So, you’ve seen the insane lineup for this year’s Channel 933 Summer Kickoff Concert, presented by SDCCU.com. AJR, Hey Violet, Noah Cyrus, Niall Horan, Machine Gun Kelly, Hailee Steinfeld, DNCE, Halsey, the Backstreet Boys and David Guetta will all be helping San Diego welcome in the summer at Mattress Firm Amphitheater on May 12. But of course, it wouldn’t be a real party without YOU.
Whether this is your first time ever going to the show, or you’re a veteran just like me, this guide will help you stay in the know on all things Summer Kickoff. Any concerns or questions you may have regarding this show or the venue will be answered below. You’ll find an updated list with ALL the ticket and meet & greet giveaways out there, tips on how to win, tips on how to get the best seats money can buy, how the show works, and more. Be sure to share this post with your friends, because this is your one stop shop for all the info you’ll need to have the best night ever.
Are you ready to become a Summer Kickoff expert? If so, keep reading!
VENUE INFO
(Gate times, parking, prohibited items, etc.)
Q: When is the show, and what time is the show?
A: The show is on Friday May 12 at 6PM.
Q: What time do the doors open?
A: The doors will open at 4PM.
Q: Where is Mattress Firm Amphitheater?
A: Mattress Firm Amphitheater is located at 2050 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911. It’s only a few minutes from the 805 Freeway.
Q: How much is the parking?
A: Parking is FREE if you want to park in the dirt lots surrounding the amphitheater. They’re only a few steps away from the gates! However, preferred parking in a paved lot right in front of the entry gates will cost $20 for cars. You can pre-purchase parking for the preferred lot online, or pay with cash upon arrival.
Q: If I take an Uber or a Lyft there, where would I get dropped off and picked up?
A: Directly behind the amphitheater, there’s a a small hill for Uber and Lyft drop off and pick up. There should be signs clearly stating where this area is.
Below is a map showing where the all the parking lots are located.
Q: How bad is the traffic ?
A: I always arrive to shows at Mattress Firm at least an hour before the gates open, so I can’t exactly say how the traffic is coming into the area. Since it’s a two lane road and a venue that holds over 20,000 people, you can imagine it’ll be pretty hectic as it gets later in the evening. That being said, I’d recommend arriving as early as possible. As for leaving the venue, leaving the parking lots will either be a breeze or a complete nightmare. Leaving before the last act (or “before the encore”) for this show doesn’t necessarily help you beat the traffic, since countless other people will have the same idea as you.
Q: What time does the show end?
A: Usually the show ends anywhere between 11PM and 11:30PM.
Q: Can I bring my own food inside the venue?
A: Yes! You may bring your own food in a gallon sized clear plastic bag. You may also bring in your own factory sealed water bottle, as long as it’s no larger than 20 oz. (So basically, a regular sized water bottle is ok!)
Q: Can I bring my iPad in so I can take pictures on it?
A: Unfortunately, tablets of any kind are not allowed into the venue.
Q: What about my DSLR camera, can I bring that in?
A: Cameras with removable lenses aren’t allowed either. Sorry :/
Q: Can I bring a poster? I’m Niall’s biggest fan and I want him to notice me.
A: The venue policy states that signs larger than 8.5”x11” (the size of a sheet of paper) are not permitted inside. However, the security at the gate will have the final say of what can come in.
Q: What if it rains like in 2015? Can I bring an umbrella? I don’t want to get wet.
A: Sadly, umbrellas are not allowed in the event of rain. Not only will they block people’s view, but they can also pose as a safety hazard. Should it rain, you may bring a poncho. And YES – THE SHOW WILL GO ON IF IT RAINS!
TICKET BUYING
So first things first, let’s take a look at the seating chart.
Q: How much do the tickets cost?
A: Of course, prices vary depending on where you want to sit. The cheapest tickets would be in the lawn section, which are $34 + fees. Next up are the 300’s sections, where prices range between $34 + fees to $53 + fees. There’s the 200’s sections, where prices range between $53 + fees to $83 + fees. Then there’s the 100’s sections, which cost $107 + fees, and the orchestra (left, center, right) sections, which also cost $107 + fees.
Q: So, which are the best seats?
A: In my opinion, the best seats are the closest seats – the orchestra. It’s a good thing to know that there’s no such thing as bad seats at this venue! All the seats face forward. It’s all a matter of how close you want to be.
Q: Are there screens for people in the lawn to see?
A: YES! The only thing about that is the screens aren’t the best quality, and they’re almost impossible to see until it gets very dark. I’d recommend bringing binoculars if you’d like to see the artists faces super up close 🙂
Q: Will there be seat upgrades?
A: Last year there were no seat upgrades, but in previous years there were. Upgrades from the lawn to seats would cost about $20. If there’s any upgrades this year, you’ll be able to purchase them the day of the show through the Live Nation app – which is free to download on the App Store and Google Play!
Q: Do box seats come with meet and greets?
A: No. Venue VIP has absolutely nothing to do with the radio station and their promotions.
Q: I’m short. Will I be fine in the orchestra?
A: YES! I promise.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Q: Does the concert really start at 6? Wow, that’s early.
A: Yes, the show starts at 6PM sharp!
Q: What are the set times?
A: In the past, the station has never released set times to the public. However, there’s a very very high chance that AJR will be the first group on stage at 6PM. Then, Hey Violet and Noah Cyrus will take the stage. Usually the first 3 acts are the shortest, and their sets will range anywhere between 10-15 minutes.
Q: So when is Niall going on? I can’t miss Niall!
A: Let’s be real – no one can afford to miss Niall. My guess would be Niall will perform sometime after 6:45PM. This is why it’s so important to get there on time!
Q: How long does the show last?
A: Usually the show runs from 6PM to anywhere between 11PM and 11:30PM.
Q: How long are the set changes?
A: Going based off last year, towards the beginning of the show, the set changes were very quick thanks to there being a rotating stage. As it got later, the set changes took anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes.
Q: How many songs are the Backstreet Boys going to sing?
A: The headliners (which would be them!) usually perform anywhere between 5-7 songs.
WINNING TICKETS
Q: Chels! I need to win tickets into the show. How can I win?
A: Great question. If you keep reading, I’ll be providing you with a growing list of ALL the ways (yes, literally, all of them) that you can win tickets into the show! Usually if you listen to Channel 933, tickets are given away on-air at different times of the day. Sometimes tickets are given away at the fan van on Friday mornings, and there will be ticket drop events at different SDCCU branches, Jerome’s locations… and more! Just keep reading.
Q: A contest says I have to be 18 to win. Do I really have to be 18?
A: YES. Seriously. For example, if you win over the air, you must be 18 to be deemed a winner.
Q: So I just have to keep listening to the radio? What’s the number to call?
A: 570-1933. If you want to put an area code, you can use (858) or (619).
Q: Omg I swear, you’re a pro at this. You always win stuff off the radio. Can you give me some tips?
A: First off, I don’t lol. Second, my biggest piece of advice is to be persistent. Read up as much as you can about how stuff works (you’re doing great by reading this post!), and stay dedicated and motivated! If you want it that badly, you WILL get it! Just don’t give up.
Q: If I win tickets on the radio or online, where do I pick them up?!
A: You pick them up at the grocery store. Just kidding. You pick them up at the station’s offices!
Q: And where’s the station’s offices located?
A: iHeartMedia is in Sierra Mesa, right next to the NBC building. The address is 9660 Granite Ridge Dr, San Diego, CA.
Q: If I win the tickets, what section will they be in?
A: Usually tickets given out by the station are either in the lawn or the 300’s. If they’re anywhere else, you’ve lucked out!
Q: Chels, how does Spin the Wheel of Meet and Greets work?
A: Basically, when you’re caller #9, you are assigned a meet and greet with a random artist. You don’t get to pick who you’ll be meeting, and you won’t know who the artist will be before you call in and you win.
Q: How do the ticket giveaways at different places work? Like for example, the one’s at Jerome’s.
A: Ah, these are called “ticket drops”, and you’ll see me refer to these as ticket drops on the list of contests below. When you arrive, the promotions team will have a note pad for you to write your name and phone number on. (That’s ALL you need to put). You’ll put them in a box, and a name will be pulled from the box every 15 or 20 minutes. You MUST be present to win… so if you’re in the bathroom and your name gets called, oops! The final raffle drawing includes a meet and greet with a Summer Kickoff artist, as well as the tickets for the show. So far, the meet and greets given out have been for unspecified artists.
Q: Any other tips for trying to win on-air?
A: It’s always best to listen on an actual radio. The iHeartRadio app streams are always delayed, which won’t be very helpful when you’re trying to win something, right?
MEET AND GREETS
Q: Where can I buy meet and greets? Girl, you know I have to meet Niall!
A: Unfortunately, meet and greets can’t be bought. They can only be won!
Q: OMG OKAY. GIRL. HELP ME OUT HERE. HOW DO I WIN THESE?
A: Channel 933 is giving you various opportunities to win meet and greets! You can enter online raffles, win them on-air, or win them at ticket drop events. For more info on how to win, just keep reading!
Q: If I win a meet and greet, do I have to be 18 to attend?
A: NOPE! However, if you’re under 18, you will most likely need someone who’s over the age of 18 to accompany you when you check in.
Q: My aunt won meet and greets for me, but she doesn’t want to go to the concert. Does she have to be there in order for me to get to the meet and greet?
A: Yes. Since prizes are non-transferrable, the person who’s name the meet and greet is under must be present at check in. Every year, this is a very common question, since you have to be 18 or older to win on-air, and the prize gets put in the name of the person who is 18+. I’ll give you an example: when I was 17, I met Alessia Cara at Channel 933′s Freecember concert. I won my meet and greet on-air, and since I wasn’t 18 yet, I handed my mom the phone so the people from the station could collect her info (name, address, birthday, email, and phone number). At the show, my mom took my friend and I to the check-in table, checked us in, and then she left. It worked out perfectly fine!
Q: So how do the meet and greets work? Are they rushed? Are they during the show?
A: So first of all, MOST of the meet and greets take place while the show is going on. Please mentally prepare yourself to miss someone’s set… hopefully it isn’t your favorite artist’s set. Once you get checked in, you’re asked to line up, and then you will be taken “backstage” to a little area that will have tables and stuff. You’ll wait some more, and then the artist will come into the room. You’ll most likely be asked to put away your phones and your cameras, since the meet and greet photos will be taken by a photographer on their camera – and the photos will be posted on the Channel 933 website in the following days. You’ll be asked to group up in pairs or groups to take your photo, and when it’s your pair/group’s turn, you’ll be able to say hi to the artist, get a hug, etc. Your picture will be taken, and then you’ll be able to enjoy some yummy food in the area with the tables. Last year, there was a tv in the area showing what was happening on stage. The experience may seem quick, but it’s lots of fun!
Q: Can I get autographs?
A: You won’t be allowed to have anything signed. Last year, we had to leave our bags in a pile before approaching the artist.
Q: Do I have to stay and eat after the meet and greet?
A: No, but the food is usually delicious, and it’s free! Last year, Luna Grill and Hubert’s Lemonade catered the meet and greet, so I got to eat great mediterranean food and drink my favorite lemonade. This year, Jersey Mike’s will be serving up dinner.
Q: Can I give the artists gifts?
A: Of course! Just make sure the gift is something that can get through security when you’re entering the venue.
LIST OF TICKET AND MEET AND GREET GIVEAWAYS
- April 3 thru 7 (ON AIR): Listen to Channel 933 for your chance to win a pair of tickets! Tickets will be given out at 7:10am, 8:10am, 1:20pm, 5:20pm, and 8:20pm.
- April 3 thru May 11: Enter here for your chance to win a pair of tickets. You can enter daily!
- April 12: Join Channel 933 at Brightwood College (9055 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92123) from 11AM-1PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! Tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes. At 1PM, a meet and greet for one of the performers will be raffled off as well (ARTIST TBA).
- April 15: Join Channel 933 at Jerome’s in San Marcos (780 Los Vallecitos Blvd, San Marcos CA 92069) from 12-2PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers!
- April 18: Join Channel 933 at Brightwood College (9055 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92123) from 4PM-6PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! Tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes. One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers!
- April 19: Join Channel 933 at Brightwood College’s Vista location (2022 University Dr, Vista, CA 92083) from 4PM-6PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! Tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes. One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers!
- April 20: Join Channel 933 at Soapy Joe’s Car Wash in Imperial Beach (1350 Palm Ave San Diego, CA 92154) from 4-6PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! Tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes. One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers! Be sure to visit soapyjoescarwash.com to receive a coupon for a free car wash on April 20!
- April 21: Join Channel 933 at Brightwood College’s Chula Vista location (555 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910) from 11AM-1PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! Tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes. One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers! *NOTE: Brightwood College’s Chula Vista location is inside of the Chula Vista Center, near JCPenny.
- April 21 thru April 23 (ON AIR): Listen to Channel 933 all weekend long for your chance to win your Summer Kickoff tickets!
- April 21 thru May 9: Want to meet NIALL HORAN at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for Niall Horan!
- April 21 thru May 9: Want to meet AJR at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for AJR!
- April 21 thru May 9: Want to meet MACHINE GUN KELLY at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for MGK!
- April 21 thru May 9: Want to meet Hailee Steinfeld at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for Hailee Steinfeld!
- April 21 thru May 9: Want to meet DNCE at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for DNCE!
- April 21 thru May 9: Want to meet Halsey at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for Halsey!
- April 22: Join Channel 933 at Jerome’s Furniture in Scripps Ranch (10724 Treena St, San Diego, CA 92131) from 12-2PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers!
- April 25: Join Channel 933 at SDCCU’s Carlsbad branch (2530 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008) from 11AM-1PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! A pair of tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes.
- April 27: Join Channel 933 at SDCCU’s Scripps Ranch branch (9974 Scripps Ranch Blvd, San Diego, CA 92131) from 3-5PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! A pair of tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes.
- April 28 thru May 9: SDCCU wants to hook YOU up with a pair of premium tickets to Channel 933′s Summer Kickoff Concert, VIP passes into the iHeartRadio party lounge (includes food and drinks), and a meet and greet with one of the performers! To enter, visit this post on SDCCU’s Instagram. Give them a follow if you aren’t following them already, like the post, and tag 3 friends in the comments.
- April 29: Join Channel 933 at Jerome’s Furniture in El Cajon (333 N Johnson Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020) from 12-2PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers!
- May 1 thru May 5 (ON AIR): Want to spin the wheel of meet and greets? This is YOUR opportunity to get backstage at Channel 933′s Summer Kickoff Concert and meet one of the performers! Listen in all day, be caller #9 when you hear the cue to call, and you could be winning a pair of tickets to the show AND meeting a Summer Kickoff artist!
- May 2 thru May 9: Want to meet Noah Cyrus at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for Noah Cyrus!
- May 2 thru May 9: Want to meet Hey Violet at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for Hey Violet!
- May 2 thru May 9: Want to meet David Guetta at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 9 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for David Guetta!
- May 4: Join Channel 933 at SDCCU’s Balboa/Genesee branch (5407 Balboa Ave, Suite 420, San Diego, CA 92111) from 3-5PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! A pair of tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes.
- May 4: RADD is the entertainment industry’s voice for road safety. Drunk driving isn’t cool… seriously, it isn’t. So to bring awareness to students and the community and to celebrate safe driving habits, College is RADD and Channel 933 will be giving away tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert – AND a meet and greet with one of the performers at The Habit Burger Grill in Mission Valley on May 4 from 5-7PM. The first 93 people will also receive free charburger! Come enjoy some great food with great people for a great cause. Visit College is RADD on Facebook to learn more, and to find out how to join their designated driver rewards program!
- May 4 thru May 11: Want to meet the Backstreet Boys at Summer Kickoff? Enter here daily thru May 11 for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, and a pair of meet and greet passes for the Backstreet Boys!
- May 4 thru May 11 (ONLINE): Sit up front at Summer Kickoff this year! Channel 933 has your shot at winning tickets in the first 10 rows of the orchestra section here. Be sure to listen in all next week for the cue to call and win your up front seats!
- May 7: Join Channel 933 at Jerome’s Furniture on Morena Blvd (1190 W Morena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110) from 12-2PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers!
- May 8 thru May 12 (ON AIR): It’s UP FRONT TICKET WEEK! Channel 933 wants to hook you up with a pair of tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert in the first 10 rows of the orchestra section. Listen in all week, and when you hear the cue to call, be caller #9 and win!
- May 9: Join Channel 933 at SDCCU’s Pacific Beach branch (1664 Garnet Ave) from 11AM-1PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! A pair of tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes.
- May 10: Join Chanel 933 at The Habit Burger Grill in Carmel Mountain (12002 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92128) from 11AM-1PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert!
- May 10: Join Channel 933 at SDCCU’s Mission Valley branch (2245 Fenton Parkway, Suite 107, San Diego, CA 92108) from 3-5PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! A pair of tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes.
- May 11: Join Channel 933 at SDCCU’s Eastlake branch (2280 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91915) from 3-5PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! A pair of tickets will be raffled off every 15 minutes.
- May 11: Join Channel 933 at Jerome’s Furniture in Chula Vista (775 Plaza Ct, Chula Vista, CA 91910) from 5-7PM for your chance to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert! One lucky person will win a meet and greet with one of the performers!
BRING NOAH CYRUS TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL! San Diego County Credit Union is not big bank banking, it’s better! Here’s another reason why… they want to bring Noah Cyrus to your high school for a performance AND to award your school $1,000! Follow @sdccu on Instagram, and visit this post regarding the competition. Like the post, and then upload a pic or vid to IG using #SDCCUspirit. Make sure you tag @sdccu in the post too! All entries must be up on IG by 5PM PST on May 1. SDCCU will select a winner from all eligible entries – so basically, if SDCCU selects your post, Noah will be visiting your high school! For full terms and conditions, visit sdccu.com/sweepstakes.
BARE REPUBLIC’S ULTIMATE SUMMER KICKOFF SWEEPSTAKES: Bare Republic wants to make sure you have the best summer ever, and of course, the best summer ever starts off by going to the Channel 933 Summer Kickoff Concert. Click here to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show, AND a meet and greet with one of the performers! Join the republic by visiting barerepublicnaturals.com and get 20% off your orders through May 16 by using the code SUMMERSPLASH at checkout!
JEROME’S BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE: Jerome’s Furniture wants to send you to Channel 933’s Summer Kickoff Concert! You and 3 friends watch the show from the best seats in the house – in your own box on Jerome’s leather sofas! You’ll also receive a VIP parking pass, a $100 Visa gift card to spend at the show, and a meet and greet with a Summer Kickoff Concert artist! If you want in on this awesome hook up, click here for the terms and conditions. Visit one of Jerome’s convenient San Diego locations to enter!
TAKE YOUR CLASS TO THE SUMMER KICKOFF CONCERT: Brightwood College wants to send you and your class to the Channel 933 Summer Kickoff Concert! You’ll win 30 lawn tickets, so you and your classmates can have an unforgettable start to the summer. You must be at least 13 years old to enter. Click here to enter! The last day to enter is on May 7.
CHEVROLET’S CHANNEL 933 SUMMER KICKOFF CONCERT VIP EXPERIENCE: Enter here for your chance to win 2 tickets to Channel 933′s Summer Kickoff Concert. You’ll also be receiving 2 meet and greet passes for one of the show’s performers! Chevrolet always wants to make sure you roll like a VIP, especially with their new 2017 Cruze including 4G LTE Wi-Fi capabilities for up to seven devices!
EVAN’S TIRE GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION: Evans Tire has been serving San Diego drivers for nearly 40 years. Come celebrate the opening of their new Chula Vista and Rancho Peñasquitos locations this Saturday May 6! The Rancho Peñasquitos location is located at 14365 Penasquitos Drive, San Diego, CA, and the festivities will take place from 10AM-12PM. The Chula Vista location is located at 399 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA, and the festivities will take place from 12PM-2PM. There will be free face painting, free hot dogs and pizza, and more! Channel 933 will also be at both locations to raffle off Summer Kickoff Concert tickets. Don’t miss it! For more info, and for more exciting grand opening offers, visit evanstire.com.
OTHER QUESTIONS
Q: CHELS! Something came up, and I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to the show. Can I sell my tickets even though my name is on them?
A: I’m sorry you can’t make it! Thankfully, you’ll be able to sell your tickets (PDF or hard copy) even if your name is on them. ID’s aren’t checked at the gate. Live Nation also has a feature where you can safely transfer your tickets from one person to another.
Q: Are you going to the concert?
A: Of course! Once again, I’m sitting in the orchestra and will be wearing a huge party hat since the show is on my birthday. If you see me, feel free to say hi! As always, the first 8 people to come say hi to me will get a chocolate cupcake, and I will be handing out pizza before the gates open.
Q: Wait waiiiiit, is it really going to be your birthday?
A: YUP! I was born on May 12 🙂
Q: Does it get cold at the venue at night?
A: Yes, but it’s never freezing. It would be a great idea to bring a sweater 🙂
I hope you found this post helpful! If you have any other questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to shoot me an email or tweet me. This is my 5th year attending, and I want everyone to be able to enjoy this show as much as I do every year. Be sure to share this post with anyone you think may find it useful, and keep listening to Channel 933 for all things Summer Kickoff!
