The Padres want you to clock in from Petco Park on June 10 for its Remote Work Wednesday theme game.
“If you can work anywhere, why not work from America’s No. 1 ballpark?” Scotty Muirhead, San Diego’s poster child for remote work, said on Instagram on Wednesday.
He told his 40,000 followers to buy tickets for the 1 p.m. game and grab seats in section 324. “Bring your laptop, glove, and whatever helps drive shareholder value,” he posted. “Dress code: corporate up top, San Diego beach day below.”
Scotty Muirhead spoke to a few of his followers during the latest remote work meetup in Encinitas. (Photo by Denis Poroy)
It went viral. In less than 24 hours, the post pulled in almost 1 million views, 36,000 shares and more than1,000 comments — some from people who couldn’t wait to buy tickets and from others convinced this would ruin remote work for everyone.
Muirhead has capitalized on this post-pandemic cultural shift, gaining thousands of followers by posting about all of the places he’s worked remotely.
Muirhead throws his 70-pound desk in his white van, puts on a button-up, tie, turquoise swim shorts, and gets to work somewhere ridiculous.
He’s taken Zoom calls while paragliding at the Gliderport, skiing at Mammoth, seated next to a mariachi band at Cafe Coyote, and come June, from the bleachers at Petco Park.
On March 15, he asked his followers to join him: “BYOD” — bring your own desk — he wrote, and clock in from Pacific Beach. Hundreds of remote workers showed up, including the daughter of Padres Chief Marketing Officer Chris Connolly.
“She had so much fun,” he said. “It’s a brilliant concept … and it would only happen in San Diego.”
After the Pacific Beach meetup, Connolly approached Muirhead to partner for a theme game. It’s something the Padres often do — partner with an organization or business to “celebrate the diverse community throughout San Diego,” Connolly said.
The Cardinals’ Remote-Work Wednesday is the latest addition to the Padres’ growing slate of weekday theme games.
Upcoming events include a celebration of Mexican Heritage with Pacifico at the June 5 game against the New York Mets. Petco Park is also throwing its third Hello Kitty night (after the first two sold out) on Aug. 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“There is no formal partnership,” said Connolly of the remote work event. “We’re just having fun with it … it’s a brand builder for both of us.”
Muirhead is doing this event for free, but believes he can use the Padres event as a “case study” for larger paid partnerships down the road. “I’m imagining pitching this to the MLB to do a remote work tour,” he said.
SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo reached out to Muirhead after the Padres deal went live, Muirhead said. “So did Jack in the Box, and they have a Super Bowl budget,” he added.
For now, he’s focused on making sure June 10 goes off without a hitch.
Tickets, which start at $45, purchased with the code “remote” include $10 in Friar Funds — consider it your lunch break budget.
Connolly said that there will be WiFi. Remote work ticket holders will also be placed in the shade for “an optimal remote work environment.” And, Connolly added, Muirhead is choosing a worker of the day who will be highlighted on the big screen.
Maybe that will motivate productivity at Petco Park.
Muirhead’s last remote work meetup in April was originally planned for La Jolla. But the city shut it down before it started — no permits, no meetup.
He told his followers to join him on April 25 at a dive bar called the Office in Cardiff instead.
Three women sat at a high top, playing Jenga, sipping Coronas, and finishing large-scale electrical construction deliverables for their boss.
“Does your boss know you’re here?” asked a woman playing pool a few feet away.
“Ask him,” said Leslie Sanchez, estimator at Baker Electric. She pointed to the man sitting across from her.
Oscar Chavira, vice president at Baker Electric, held a Moscow mule in one hand and his iPhone in the other. “One sec, I have to sign this contract,” he said.
Chavira has been managing remote workers since the pandemic made it mainstream. He doesn’t care where his employees are, so long as their work gets done, and they answer their phones.
Remote workers gather at The Office in Cardiff, during Muirhead’s remote work meetup. (Photo by Denis Poroy)
He’s honest about the tradeoffs. Remote work has made life better for him and his team, but it’s also slowed things down. “Productivity declined 15 to 20% since we’ve gone fully remote,” he said. When people aren’t physically together, everything just takes a little longer.
“It’s hard not to take advantage of it,” Chavira said. “Employees have to earn my trust before I can let them go on their own.”