SAN DIEGO — A San Diego judge has ruled that a hearing over whether or not to allow another San Diego Rodeo inside Petco Park to move forward as planned.
On Thursday, the Padres requested that the hearing be delayed, siding with animal rights groups who have sued the Padres, as well as C5 Rodeo, the company putting on the January 10th event.
They are both at the center of a lawsuit trying to stop the rodeo from happening.
The Padres have an October 25 hearing scheduled, but requested it be moved to November 15, when C5 Rodeo has their hearing scheduled.
Ultimately, Judge Joel Wohlfeil sided with animal rights groups, ruling the October 25 hearing will move forward as scheduled.
Wohlfeil said the rodeo is an important issue for the community and there should be no delays in determining its future.
Last year was the first time a rodeo was held at Petco Park, but it almost didn't happen.
Animal rights groups sued, saying the city's municipal code does not allow cattle inside Petco Park.
They also argue animal cruelty violations.
Despite that, the rodeo went on as planned given the short time frame between when the suit was filed and the actual event.
This year, animal rights groups Animal Protection and Rescue League and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness are once again suing over those same issues, saying they want to not only stop the January rodeo from moving forward, but ultimately to permanently ban them from ever happening in the city of San Diego.
They said the Padres request is a delay tactic to ensure the rodeo will go on as planned.
"So, the Padres have now come in here and said, oh, let's slow this up and let's have the hearing later so we get closer to the so they want to run out the clock, but get it closer and closer to the rodeo so that it's harder to get this preliminary injunction granted," said attorney Bryan Pease.
The issue will be heard on October 25, at which point a judge could rule the rodeo can't happen.
For now, though, tickets for January's rodeo at Petco Park are on sale.
The Padres say it’s going to be bigger and better than last year, with musical acts added, as well as additional seating.