San Diego FC Introduces the Chrome Ball Tour:
A Year-Long, 18-City Community Engagement Platform that Weaves Together the Best of Football, Art and San Diego Culture
San Diego, CA – January 10, 2024 – San Diego FC is making good on its promise to celebrate and bring together the 18 cities of San Diego County with the newly announced 2024 Chrome Ball Tour. This innovative 18-city community engagement platform will unite and recognize the diverse neighborhoods of San Diego County through a harmonious blend of soccer, arts, and the vibrant cultures that define the region. The San Diego County Toyota Dealers are a proud partner of the Chrome Ball Tour with Toyota vehicles transporting the ball from city to city. The year-long tour will commence with a kick-off celebration at its Eighteen Threads retail store on Saturday, January 13 and make its inaugural stop on Saturday, January 27 at the historic Oceanside Amphitheater.
The San Diego FC chrome soccer ball was first unveiled on May 18 at the Club’s MLS inauguration announcement at Snapdragon Stadium. The ball stands 8-feet in diameter and features 18-chrome panels with the names of each of the 18-cities that make up San Diego County. Chrome, a principal color of our Club, is a symbol of San Diego’s spirit of excellence and cutting edge innovation. It reflects the colors of the community and the diversity of cultures, races, languages and lifestyles across the county.
Every stop of the Chrome Ball Tour is completely free to all attendees and promises to deliver an immersive and unforgettable celebration of the beautiful game, foster community spirit and showcase the dynamic essence of San Diego. Football will be at the heart of each of the 18 stops allowing fans to experience various formats of the sport, including street soccer, beach soccer, esports competitions, watch parties and much more.
Preceding the monumental 18-stop journey, San Diego FC invites fans, families, and soccer enthusiasts to a special Chrome Ball Tour kick-off celebration on January 13. The event will take place outside the Club’s newly opened retail store Eighteen Threads at Mission Valley Mall from 10am-6pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with San Diego FC ambassadors, enjoy an exclusive Q&A with local artist Josue Baltezar, and take photos alongside the Chrome Ball. A more detailed schedule of activities will be announced in the coming days.
The first official stop of the Chrome Ball Tour will take place later in the month on Saturday, January 27 at the Oceanside Amphitheater from 11am-8pm. This family-friendly event will feature live musical performances from Oceanside natives Obed Padilla and John Givez, local Oceanside food vendors, talented artists, and a street soccer competition. The 40-team street soccer tournament will feature three divisions: adult, girls youth and boys youth.
“San Diego FC’s Chrome Ball Tour underscores how football thrives throughout San Diego, fostering unity, creativity, and a shared passion that transcends the boundaries of sport,” said Tom Penn, CEO, San Diego FC. “The Tour not only celebrates the beautiful game but also seamlessly weaves together football, art, and San Diego's rich cultural fabric. We are excited for fans to celebrate with us and demonstrate how the spirit of the game resonates with the soul of our city."
San Diego FC will continue its commitment to the San Diego art community by incorporating local artists from each of the 18 cities into every Chrome Ball Tour stop. Each tour stop will feature bespoke collectors’ edition swag, including posters and patches designed by local artists. In Oceanside we are collaborating with local artist Gabriel Medina to bring the event to life. Attendees who collect all 18 city badges throughout the year will be entered for a chance to win special prizes and exclusive San Diego FC discounts.
Additionally, San Diego FC worked with local artist Richie Moon to design the Chrome Ball Tour mark and digital artwork. Special edition prints of artists’ works will be on display and available for purchase throughout the tour.
Below are the 18 San Diego cities that will make up the Chrome Ball Tour. A more complete tour schedule including dates, locations and event time will be released once available.
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Oceanside: Saturday, January 27 @ Oceanside Amphitheater
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Escondido: Saturday, February, 3 @ Washington Park
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Poway: Saturday, February 17 @ North County Soccer Park
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Santee: Saturday, March 2 @ Sportsplex USA
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Carlsbad
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Chula Vista
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San Marcos
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Vista
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Del Mar
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La Mesa
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Solana Beach
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Coronado
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Encinitas
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El Cajon
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National City
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Imperial Beach
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Lemon Grove
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San Diego