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First time at a San Diego Wave FC Soccer Game? Here are 10 things you’ll want to know while at Snapdragon Stadium

Joe Wolfe 313 Comments

San Diego Wave Soccer game at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego Just when you thought there was already enough fun to be had in San Diego, we went and got ourselves a professional women’s soccer team!

In 2022, San Diego welcomed its first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, the San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. According to their website, the club’s vision is to be a force for good through the game of football. The team roster is packed with all-star players from around the world, including U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team favorites Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper. This year, the team signed 15-year old Melanie Barcenas, the first youth local player to be signed in NWSL history! She is a force to be reckoned with, as seen in some of her highlight reels.

The San Diego Wave play at the new Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley. A 35,000 seat stadium, the venue is a year-round entertainment hub for the city, hosting everything from soccer matches to SDSU football, concerts, festivals, community events, and more.

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego has multiple water refill stations for reusable bottles.

If you’re heading to your first Wave FC soccer match, or other event at Snapdragon, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.

1. Save money by pre-purchasing general parking online.
When you buy your tickets online, you can purchase general parking ahead of time for $27. If you pay at the stadium, it will be $40. General parking is right behind the stadium and a quick 5 minute walk to the main stadium entrance.

2. Bring your own reusable water bottle.
Snapdragon Stadium lets you bring in 32oz (or smaller) reusable water bottles, or factory sealed water bottles. This is a great way to save a little extra and help the environment!

Batch and Box cookie stand at Snapdragon Stadium features many cookie flavors including chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar, and more.

3. Try the Batch & Box cookie flavor exclusive to the San Diego Wave.
The delicious Del Mar cookie staple, Batch & Box, has a concession stand in the stadium complete with some of their favorite flavors, including the classic chocolate chip, sugar cookie with sprinkles, the gentleman dark chocolate, and even their gluten-friendly chocolate chip option. But they also have a flavor that you can only get at Wave games – a sweet and spicy chocolate hot pepper cookie! Definitely worth a try – but not for those with a sensitive palette as it’s hot!

4. Skip the lines at the team store by visiting the “Merch” counters throughout the stadium.
The line at the team store can be pretty long, and you can’t bring in any food or drink. To avoid the crowd and continue sipping your favorite beverage, check out one of many merchandise kiosks around the stadium. They have a lot of the same gear and accessories without the wait!

San Diego Wave soccer players sign autographs for young fans after the game.

5. Bring a sharpie for team autographs post-game.
All of the players are super friendly and generally stick around after the game to sign autographs for young fans. They even pose for selfies! It generally takes a good 45-60 minutes of waiting post-game, however the smiles on the young fans’ faces are well worth the wait. Shout out to Megan “Meggie” Dougherty Howard for these autographs!

6. Arrive early to tailgate in multiple parking lots. 
Snapdragon Stadium offers a couple of tailgate options. The general admission parking lot is asphalt and located behind the stadium. For $27 online pre-purchased, or $40 at the gate, you can arrive a few hours before the game to BBQ, kick around the ball, and hang out with friends. There are also two Thrive VIP parking lots which are located a little closer to the main entrance and feature grass! This provides a little more comfort for bare feet and pre-game friendly soccer matches. The cost for these VIP lots can vary, but plan on about $75 per vehicle.

San Diego Wave soccer player Megan "Meggie" Dougherty Howard signs autographs for young fans after a recent game.

7. Snapdragon Stadium has a clear bag only policy.
According to the bag policy posted on their website, you can bring in bags that are clear plastic or vinyl and aren’t larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. You can also bring in small purses or clutches that don’t exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″.

8. Brush up on the Siren Songs ahead of time to help cheer on the team! 
Sirens are the San Diego Wave’s supporter group. They camp out behind one of the goals and beat the drums, lead songs and chants, and cheer extra loudly all game long. They have the various songs on their website so you can practice before you arrive (spoiler alert: they are very easy to learn).

9. Snapdragon is a cashless stadium.
Make sure to bring your debit card, credit card, or Apple Pay!

Snapdragon Stadium luxury grass-covered tailgate parking lot in San Diego.

10. Bring a jacket as it gets breezy in the evenings. 
Even though we live in beautiful, sunny San Diego, the Stadium does get a nice breeze once the sun starts to go down. Bring

layers to be comfortable no matter what mother nature decides to do for the day!

For more information, to view the upcoming game schedule, or to purchase tickets, visit https://sandiegowavefc.com

Joe Wolfe

I'm a San Diego native who loves everything our amazing city has to offer! You can catch me at the beach, hiking, taking in a baseball game or relaxing at the park. Whatever I'm doing, chances are I'll have my camera in hand. -Cheers 'n Beers!

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