San Diego Padres Radio Station: How to Listen to Games

97.3 The Fan is the radio home of the Padres. You can listen on a radio in the San Diego area, stream the station through its website or the Audacy app, or ask a smart speaker to play the station.

A game being scheduled does not always mean it is on the station at that exact moment; rain delays, postseason coverage, and non-game programming can change what is live.

Padres Radio Station and Call Sign

The local station for Padres game broadcasts is 97.3 The Fan.

When a radio directory, tuner app, or station list uses call letters instead of station branding, look for KWFN. The complete listing is KWFN: 97.3 The Fan.

97.3 The Fan is a sports station. If you are looking for Padres play-by-play, choose the sports station rather than a public-radio station.

How to Listen to Padres Games

Choose the listening method that fits where you are and what device you have available.

Your Situation	Best Starting Choice	Why It Helps
You are in the San Diego listening area	Radio	No app, account, or data connection needed
You are at a computer	Station website	Plays through a browser
You are using a phone or tablet	Audacy app	Convenient for listening away from a radio
You have a smart speaker	Voice command through Audacy	Hands-free station selection
You want to listen online	Online stream or a baseball-audio subscription	Avoids weak or unavailable terrestrial reception

Step 1: Confirm That a Game Is Scheduled

Confirm whether the game is a regular-season, spring-training, or postseason game.
Check the live programming display for 97.3 The Fan near game time.
If you hear regular sports talk instead of a pregame show or play-by-play, the game may not have started, may be delayed, or may not be carried at that moment.

Step 2: Tune In on an FM Radio

Turn on your FM radio.
Tune to 97.3 FM.
Listen for the Padres pregame show, game broadcast, or postgame coverage.

If your radio displays call letters, confirm that it shows KWFN. That helps distinguish the station from another signal that may be close on the dial or from a saved preset with an outdated label.

Step 3: Listen in a Web Browser

Open a browser on your computer, tablet, or phone.
Go to https://www.audacy.com/stations/973thefansd.
Select the live-listening option.
Keep the browser tab open while the game is on.

The 97.3 The Fan website is the direct online option for listening to the station.

If audio does not start, first check the device volume and whether another app or browser tab is using audio output. Then refresh the page and try again.

Step 4: Listen Through the Audacy App

Open the App Store on an iPhone or iPad, or Google Play on an Android device.
Search for Audacy and install the app.
Search within the app for 97.3 The Fan or KWFN.
Select the station’s live stream before the game begins.

Streaming availability can be affected by the game’s audio rights, your location, or the type of device you are using, so it is wise to open the stream before first pitch rather than waiting for the first inning.

Step 5: Use a Smart Speaker

A smart speaker can play the station by name through Audacy.

Say this command:

play Ninety Seven Three the Fan on Audacy

If the speaker opens a similarly named station, repeat the command slowly and include “on Audacy.” Once the correct station is playing, listen for the live pregame or play-by-play broadcast rather than assuming any sports-talk program is the game.

Listening Outside San Diego

FM reception does not follow city boundaries neatly. Hills, distance, building construction, vehicle location, and competing signals can all affect whether 97.3 The Fan comes in clearly in places such as Murrieta, Los Angeles, or other parts of Southern California.

Try the Local FM Signal First

If you are driving or using a portable radio outside San Diego County, try tuning to the Padres’ local station first. A clear signal may be possible in some locations and poor in others, even within the same metro area.

Use Streaming When FM Is Weak

A browser stream or the Audacy app is another listening option.

Check for Game-Specific Audio Options

Some listeners use satellite-radio or league audio services when they are away from the local station’s signal. Those services can carry baseball broadcasts, but the channel, feed selection, blackout rules, and subscription requirements can differ by game and device.

For an away game, be sure you are selecting the Padres feed if the service offers both teams’ announcers.

When a Padres Game Is Not Playing

If a Padres game is not playing, check the game timing, the station stream, and your device’s audio output.

The Game Has Not Started Yet

A listed game time can mean the scheduled start, while the station may run pregame coverage beforehand. If you tune in early, you may hear analysis, interviews, or regular station programming.

The Game Is Delayed or Rescheduled

Weather, field conditions, travel problems, and postseason scheduling can change a game’s start time. Check the live programming display for 97.3 The Fan for the current broadcast.

You Are Hearing the Wrong Station Stream

Search results can show station names, podcasts, clips, and on-demand shows alongside a live station feed. Choose the live stream for 97.3 The Fan, not a replay episode or a Padres podcast.

If you cannot find the live station feed, search for KWFN, the call sign for 97.3 The Fan.

Your Device Is Playing Through the Wrong Output

On a phone or computer, audio may be routed to Bluetooth earbuds, a car system, a smart TV, or another speaker. Disconnect or switch the audio output, then restart the stream.

Get a Clearer Radio Signal at Home or in the Car

For an FM radio, start with location before buying accessories. Move the radio away from electronics, power strips, USB chargers, LED lamps, and metal shelving. Those items can create noise that makes a weak sports broadcast harder to understand.

If your radio has a telescoping antenna, extend it and rotate or reposition the radio gradually while listening to the announcers. The clearest position is not always the closest window; walls, wiring, and nearby electronics can affect reception.

In a car, reception may improve after you leave a parking garage, dense downtown area, canyon, or hillside. If the signal remains noisy, switch to the station’s online stream when it is safe and practical to do so.

A short test before first pitch is better than discovering an audio problem during a close inning.

Confirm You Are Ready Before First Pitch

Use this quick check before the game starts:

The Padres are scheduled to play that day.
Your radio or browser/app is on 97.3 The Fan.
Your phone, computer, speaker, or car audio is using the correct output.
Audio is playing.
A backup listening option is available.

Once you hear the pregame coverage or live play-by-play, leave the station or stream running through the game and postgame show.

Frequently Asked Questions

What radio station broadcasts San Diego Padres games?

97.3 The Fan is the San Diego Padres’ local radio station. In directories that use call signs, search for KWFN, the call sign for 97.3 The Fan.

Will the Padres game be on the radio today?

A Padres game will be on the radio today only if it is scheduled and carried by the station’s live lineup. Rain delays, postseason coverage, and non-game programming can change what is live. Check the Padres schedule for the date, then open the live 97.3 The Fan broadcast close to the scheduled start time to account for delays or schedule changes.

How can I listen to Padres games on my phone?

Install the Audacy app from the App Store or Google Play and search for 97.3 The Fan or KWFN. You can also use a phone browser and open https://www.audacy.com/stations/973thefansd.

What should I use if I cannot receive 97.3 FM in Murrieta or Los Angeles?

Use the station’s online stream or the Audacy app if the FM signal is weak, noisy, or unavailable. Terrain and distance can make terrestrial reception inconsistent outside the San Diego area, while streaming depends on your internet connection instead.

Can I ask a smart speaker to play Padres radio?

Yes, you can ask a smart speaker to play Padres radio through Audacy. The station is 97.3 The Fan. Ask the speaker to play Ninety Seven Three the Fan on Audacy, then confirm that you hear the station’s live programming rather than a podcast or recorded segment.

How can you listen to Padres games on the radio or online?

Tune to 97.3 The Fan on FM, or listen online through the station’s website or the Audacy app. To install the app, search for “Audacy” in the App Store or Google Play.