Channel 933’s Summer Kickoff Concert – Presented by SDCCU.com is going down on Friday, May 31st at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. This year’s show will feature performances from AJ Mitchell, Ally Brooke, Bebe Rexha, Bryce Vine, CNCO, Ellie Goulding, Fletcher, Halsey, NCT 127, and Zedd!

The show is a long running San Diego tradition to help welcome in the summer. Many of today’s hottest acts will be all under one roof! Whether this is your first year attending or you don’t miss a year, this post will help you stay in the loop on all things Summer Kickoff! You’ll find a list of ALL the ways you can win your way into the show, tips on how to win tickets, meet and greets, general information, and so much more. This year’s guide is more stacked than ever!

If you’re ready to become a Summer Kickoff Concert expert, keep reading!

Disclaimer: I am not directly affiliated with iHeartMedia. All information provided in this post is public domain, and mostly based on prior knowledge from previous years. The information in this post may be changed at any given time, and will be updated regularly to ensure accuracy.

Venue Information & Policies

New venue, who dis?

Pechanga Arena is the new home of the Channel 933 Summer Kickoff Concert! Pechanga Arena, formerly known as Valley View Casino Center, is located at 3500 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110.

All persons entering the venue are subject to search. The venue has a clear bag policy set in place. Unless your bag/clutch/wallet is no larger than  4.5″ x 6.5″ (the size of your hand), you may not bring in a bag that is not clear!

Clear totes, backpacks, clutches, fanny packs, and gallon sized freezer bags are welcome. All bags will be checked upon entering the venue. Pechanga Arena does not have a general bag check area. If you’re getting dropped off, don’t forget your clear bag! There are plenty of stylish clear bags sold through major retailers including Amazon. (I’ll be rocking my Ariana Grande Sweetener World Tour clear tote!)

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Weapons (including pepper spray, tasers, knives)
• Outside food and beverages
• Umbrellas
• Laser pens and pointers
• Balloons
• Wallet chains
• Drugs (sorry guys!)
• Signs
• Video and audio recording devices (including cameras with removable lenses and GoPro’s)
• iPads/tablets
• Noise making devices.

Use good judgement – it’s a concert! If you wouldn’t bring it to any other show, it’s probably not a good idea to bring it to Summer Kickoff.

Some of the things you CAN bring inside include:

• Portable chargers for your phone
• Your phone. What would you do without it?
• Binoculars
• Your clear bag
• Your younger sibling who wouldn’t stop begging you for tickets
• Polaroid cameras
• NCT 127 Lightsticks

NOTE: On 5/29, the venue released a statement on Instagram confirming that official NCT 127 will be allowed inside the venue after inspection. Lightsticks for other groups will NOT be allowed. Get ready to turn Pechanga Arena green, NCTzens!

If you have the official lightstick and security is giving you troubles, have the Instagram post ready or ask to speak to a supervisor/venue rep.

Parking is available at Pechanga Arena for $20 per car. There is a rideshare dropoff/pickup area in front of the arena near Chick-Fil-A.

SO TO RECAP…

Q: Chels, where’s Summer Kickoff taking place?

A: The Summer Kickoff Concert is taking place at Pechanga Arena!

Q: Do I have to bring a clear bag?

A: Yup!

Q: Can I bring my drugs, weapons, or outside food?

A: Nope!

Q: It’s okay to bring my portable charger?

A: Yup!

Q: Will I risk getting towed if I park across the street?

A: YUP.

Q: I’m so excited for NCT 127! Can I bring my lightstick?

A: I’m excited to see them too! BRING YO LIGHTSTICK!

BUYING YOUR TICKETS

Tickets for the show can be purchased through AXS.com, or on the phone at 1-888-929-7849.

Prices range between $49.50 – $79.50 + fees for the terrace, $79.50 – $99.50 + fees for the loge, $79.50 – $129.50 + fees for lower level seating, and $99.50 – $186.50 + fees for floor seating. Prices are subject to change. No refunds or exchanges.

AXS also has select premium seat options available, which allow you to get closer to the action!

SEATING CHART

One of the things I love about Pechanga Arena is that it is smaller than other arenas Southern California. There are great sight lines no matter where you choose to sit! With that being said, I don’t think there’s such thing as “bad seats” at this venue. The terrace section is nowhere near as high up or steep as the upper levels in other arenas I’ve been in.

When buying tickets, AXS allows you to select your own seats, so look around and make sure you get the best bang for your buck!

WINNING TICKETS

Here’s the part I can almost guarantee you’re here for. There’s plenty of tickets still on sale, but let’s talk about winning your way into the show. As a student, I definitely know how important it is to be smart with your money (and SDCCU helps me out a lot with that)! Hey – it’s awesome to be a winner, so let’s make you one!

There will be dozens of opportunities to win tickets to the show between now and May 31. Many giveaways will take place on air (on the radio), at ticket drop events and online.

There’s a few important things to note before we go any further.

• Channel 933’s phone number is (855) 570-1933
• Only one prize will be awarded per household per 30 days – per method. This means that if your older sister who lives with you wins zoo tickets right now on-air, no one living in your household will be able to win on-air until May 22.
• On-air winners MUST be 18+ and legal residents of San Diego County. You will be asked to fill out winner paperwork at the station when picking up your tickets.
• Online contests are typically open to any legal resident in the US who are 18+. There are some online contests who are open to minors. Be sure to read the rules of every contest you enter to verify!
• Unless otherwise noted, tickets are NOT located on the floor.
• If you win tickets, you’ll be picking them up at the station offices – located at 9660 Granite Ridge Dr, San Diego, CA 92123.

TIPS ON WINNING ON-AIR CONTESTS

The key is knowing what is being asked of you, and timing it right! I would strongly recommend listening on an actual radio if possible, instead of on a mobile device/online stream due to the stream being delayed up to a minute. Be persistent. If you get a busy signal, call back, and keep redialing until a winner is announced.

If you are trying to win tickets during Ethan’s Top 9 @ 9 countdown, be sure to call in AS SOON AS SONG #2 ENDS. If you get a busy signal, continue to call back.

TIPS ON WINNING ONLINE CONTESTS

Not much to say, other than make sure you read the rules and know how many entries you’re allowed per day!

TICKET DROP EVENTS

Ticket drop events are your opportunity to win tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert throughout San Diego! There’s an updated list of ticket drop events on my contest list. Each event usually lasts 2 hours, and a pair of tickets are given out once an hour.

SO TO RECAP…

Q: CHELS!!! HOW CAN I WIN TICKETS TO THE SHOW?

A: There are various ways to win tickets to the show – online contests, on air contests, ticket drop events, and more. Keep scrolling further down this post (two sections down) for a complete list of opportunities to win tickets to the show!

Q: Do I have to live in San Diego to win tickets?

A: On-air contests require winners to be legal residents of San Diego, 18+.

Q: Oh. I’m under 18, and I want to try to call in and win. My older sister is an adult, can I pass the phone to her so she give her information instead?

A: Totally! As long as your older sibling/guardian/anyone else living in the same household hasn’t won anything in the last 30 days on-air, you is good!!

MEET AND GREETS

Now – here’s the part I know you REALLY came for! You want to get backstage and meet one of the artists performing at this year’s Summer Kickoff concert, don’t you? How cool would it be to meet Bebe Rexha or Halsey at the show, and make all your friends jealous?

Meet and greets cannot be purchased – they can only be won! Meet and greet passes are also non-transferrable, so don’t trust the guy claiming to sell meet and greets for Halsey on OfferUp.

There will be various opportunities to win meet and greets. You’ll be able to enter online raffles, win them on-air, or win them at ticket drop events.

If you attend a ticket drop event and a meet and greet is given away, and the artist is not specified, it likely means that the artist has not been assigned yet. It does NOT mean you get to choose who you want to meet! (Sorry.) If you win, you will receive a phone call from the promotions department a few days before the show with information on who you’ll be meeting, and the check-in details.

Anyways, let me explain how the meet and greets have gone down in previous years!

The winner will check in at a designated location in the venue, and show their photo ID to prove that it’s them. If someone else won the meet and greets for you (ex. your mom, older sibling, etc.) they must enter the venue to be able to check you in. They do NOT need to be your +1. You and your guest will receive your passes, and then line up to be escorted into the meet and greet area. Bags and personal belongings will be left on a table upon entering the room. You and your guest will then have the opportunity to take your picture with the artist together! A photographer from the station will take your picture – no personal cameras/phones/selfies allowed.

Depending on time constraints, you may be asked to form a group of 4 or more for the photo op. However, photos are typically taken in pairs. You’ll be able to say hi, get a hug, and snap the pic! While you will not be able to get autographs or ask for a video for a friend, it’s a VERY fun experience that you’ll never forget! Meet and greet photos are uploaded onto the station’s website typically by the next day.

And as a fun bonus, there’s been Jersey Mikes sandwiches in the meet and greet room the past few years 🙂

SO TO RECAP…

Q: Can I buy meet and greet passes?

A: Meet and greet passes are not available for sale, nor are they transferrable. Your only way in is to win!

Q: How do I win then?

A: There will be various opportunities to win tickets AND meet and greets. Check out the list in the next section!

Q: Can Halsey sign my phone case?

A: Autographs are usually not allowed. You will also be asked to put your phone away before approaching the artist.

Q: I don’t get to pick the artist I want to meet?

A: Nope, sorry!

LIST OF TICKET AND M&G GIVEAWAYS

ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO!

This list will be updated regularly, as information comes in and new contests are announced. Good luck!

• March 29-May 28: Click here to enter to win a pair of tickets to Channel 933’s Summer Kickoff Concert from Star 94.1
• April 22-26: Listen to Channel 933 for the cue to call, and you could win a pair of Summer Kickoff tickets.

• April 22-May 1: Click here to enter to win a pair of tickets to Channel 933’s Summer Kickoff concert.
• May 3-28: The Marines and Channel 933 want to give you tickets to the hottest show of the year – and the adventure of a lifetime! Click here to enter to win tickets to Channel 933’s Summer Kickoff Concert and a meet and greet with a Summer Kickoff artist. You can also opt in to receive more information on the Marines!
• May 6-10: Listen to Channel 933 for the cue to call and you could win a pair of tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert AND a meet and greet with one of the performers! Artist will be announced before the tickets are given away.
• May 14 – Join Channel 933 at the SDCCU in San Ysidro (2036 Dairy Mart Road, Suite 130 San Ysidro, CA 92173) from 3-5PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!
• May 16 – Join Channel 933 at the SDCCU in El Cajon (312 West Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020) from 3-5PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!
• May 20 – Join Channel 933 at the SDCCU in Pacific Beach (1664 Garnet Ave, San Diego CA 92109) from 11AM-1PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!
• May 20-24 : Listen to Channel 933 for the cue to call and you could win a pair of tickets to the Summer Kickoff Concert AND a meet and greet with one of the performers! Artist will be announced before the tickets are given away.
• May 22 – Join Channel 933 at the SDCCU in Scripps Ranch (9974 Scripps Ranch Blvd, San Diego, CA 92131) from 3-5PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!
• May 23 – Join Channel 933 at the SDCCU in Carlsbad (2530 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008) from 3-5PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!
• May 24 – Join Channel 933 at the Northgate Market on 1410 43rd Street, San Diego, CA 92113 from 4-6PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!
• May 28 – Join Channel 933 at the Wendy’s on 8637 Navajo Rd, San Diego, CA 92113 from 12-1PM
• May 29 – Join Channel 933 at the SDCCU in Scripps Ranch (9974 Scripps Ranch Blvd, San Diego, CA 92131) from 3-5PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!
• May 30 – Join Channel 933 at the SDCCU on Sports Arena Blvd (3455 Sports Arena Blvd. Suite 120 San Diego, CA 92110) from 3-5PM for your chance to win Summer Kickoff tickets!

Channel 933 is also running contests on Instagram to meet your favorite Summer Kickoff artists! Visit @channel933 on Instagram to find out more.

OTHER QUESTIONS

Q: Will there be merch for sale?

A: Yes! There are a few merch stands inside the venue.

Q: Why did the venue get moved?

A: The former venue’s naming rights were handed over to a competitor of the sponsor of the event. It wouldn’t be cool for Coca-Cola to host a huge concert at a venue where Pepsi holds the naming rights… right?

Q: Why are you giving out all this information???

A: I’ve attended the Summer Kickoff Concert every year since 2015. Getting tickets used to be my birthday present to myself! Many people knew me as the girl with the party hat, because I’d always bring a giant party hat for my friends to sign (like a birthday card). I have enjoyed this concert and have created so many great memories at the shows throughout the year. It’s always been important to me to make sure anyone who wants to go is able to go, and I will do whatever it takes to help you go to the show and enjoy it! I feel very fortunate to have been able to sit front row the past two years. This year I was unable to purchase tickets, but was able to win a pair of tickets and a meet and greet with AJ Mitchell! If I could do it, so can you. We’re in this together!

If this post can help at least ONE person out, it’s worth it. Hands down.

Q: Can I fight you at the concert?

A: Never.

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end! I hope you found this guide helpful and maybe the slightest bit entertaining. Please feel free to share with your friends, and don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any more questions or concerns! Drop a comment below or find me on Twitter and Instagram @PLNKWIFI. If you’d also like to email me a question, send it over at WIFIMXB@GMAIL.COM 😀

Hope to see you at Summer Kickoff, and be sure to keep listening to Channel 933!