Snapdragon Stadium rose on the Mission Valley site long occupied by San Diego Stadium, the multipurpose venue that hosted the Chargers and Padres for decades before its 2021 demolition. Built by San Diego State University and opened on August 19, 2022, the $310 million venue was designed by Gensler and built by Clark Construction as the centerpiece of a broader campus and mixed-use redevelopment of the old stadium grounds.
With a base capacity of about 35,000 that can expand to roughly 55,000, Snapdragon Stadium was built to flex between a college football atmosphere and larger professional or special events. It currently serves as home turf for the San Diego State Aztecs football team, NWSL club San Diego Wave FC, and MLS expansion side San Diego FC, giving the city a shared, modern venue for three very different fan bases.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): San Diego State Aztecs (NCAA), San Diego Wave FC (NWSL), San Diego FC (MLS)
- Location: San Diego, California
- Opened: August 19, 2022
- Capacity: About 35,000 (expandable to around 55,000)
- Cost: About $310 million
- Surface: Bermuda grass
- Notable Fact: Built on the former site of San Diego Stadium, demolished in 2021
Rising From the Old Stadium Site
Snapdragon Stadium occupies the same Mission Valley footprint where San Diego Stadium stood from 1967 until its demolition cleared the way for a new era of San Diego sports. Ground broke in August 2020, and the venue opened less than two years later, giving San Diego State a modern on-campus home after decades of sharing the old multipurpose stadium with the NFL’s Chargers before that team relocated to Los Angeles.
The naming rights deal with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip brand, announced in December 2021, gave the venue its current name ahead of its debut season.
A Home for Three Teams
Unlike many single-tenant venues, Snapdragon Stadium was built from the start to rotate between college football Saturdays, NWSL women’s soccer matches, and MLS fixtures, plus events like the Holiday Bowl. Its expandable seating bowl and flexible sightlines were engineered with an eye toward hosting even larger crowds in the future, making it one of the more adaptable multi-sport stadiums built in the United States in recent years.
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Snapdragon Stadium FAQs
Who plays at Snapdragon Stadium?
The San Diego State Aztecs football team, NWSL club San Diego Wave FC, and MLS club San Diego FC all call Snapdragon Stadium home.
How many people does Snapdragon Stadium hold?
The stadium has a base capacity of about 35,000, with the ability to expand to roughly 55,000 for larger events.
When did Snapdragon Stadium open?
It opened on August 19, 2022, on the site of the former San Diego Stadium in Mission Valley.
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Photo: Spatms / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.