale was announced. 

If Burkle’s Wave—Wave 1.0—were a startup fueled by successes that came fast and easy, then Wave 2.0 should see the club solidify its foundation and mature into a more sustainable operation. The Padres are an illustrative example. After the late Peter Seidler took control of the team in 2020, he made unprecedented investments in the roster and player development and empowered AJ Preller, the team’s general manager, to do what it takes to win. The Pads are now a perennial playoff contender and the hottest ticket in town.

Morgan’s departure is certainly the end of an era for the Wave, but she inspired a vision for soccer in San Diego that did not exist before her arrival. In that vision, the Wave collect trophies for fun, and the players raise those trophies in front of one of the most fervent fan bases in the sport. That hope, that possibility, isn’t going anywhere. 

The post What’s Next for the SD Wave Without Alex Morgan? appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Nestled in the Rancho Del Oro area, Fronwave boasts a seating capacity of 7,500 and features all the amenities expected of a brand-new, $85 million multi-purpose venue: 16 premium suites, three VIP viewing decks, and a lineup of food and beverage vendors being billed as “A Taste of North County.”

With no upper seating level and just 16 rows in each section, attendees will be close to the action—most of which will be sports. 

“The original goal was to build an arena for San Diego Sockers (the Major Arena Soccer League team), and that came together six or seven years ago,” said Elias, who shares ownership of Frontwave Arena with Sockers’ owner and coach Phil Salvagio and real estate developer Colton Sudberry.

The Sockers are one of the most successful professional soccer teams in the country, having won 16 league championships since 1982, but empty seats are common at Midway District’s cavernous, 16,000-seat Pechanga Arena, which the Sockers have called home since 2012. But minor league teams in major league venues is a problem throughout the industry. 

With Frontwave Arena, Elias and his partners want to turn that business model on its head. “We understand that we’re smaller, but we want to own that,” Elias said. “Typically, people want a big team to anchor an arena, but we are going to own this minor league size, as well as that middle size entertainment. That’s what makes us unique.” That approach is already paying dividends. 

The crowning achievement so far is landing the NBA G League’s San Diego Clippers, the minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers. “Getting the stamp of approval from the NBA is a huge feat,” Elias said. Fans at Frontwave Arena will get to see “truly the best players, guys who are hungry to compete and make it at the highest level.”

In fact, more than 50 percent of players on current NBA rosters have G League experience, according to the NBA. The G League plays a 50-game schedule, from November to February, with the San Diego Clippers scheduled for 24 home games this season. And Elias expects to announce soon another team relocating from Pechanga Arena to Frontwave Arena.

In the meantime, visitors to Frontwave will have plenty to eat. Cardiff’s Seaside Market is offering their famous “Cardiff Crack” tri-tip nachos, one of the most popular food items at Petco Park. Gelati & Picatti, which has locations in Encinitas, North Park, and inside Petco Park, is serving up Roman-style pizza by the slice and artisanal gelato. And rounding out the lineup are Tanner’s Prime Burgers, a collaboration between Michelin-starred chef Brandon Rogers and Brandt Beef’s Eric Brandt; and Baja Tacos, a new concept by Brandt that started as a pop-up at the Del Mar Racetrack in 2022. 

Frontwave Arena’s leadership recruited Scott Marshall, Liquid Sports group CEO and former chief hospitality officer at Petco Park, to bring these food options under one roof. “We are incredibly excited to […] introduce an absolute world-class culinary program,” Marshall said in a statement.

Kicking things off for Frontwave’s opening is the Gold Over America Tour, a two-night showcase (Sept. 16 and 17) featuring Simone Biles and other premier gymnastics talent. It’s an event worthy of a grand opening, considering Biles is now one of the greatest American athletes of all time after winning three gold medals at this summer’s Paris Olympics. On October 5, the veteran rock group Cake stages the inaugural concert co-produced by Belly Up Presents, the promotional arm of the legendary Solana Beach venue. 

Frontwave Arena’s event schedule is already packed, but there is even more programming planned for outside the venue. One of the arena’s unique features is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Plaza, a hybrid, outdoor event space, planned to be utilized on both event and non-event days.

“What we’ve built is unique and special,” Elias said. “We took an inside-out approach, focusing on North County first, but we’re seeing a lot of interest from folks throughout the county. It’s exciting to see and the fact that it resonates speaks to us being local people building something for the community.”

Frontwave Arena Schedule of Events

• Sept. 16 & 17: “Gold Over America Tour” starring Simone Biles and America’s best gymnasts. Event starts at 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 5: Cake – Frontwave Arena Grand Opening Concert. Event starts at 8 p.m.
• Oct. 8: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets preseason game. Event starts at 7 p.m. 
• Oct. 12: Rocktoberfest, with Seether, Giovannie & The Hired Guns, The Warning, and Tim Montana. Event starts at 7 p.m. 
• Oct. 19: Association of Volleyball Professionals. Event starts at 6 p.m. 
• Oct. 20: Association of Volleyball Professionals. Event starts at 1 p.m.
• Oct. 26: Monsters of Hip-Hop, featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Too $hort, MC Magic and more. Event starts at 7:30 p.m. 
• Oct. 27: USA vs. Mexico International FANCLB Cup. Event starts at 6 p.m.
• Nov. 2: Freestyle Explosion, featuring Steve B, Lisa Lisa, Exposé, Shannon, Connie, Lime, Will to Power, Pretty Poison, and Nocera. Event starts at 7:30 pm.
• Dec. 7:  Country Christmas featuring Megan Moroney, Tucker Wetmore, Tyler Braden, and more. Event starts at 7 p.m.

The post What to Expect at the New $85M Frontwave Arena appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

September 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium

Watch: CBS Sports Network

Since they were down 6-3 at halftime to Texas A&M-Commerce, a team in the lower Football Championship Subdivision, it would be understandable if the Aztecs felt discouraged during last weekend’s season opener. But first-year coach Sean Lewis rallied his team to a dominant second half and a comfortable 45-14 win. Star Marquez Cooper led the way with 223 rushing yards and two touchdowns. “My [offensive line] did amazing, especially in the second half,” the senior running back said after the game. “They showed perseverance and they didn’t doubt themselves because of the rough first half.” It will be more important for San Diego State to get off to a better start in its second game against Oregon State, a team that’s made three consecutive bowl games. It’s the Aztecs’ only home game in September, and it will indicate whether they themselves can be perennial bowl game contenders.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Closing Day

Sunday, September 8 | 11:30 a.m. | Del Mar Fairgrounds

For the rest of the country, Labor Day signals the end of summer. For San Diegans, it’s Closing Day at the Del Mar Racetrack. On Sunday, September 8, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club concludes its summer racing season with 11 scheduled races, with first post at 1:30 p.m. But there’s much more to do than simply watch horses thunder around one of the most beautiful tracks in the world. Early risers can get breakfast with complimentary coffee, and tickets are available for Taste of the Turf Club, where attendees can enjoy a three-course brunch and bottomless adult beverages. There will even be a Red Cross blood drive onsite.

Gold Over America Tour

September 16-17 | 7:30 p.m. | Frontwave Arena

Simone Biles. That’s all you need to know about the Gold Over America Tour stop at Oceanside’s brand new Frontwave Arena. The most decorated gymnast in history (and one of the greatest Olympians ever) brings her athleticism and choreography to San Diego County in something of a victory lap. Biles and the United States’ gymnastics delegation dominated at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning 10 medals, three of them gold. Now, Biles and a team of world-class gymnasts are touring arenas around the country. “We’ve worked on this event for over a year. We thought, ‘Who do we want to open our venue with? Who do we want to be as a venue?’” says Frontwave Arena CEO Josh Elias. Response for the event was so enthusiastic that Elias’ team was able to add a second night on September 17. “What Simone Biles has accomplished this summer is tremendous,” he adds. It seems like no coincidence that the tour’s acronym, GOAT, also stands for the “greatest of all time.”

San Diego Padres vs. Chicago White Sox

Sunday, September 22 | 1:10 p.m. | Petco Park

Watch: Padres.TV

It’s fitting that the Padres’ final home game of the regular season is against the Chicago White Sox, the team that traded star pitcher Dylan Cease to San Diego. In June, Cease threw the franchise’s second no-hitter, and he’s been a consistent, steadying presence for a rotation that has lost Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish to injury for long stretches. The Padres enter the season’s final month on a 91-win pace thanks in large part to Cease’s 3.62 earned run average and his elite ability to keep runners off the bases. If Cease and the Pads maintain form, then postseason baseball is all but assured.

Average Joe Run

Sunday, September 29 | 8:00 a.m. | Crown Point Park

Running is hard. The Average Joe Run makes it easier. In fact, the organizers bill it as “The World’s Easiest 5K.” To prove the point, the top award goes to the middle finishers, the runners who are perfectly average. (Don’t worry, tryhards. The fastest finishers also get recognition.) There’s unlimited coffee and donuts available to participants, too. Other freebies include a race bib, t-shirt, medal, and certificate. With registration ranging from $28.50 to $38.50, it might be the best deal in town this month. The hard part is waking up for the early start time.

The post 5 San Diego Sports Events to Watch this Month: Sept. 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Painter. Disc golfer. Bee keeper. Cat owner. Mindfulness practitioner. Cease brought his whole self to San Diego when the Chicago White Sox traded him to the Padres in March. “Those are just things I like doing,” the 28-year-old said. “I have a really unique job and unique skill set, but I’m a human being first. I have the same human experiences as everyone.” 

Cease’s thoughtfulness is apparent when he talks about his art practice, which he started only a few years ago. He’s inspired by a desire to create and to escape consumerism, at least for a little while. “Art is personality and expression,” he said. Unlike baseball, “art is under all your control, and I can put a lot of personality on the canvas. The outcome at the end is very cool. It’s gratifying.”

Cease views pitching as more scientific and logical than art, but his personality peaks through on the field. His motion is methodical and intentional, as if he wants as much time as possible to study his prey and direct his attack. Upright and slow, his is a thinking-man’s windup. That is, until it’s time to release the ball. 

As he whips his 6’2” frame around, a violent force is created. It might be a fastball that explodes out of his hand, the ball doting a corner of the strike zone. Or it could be a slider that darts below the knees, leaving the batter questioning the laws of physics. His style doesn’t deceive hitters so much as it overwhelms them. It’s a repertoire that has carried a Padres rotation without co-aces Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish for long stretches and that carried Cease into the record books on July 25 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. as only the second Padre to throw a no-hitter in team history (the first was Musgrove).

A 99 mile-per-hour fastball induced the final out of the eighth inning of his no-hitter. His first fastball of the game, almost two hours and a hundred pitches earlier, was “just” 97 miles per hour. The final three outs in the ninth came on Cease’s patented slider. Down and inside to a lefty: groundball. Down and away to a righty: groundball. Down and away to another lefty: fly out. He was dealing. He was, well, painting.

The demands of the baseball season limit his art to a couple pieces a year, but he’s generous with that output. He gifted his mom a recent painting for Mother’s Day. Another painting went to Padres teammate Michael King to support King’s charity work. It’s an ethos recognized by Dante Rowley, retail and visitor experience manager at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, who is working with Cease to highlight baseball caps that the museum and Padres designed together.

“We want to tell the story of, you don’t need to choose between getting into sports and getting into art. Cease has that duality and can be the bridge between the two worlds,” Rowley said. “He was kind of an unknown when the Padres traded for him, but I think a younger generation of ballplayers and artists in San Diego can look up to him and connect with him.”

And Cease’s interest in sports extends beyond baseball. “The pro disc golf season kicks off in Arizona, when baseball spring training is starting there,” said Paul McBeth, who Cease described as the ‘Tiger Woods of disc golf.’ “Dylan messaged me and we realized we have a lot of similar interests.”

Those interests developed into a friendship, which developed into a business. A Georgia native, Cease bought land outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and asked McBeth to design a world-class course, which they named Cactus Rock. The two then partnered on buying Gran Canyon Disc Golf Course, one of the premier courses in Florida.

“Dylan probably wants to land a big baseball contract just so he can develop more courses,” McBeth said with a laugh. “It’s not so much about the money, though. I think Dylan likes seeing his ideas come alive. He’s a different thinker than most. He would love to sit around and talk about World War II. He loves to learn and loves to hear people’s stories.”

Cease considers disc golf a lifelong pursuit, and about his art he said, “I don’t think I’ll ever stop painting. It will be cool to look back 10, 20, 30 years from now and see what I created. Art is similar to immortality. It’s a time capsule.” When asked if his no-hitter–just the second in team history–can be thought of in the same way, Cease acknowledged it could be, but he quickly added that the World Series is the ultimate goal and what really gets immortalized. 

Cease is a free agent after next season. Whether he spends two seasons or the rest of his career in San Diego is to be determined, but so far, so good. “The move here has been great. [The Padres] organization is fantastic,” he said. From road trips with the White Sox, he knew the weather here was perfect, but since becoming a Padre he has grown an appreciation for the “distinct” atmosphere at Petco Park and how passionate San Diegans are about their team.

Those San Diegans will certainly remember him forever if he helps bring home the Padres’ first championship. Cease may view himself a mere mortal, a human like any other, but connecting with people through more than baseball is the stuff of legends.

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