Viejas Arena
Former names | Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (1997–2009) |
---|---|
Location | 5500 Canyon Crest Drive San Diego, CA 92115 |
Coordinates | 32°46′25.5″N 117°4′28.5″W / 32.773750°N 117.074583°W |
Public transit | SDSU Transit Center |
Owner | San Diego State University |
Operator | San Diego State University Associated Students of SDSU |
Capacity | 12,414 (basketball) 12,845 (center stage concerts) 12,200 (end stage concerts) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | March 27, 1995 |
Opened | July 24, 1997[1] |
Construction cost | $29 million ($52.9 million in 2022 dollars[2]) |
Architect | Sink Combs Dethlefs Carrier Johnson[3] |
Structural engineer | Martin/Martin[3] |
Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc.[4] |
General contractor | Blake Construction Co., Inc[3] |
Tenants | |
San Diego State Aztecs (NCAA) (1997–present) San Diego Shockwave (NIFL) (2007) San Diego Mojo (PVF) (2024–present) | |
Website | |
https://as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena/ |
Viejas Arena (Officially Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl) is a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of San Diego State University in San Diego, California. The arena opened in 1997 and seats 12,414 for basketball and up to 12,845 for concerts.[5][6]
Viejas Arena is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs men's and women's basketball teams. The arena also hosts the San Diego Mojo of the Pro Volleyball Federation. The arena features an "open-air" concourse design that allows fans to experience breaks, concessions, and event activities for games, concerts, and other events outdoors.
History[edit]
Opened in 1997, Viejas Arena has provided a venue for athletic games, entertainment, and concerts for decades. Until July 1, 2009, the arena's naming rights were owned by Cox Communications, officially named the Cox Arena. On March 17, 2009, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians announced the signing of a 10-year naming rights agreement which changed the name to its current Viejas Arena.
The arena is built on the site of the old Aztec Bowl stadium which hosted San Diego State Aztecs football games as well as other athletic games, entertainment, and cultural events from the time of its construction in 1936 until 1967. Viejas Arena is built directly into a canyon hillside, and encloses one end of the old horseshoe-shaped Aztec Bowl. Two sections of the stadium's original concrete bleachers and cobblestone walls can be seen from each side of the arena's north entrance.
John F. Kennedy, then the President of the United States of America, gave a commencement address and received the first honorary doctorate given by a California State University at the Aztec Bowl on June 6, 1963.
On October 29, 2015, the basketball court was named Steve Fisher Court after men's basketball head coach Steve Fisher.[7]
Events[edit]
Viejas Arena hosted the 2001 NCAA men's basketball first round as well as the 2001 NCAA women's volleyball national championship. The arena hosted the 2006 NCAA men's basketball first and second rounds, the 2009 NCAA women's basketball first and second rounds, and the 2014 NCAA men's basketball second and third rounds. The arena also hosted the 2018 and 2022 NCAA men's basketball first and second rounds and will host the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball first and second rounds.
In 2007, the arena was the home of the San Diego Shockwave indoor football team for one season.[8]
In addition to sports, Viejas Arena has also hosted television events such as WCW's Bash at the Beach in 1998 and various episodes of WCW Monday Nitro.[9][10] The arena hosted TNA Wrestling's Bound For Glory pay-per-view event on October 20, 2013. Viejas Arena was also the host venue of Megadeth's live DVD Blood in the Water: Live in San Diego. Additionally, the arena hosted an episode of All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite on May 31, 2023.
Viejas Arena is used as a large concert venue where major musical acts perform.[5] The arena is often used as an alternative to the larger Pechanga Arena in San Diego's Midway District. Viejas Arena has hosted concerts for artists such as Cher, Eric Clapton, Britney Spears, John Mayer, The Chainsmokers, Black Eyed Peas and Aerosmith. In the spring of 2001, Billy Joel and Elton John opened their Face to Face world tour with a sold-out show at the arena.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Wesch, Hank (July 25, 1997). "It's an Arena. SDSU Shows Off New Baby". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Raker-Beam Construction Requires Rugged Steel Forms
- ^ M-E Engineers Projects - Sports (archived)
- ^ a b Viejas Arena at goaztecs.cstv.com, URL accessed November 24, 2009. Archived 11/24/09
- ^ SDSU and Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians Agree on Arena Naming Rights at sdsuniverse.info, URL accessed November 24, 2009. Archived 11/24/09
- ^ Union-Tribune, San Diego. "Viejas floor named Steve Fisher Court". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
- ^ Stadiums in the United States at worldstadiums.com, URL accessed November 24, 2009. Archived 11/24/09
- ^ "Bash at the Beach 1998". Pro Wrestling History. July 12, 1998. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Wong, Alex. "Remembering When the Rodman-Malone NBA Finals Feud in 1998 Led to a WCW Match". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
External links[edit]
- Viejas Arena - official page
- Page on goaztecs.com