The Washington Spirit and Mars, Incorporated are teaming up for Pitchside Pups on May 2
Fun for humans and their pups planned at Audi Field
Washington, D.C. (04/21/2025) – The Washington Spirit and Mars – a global leader and maker of beloved snacking, food and pet brands including SNICKERS®, BEN’S ORIGINALTM, PEDIGREE®, CESAR®, and IAMSTM, among others –, are teaming up on Friday, May 2 to present Pitchside Pups at Audi Field when the Spirit takes on Angel City FC at 8:00 pm. Always a fan-favorite, humans and their pups can enjoy dog-related experiences and activities including an adoption event, product sampling, and more.
“We are thrilled to partner with Mars for this year’s Pitchside Pups match, supporting their purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS” said Doug Vinci, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Spirit. “Dogs are such an important part of many families, and we’re excited to include them in this special match. We can’t wait to see fans cheering and tails wagging at Audi Field.”
The fun begins even before the match starts. Outside Audi Field, the Sandlot Bar will host a tailgate featuring entertainment by DJ Kidd Fresh, lawn games, and food options from local food trucks. Once inside, both fans and their dogs will enjoy enhanced entertainment and amenities, creating an unforgettable atmosphere from the moment the gates open until well after the final whistle. Before kickoff on Spirit Stage, attendees can look forward to a performance by DJ Fili and a special dog contest. During halftime, fans won’t want to miss the frisbee dog performers, the Ready Go Dog Show.
On the concourse before the match fans can visit the “Mars Pup Park” for a meet-and-greet with adoptable dogs from Wolf Trap Animal Rescue, a non-profit and veterinarian-led animal rescue that operates one of the most inclusive pet adoption programs in the Washington, D.C. area.
“Mars is proud to partner with the Washington Spirit and Wolf Trap Animal Rescue to welcome pet-parent fans and their dogs to this special match and encourage pet adoption in support of our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS,” said Alanna McDonald, Regional President, Mars Pet Nutrition North America – a division of Mars, Incorporated. “The Pitchside Pups event is a great way for soccer lovers in Washington, D.C. – a Mars BETTER CITIES FOR PETS-certified city – to spend more time with their four-legged family members while cheering on their favorite team.”
Fans can purchase tickets and register their pups for the match here. Dogs do not need their own ticket, but their owners must buy a ticket in the designated pet section and register their dogs in advance. No walk-up pets will be allowed to enter the match. Fans who have registered their dogs should enter through Gate B for check-in before getting to dog-friendly seats in sections 101-110. Dogs will not be permitted outside of these sections.
Later this season, Mars and its confectionery brands including M&M’S® and SNICKERS®, among others, will sponsor Washington Spirit’s Fan Appreciation Night on October 5.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012, and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the fastest-growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country.
For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world, and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’s®, SNICKERS® and BEN’S ORIGINAL. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, VCA, and ANICURA span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom—inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets, and the planet.
For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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