San Diego, California, February 6, 2023.- The line encircled Petco Park on Saturday morning. Thousands of fans packed the gates, excited to celebrate their hometown team.
“The energy is intense,” said Glenn Knowles, a Padres fan. “The city is on fire for the Fathers.”
The large turnout is probably the result of an incredible season. At noon, the team moved to a one-in, one-out process to allow for “faster entry” at the gates, a Padres spokesperson said.
“I don’t remember there being that many people waiting to get into the last FanFest we were at,” Knowles said.
But many of these fans have been rooting for the Padres all their lives, even across multiple generations.
“This jacket is actually my great-grandfather’s, we bought it right when the franchise started, so I’ve been a Padres fan my whole life,” said Devynn Billings, a Padres fan.
They all came with the goal of meeting their favorite player and getting an autograph.
“We’re going to win it all this year, I feel it in my bones,” Billings said.
Reporter: Pearl Shaheen
More info: https://www.10news.com/sports/padres/padres-players-connect-with-fans-sign-autographs-at-fanfest
