San Diego Strike Force vs. San Francisco Panthers. "An altercation going on behind the San Diego bench...somebody lost a wig...."

On September 9, a confrontation at the Henderson Sports Complex in the Mountain View neighborhood turned violent when a 37-year-old man was shot in the head, according to the San Diego Police. Though the victim survived, the suspect remains at large, and the Southwestern SDPD unit is still investigating. The shooting occurred at a venue known for youth basketball, soccer, and flag football and hosts the San Diego Unity Games. 

"It's gets crazy out here at the kids' games," said John F., a father who lives north of the venue closer to Market and the 805 freeway. "Some parents argue about bad calls and other players being too rough, that's how the arguments start. But this happens at professional games too!"

Padres and Giants fans face off Sept. 6

A few days earlier, on September 6, tensions boiled over at Petco Park during a game between the Padres and the Giants. In Gallagher Square, families with children witnessed fans from both teams clashing. A video posted by Andrew Lizotte captured a Giants fan throwing a punch, which led to a flurry of blows that left him on the ground. Despite the attack, the fan managed to stand back up. Instagram user amy_barton3 voiced her concerns about the lack of security: “Petco Park was really lacking a reasonable amount of security this season. This was bound to happen when you sell liquor in mass quantity without adequate security. One security guard in this crowded area — really Petco?!”

"I know alcohol is an easy factor to point at, and it does have a big role in it," said local sports fan Mercury Hornbeek in a recent interview. "Plus, many people want to visit San Diego, and they bring their mouths with them. I think a lot of it is due to our city not having a championship, so people think they can come and talk smack."

A couple of weeks earlier, on August 20, another fight broke out at Petco Park during a Padres game against the Minnesota Twins. Twitter user Levi Leveille posted a video on X showing a man in a white tank top exchanging blows with another man in black. Initially, the man in white dodged punches, taunting his opponent, but was soon hit repeatedly, leaving him bleeding from the mouth. It's unclear which team either tussler rooted for, but the Padres won a 7-5 victory below on the field.

Mercury Hornbeck

Hornbeek, who wears a wrestling mask at the Padres game and changes his personal to Padre Libre, is such a hardcore fan that he made a rap song for our baseball team titled San Diego Super Padres. He continued, "I don't let the talking go too far with me. I even try joking around to cool people's jets. I've had fans try to bash me, but nobody has tried to fight me in Petco Park. I don't have to 'punk out' to stop an argument. I try to ensure it's a good experience for people at the ballgame."

Not everyone follows the same sports fandom etiquette, and Hornbeek had a strong point regarding alcohol and sports — sports bars in this case. Violence erupted at local sports bars following the Padres' July 6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. At 1:20 am on July 7, a brawl at La Barrita Bar in Spring Valley led to two stabbings, according to a report from 911 Video News. Just over an hour later, a second stabbing occurred at The Sunshine Company Saloon in Ocean Beach, reported Newsreel Media | San Diego.

On April 28, another altercation erupted at Pechanga Arena during an indoor football game between the San Diego Strike Force and the Bay Area Panthers. As tensions flared among fans, the announcer said, "An altercation going on behind the San Diego bench ... somebody lost a wig ... now one of the players goes into the stands ... this looks like a fight between family members on teams." The fight prompted security personnel to rush into the stands to break up the brawl; players from both teams also ran up there. In the aftermath, the five players, including San Diego Strike Force's Arthur Jackson III and Marques “Hoodie” Rodgers, were ejected from the game with only 46 seconds left on the clock. The San Diego team lost 32-33.

On March 30, a Padres fan was caught on video slapping a San Francisco Giants fan during a confrontation at Petco Park. Down in the concourse, two pairs of fans exchanged blows in a separate altercation, which was also recorded and shared widely online.

Why are these fights happening more frequently at sports events and televised games? According to fans and commentators online, the constant presence of smartphones and social media is partly to blame. Fans may feel pressured to retaliate during altercations to avoid looking weak with everyone recording. Moreover, with the growing popularity of UFC and mixed martial arts, people seem more eager to engage in physical confrontations—especially when fueled by alcohol.

Hornbeek traces local sports conflicts to another source.

"After the Chargers leaving, it seems like we ain't taking any trash talk or trying to bash our city in any way. People may say that it's just a game, but our city name is on the jersey. Let's go, Padres!"