2023 WeAreSC Travel Guide: DirecTV Holiday Bowl - USC vs Louisville

USC TROJANS (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) vs CFP NO. 16 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (10-3, 7-1 ACC )
Date: Dec. 27
Day: Wednesday
Time: 5 p.m.PT/ 8 p.m. ET
Televised: FOX
Location: San Diego

Airport: San Diego International Airport Lindbergh Field

Stadium: Petco Park (42,445)

Surface: Natural grass
Petro Park parking lots open: 1 p.m.
Petco Park entrance gates open: 2 p.m.
Mask requirement: Optional

Seating Chart: (See photo below)

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A005EC1D3DC3FA2

The opening line: USC is a 7½-point underdog to Louisville.

Projected San Diego Wednesday Weather Forecast:

Mostly cloudy with a high of 67d, a low of 49n degrees
Humidity: 66d%/95n%
Precipitation: 4%d/11%n
Wind: W5-10d mph/NW3n mph

Websites: gocards.com / usctrojans.com  

DIRECTIONS TO PETCO PARK

Coming From The North:
– 5 South, exit Imperial Ave., or
– 5 South, exit 10th Ave., or
– 163 South, exit 10th Ave.

Coming From The East:
– 94 West to F St., and turn left on 14th Ave.

Coming From The South:
– 5 North to B St., left on 10th Ave., or
– 5 North, exit J St.

Stadium Parking

Public Transportation and Rideshare Information:

• Driving – armed with the address and directions on this page and our Parking Guide
• Boat – Take the Coronado ferry – Only in San Diego!
• Public Transportation – bus, coaster, trolley, free electric shuttle
• Driver services – Taxis, Uber, Lyft.
• Bikes – San Diego loves bikes. Racks & Bicycle Parking
• Walking – Check the gameday weather

Things to do in San Diego

Local Attractions

Neighborhood

USC fans, downtown San Diego is a mix of skyscrapers, government buildings, offices, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Petco Park is located at the intersection of three neighborhoods in downtown San Diego, but is technically located in the East Village neighborhood. It is one block east of the Gaslamp Quarter, which is a historical-meets-modern region south of Broadway, spanning 4th, 5th and 6th Avenue. (The entrance to Petco Park is on 7th.) And Petco Park is just on the North side of the Harbor Drive boundary of The Marina District, the waterfront neighborhood that extends from the Embarcadero, San Diego Convention Center, and Seaport Village up through Broadway Pier.

Holiday Bowl Activities

Snapdragon Bowl Bash

Holiday Bowl Parade

The annual Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade takes place before the game at 10AM, rain or shine. It is free to watch anywhere along the parade route. No tickets required. See marching bands, floats, balloons and more. More parade info.

Trojans Marching Band Holiday Bowl Performance Schedule 

Mon. (Dec.25)

SEAWORLD TEAM DAY

The USC team will appear at the Main Gate at SeaWorld at 3 p.m.
The Louisville team will arrive earlier at 1 p.m.

Tues (Dec. 26)

BOWL BASH  
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, 6:00 pm performance
Gaslamp Quarter
5th Ave and Market St, San Diego

Wed (Dec. 27)
HOLIDAY BOWL PARADE
10:00 am
Harbor Drive, between Seaport Village and Petco Park

HOLIDAY BOWL KICKOFF
5:00 pm
Petco Park
100 Park Blvd, San Diego

Band Section: Section 124, Rows 14-34

Tailgate Party

DIRECTV Holiday Bowl Tailgate Party

KGB Sky Show (POST GAME)

Great news if you love a good sky show. The KGB SkyShow is back again and becoming a local tradition. Many look forward to the iconic fireworks show as much as the game itself. The show will begin shortly following the conclusion of the game.

Beginning in 1976, with fireworks set off from Fiesta Island and Chollas Lake, the SkyShow evolved to an elaborate production, with some 5,000 fireworks shells launched, computer synchronized to music. The Skyshow was not held in 2020 or 2021. The 5th SkyShow will take place in 2023 at Petco Park. “Our fans are in for quite a night!” promised producer Sports San Diego.

Clear bag policy:

The following are prohibited inside Petco Park

bag policy

Trojans Walk:

The Trojans team figures to arrive at the Holiday Bowl around 2 hours and 45 minutes prior to kickoff, which would be approximately 2:15 p.m. Buses figure to drop off the team on Tony Gwynn Drive, which runs parallel to Harbor Drive behind the home plate area of Petco Park (See photo below).