SAN DIEGO — In what may qualify as a double musical grand slam for Petco Park, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Billy Joel and Sting are teaming up to perform a joint concert at the downtown San Diego ballpark next spring.
Their April 13 concert here is one of only two joint U.S. concerts by the two music legends scheduled for next year, at least so far. The other is Feb. 24 in Florida at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
The announcement of their San Diego performance was made at a press conference held on the field, near first base, at Petco Park.
The concert is one of two major music events announced at the ballpark so far for 2024 (the Foo Fighters’ Aug. 7 show is the other). Both will take place during the 20th anniversary year of the ballpark, which is the home of the San Diego Padres baseball team.
“When we opened 20 years ago we promised that Petco Park would be more than a ball park with 82 (home) games a year, and we have fulfilled that promise,” Padres CEO Erik Greupner said, at a press conference announcing the Joel-Sting event.
Joel and Sting’s concert is being produced in collaboration with Live Nation, the world’s largest promoter of concerts and live events. The company has been instrumental in securing many top attractions for Petco Park, including Bad Bunny for two shows last year and Zach Bryan, who will headline the Dec. 30 Wild Horses festival.
“We are extremely proud to partner with the Padres and Petco Park,” said Live Nation California Region President Geni Lincoln.
Also on hand for the announcement was retired Padres relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman.
In an onfield chat with the Union-Tribune, Hoffman cited a Van Halen/Stryper double-bill at The Forum in Los Angeles as his first concert. And he explained why the date of Joel and Sting’s upcoming Petco Park show is especially meaningful for him.
“April 13 would have been my dad’s 113th birthday,” Hoffman said. “My dad was a singer in the group The Royal Guards, which is how he met my mother in England. So, it will be really nice for me to celebrate him at a concert here on that day.”
This will be Joel’s first San Diego concert since his sold-out 2016 concert here at Petco Park.
