Champions Circle is headed back to the West Coast. From September 16th through 19th, we’ll gather at the InterContinental San Diego, a waterfront hotel in the heart of downtown, to celebrate the people who made this year one to remember. Over the next several weeks, we’ll share everything you need to know about the city, the hotel, and the event itself. Consider this post your official welcome.
Why San Diego? Because we’ve been here before.
Some of you may remember that Champions Circle came to San Diego in 2021. It was a challenging time to gather, but the city delivered. The sunshine, the bay, and the laid-back Southern California spirit gave us exactly what we needed. After heading east to Nashville last year for an unforgettable run of music and Southern hospitality, we knew it was time to return to the coast. San Diego earned a second visit, and we’re thrilled to be back.
About that nickname
San Diego calls itself “America’s Finest City,” and there’s a fun story behind it. In 1972, the city was set to host a major national convention that got moved to Miami at the last minute. Rather than sulk, then-Mayor Pete Wilson declared “America’s Finest City Week” to lift the city’s spirits and invite the world to come see what San Diego had to offer. The name stuck. More than fifty years later, it still fits.
It’s easy to see why. San Diego offers 70 miles of coastline, one of the most famous zoos in the world, a thriving food scene, and weather that borders on unfair. September is one of the best months of the year to visit, with warm days, cool evenings, and some of the clearest skies the city sees all year.
Your home base on the bay
We’ll be staying at the InterContinental San Diego, located right on the downtown waterfront along San Diego Bay. The property offers beautiful views, and the hotel sits within walking distance of the USS Midway Museum, Seaport Village, Little Italy, and the Gaslamp Quarter. Fun fact for the baseball fans: the hotel stands on the historic grounds of Lane Field, where the Pacific Coast League Padres played from 1936 to 1957—a young Ted Williams included. We’ll share much more about the hotel and neighborhood in an upcoming post.
What’s ahead in this series
Between now and September, we’ll publish two posts each week covering San Diego’s history and culture, the best things to see and do, where to eat and drink like a local, ideas for guests joining us, and everything you need to know before you go. Whether this is your first trip to San Diego or a welcome return, we want you and your guests to arrive feeling like insiders.