Sycuan first became a sponsor of the San Diego Padres in 1995, stepping up with the major sponsor role in 2000.

This season, the Padres group Sycuan with Petco, Toyota, Anheuser-Busch and Cox Communications as the team’s top sponsors. “We just refer to them as the Big Five,” says Steve Violetta, executive vice president of business affairs for the Padres.

Daniel Tucker, Sycuan’s chairman, says an effort to be the ballpark’s naming sponsor failed because of baseball’s fear of the gambling connection. The California constitution prevents betting on sporting events anywhere in the state, with the exception of horse races.

Sycuan sponsorship includes heavy involvement with Padres community relations programs, such as underwriting tickets for Military Day on April 15 and leading a season-ender promotion when fans can get players’ jerseys.

“They have been there in the lean years, they have been there in the good years and they are there as we open Petco Park,” Violetta says. “We can’t think of anyone more appropriate to be there with us.”