Viejas Arena

Last updated
Viejas Arena
Viejas Arena logo.png
20180303-073Crowd(5X8).jpg
Viejas Arena
Former namesCox Arena at Aztec Bowl (1997–2009)
Location5500 Canyon Crest Drive
San Diego, CA 92115
Coordinates 32°46′25.5″N117°4′28.5″W / 32.773750°N 117.074583°W / 32.773750; -117.074583
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 groundMarch 27, 1995
OpenedJuly 24, 1997(26 years ago) (1997-07-24) [1]
Construction cost $29 million
($55 million in 2023 dollars [2] )
ArchitectSink Combs Dethlefs
Carrier Johnson [3]
Structural engineerMartin/Martin [3]
Services engineerM-E Engineers, Inc. [4]
General contractorBlake 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 an indoor arena in San Diego, California, located on the campus of San Diego State University. The arena is home of the San Diego State Aztecs men's and women's basketball teams. The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW).

Contents

The main entrance to Viejas Arena Welcome to Viejas Arena - 4 Apr 2024.jpg
The main entrance to Viejas Arena

History

Opened in 1997, Viejas Arena was built on the site of the historic Aztec Bowl stadium, which hosted San Diego State Aztecs football games from the time of its construction in 1936 until 1967. The arena was built directly into a canyon hillside, enclosing one end of the Aztec Bowl. Two sections of the stadium's original concrete bleachers and cobblestone walls remain visible.

Until July 1, 2009, the arena's naming rights were owned by Cox Communications, known as Cox Arena. On March 17, 2009, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians announced the signing of a 10-year naming rights agreement.

John F. Kennedy, then the President of the United States, 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. [5]

The San Diego Mojo of the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) began play in the league's inaugural 2024 season at the arena.

On April 4, 2024, San Diego State University announced a renovation study for Viejas Arena, focused on improving the main concourse, including food and beverage purveyors, hospitality experiences, and other services outside the arena.

Events

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.

Viejas Arena has also hosted television events such as WCW's Bash at the Beach in 1998 and various episodes of WCW Monday Nitro . [6] [7] 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. [8] The 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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolstein Center</span> Indoor arena in Cleveland, Ohio, United States

The Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center is a 13,610-seat indoor arena located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the campus of Cleveland State University (CSU). It is home to the Cleveland State Vikings men's and women's basketball teams and the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. It was also the former home of the Cleveland Crunch and Cleveland Force of the NPSL and MISL. The building opened in 1991 as a replacement for Woodling Gym and was known until 2005 as the CSU Convocation Center. It is named for Bert Wolstein, a Cleveland area real estate developer, former owner of the Force, and CSU alumnus, and his wife Iris. The main arena is known as Henry J. Goodman Arena - named for a businessman and former chairman of the CSU Board of Trustees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cajundome</span> Arena in Louisiana, United States

The Cajundome is a 13,500-seat multi-purpose arena located in Lafayette, Louisiana on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. It is home to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's and women's basketball programs in addition to hosting various university events and commencement ceremonies including high school graduations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, Iowa)</span> Multi-purpose arena in Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Wells Fargo Arena is a multi-purpose arena in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Part of the Iowa Events Center, the arena opened on July 12, 2005, at a cost of $117 million. Named for title sponsor Wells Fargo, the arena replaced the aging Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center as the Des Moines area's primary venue for sporting events and concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CURE Insurance Arena</span> Arena in New Jersey, United States

The CURE Insurance Arena is a multipurpose arena in Trenton, New Jersey. It hosts events including shows, sporting events and concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryce Jordan Center</span> Arena in State College, Pennsylvania

The Bryce Jordan Center is a 15,261-seat multi-purpose arena in State College, Pennsylvania, United States, on the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University. The arena opened in 1996 and is the largest such venue between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It replaced Rec Hall as the home to the Nittany Lions men's and women's basketball teams, the Pride of the Lions Pep Band, and its student section, Legion of Blue. It also plays host to events such as concerts, circuses, and commencement ceremonies for colleges within the university. The arena is named after former Penn State University president Bryce Jordan, who was instrumental in acquiring funding needed to build it. The arena is associated with the Arena Network, a marketing and scheduling group of 38 arenas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carver–Hawkeye Arena</span> University of Iowa sports arena

The Carver–Hawkeye Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Iowa City, Iowa. Opened in 1983, it is the home court for The University of Iowa Hawkeyes men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's wrestling, and gymnastics teams. It was named for the late industrialist Roy J. Carver of Muscatine, Iowa, a prominent statewide booster, who donated $9.2 million to The University of Iowa before his death in 1981. Prior to the arena's opening, Iowa's athletic teams played at the Iowa Field House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mackey Arena</span> Athletic arena at Purdue University

Mackey Arena is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Part of the Purdue University campus, it is home to the university's basketball teams, and occasionally hosts home games for the volleyball and wrestling teams. The arena opened in 1967 as a replacement for Lambert Fieldhouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McCarthey Athletic Center</span> Indoor arena on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington

McCarthey Athletic Center (MAC) is a 6,000-seat indoor arena in the northwest United States, located on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Opened in November 2004, it is home to the university's Bulldog basketball programs, members of the West Coast Conference (WCC) in Division I of the NCAA.

Charles Koch Arena is a 10,506-seat multi-purpose arena in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is located on the southeast corner of 21st and Hillside on the campus of Wichita State University in northeast Wichita. The arena is home of the Wichita State Shockers men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams.

McKenzie Arena is the primary basketball arena for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) in Chattanooga in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It replaced Maclellan Gymnasium, a 4,177-seat gymnasium now used for women's volleyball and wrestling. Originally called UTC Arena, it was renamed McKenzie Arena on February 21, 2000, in honor of athletic supporters Toby and Brenda McKenzie of Cleveland, Tennessee. The arena opened on October 8, 1982. It was designed by Campbell & Associates Architects with David J. Moore as the on-site architect/construction administrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert Financial Arena</span> Multi-purpose arena in Tempe, Arizona

Desert Financial Arena is a 14,198-seat multi-purpose arena located at 600 E Veterans Way in Tempe, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. It sits immediately east of Mountain America Stadium on the northern edge of the Tempe campus of Arizona State University (ASU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Pyramid</span> Arena at California State University, Long Beach

The Walter Pyramid, formerly known as The Long Beach Pyramid, is a 4,000-seat, pyramid-shaped indoor multi-purpose arena on the campus of Long Beach State University in Long Beach, California.

Jack Stephens Center is a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States and was built in 2005. It is home to the school's men's basketball, women's basketball, men's wrestling, and women's volleyball teams, known as the Little Rock Trojans, and named in honor of billionaire philanthropist Jackson T. Stephens, who donated $22.4 million for the construction of the facility. The facility is located on the north end of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus, adjacent to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service State Office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me Center</span> Multi-purpose arena in Missouri

The Show Me Center is a multi-purpose arena, located on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William H. Pitt Center</span>

The William H. Pitt Health and Recreation Center is a 2,062-seat multipurpose arena in Fairfield, Connecticut on the campus of Sacred Heart University. It was opened in August 1997 and is home to Sacred Heart University men's and women's basketball, men's and women's volleyball, men's wrestling and fencing. It hosted the finals of the 2008 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsey Center</span>

The Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center is a 7,826-seat multi-purpose arena in Cullowhee, in the U.S. state of North Carolina, and is home to the Western Carolina University Catamounts basketball and volleyball teams. It is also named "The Lair". It is a state owned facility and offers the largest seating capacity inside the Charlotte–Atlanta–Knoxville triangle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strahan Arena</span>

Strahan Arena is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in San Marcos, Texas. It is an $8.8 million facility built in 1982 and is home to the Texas State University Bobcats men's basketball team, women's basketball team and women's volleyball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowen Field House</span> Multi-purpose arena at Eastern Michigan University

Bowen Field House is a 5,400-seat multi-purpose arena in Ypsilanti, Michigan on the Eastern Michigan University campus. It opened in 1955 and was home to the Eastern Michigan Eagles men's and women's basketball teams until the Convocation Center opened in 1997. It currently serves as the home of Eastern Michigan Eagles track and field, Eastern Michigan Eagles wrestling, and Eastern Michigan Eagles gymnastics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center</span>

The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center is a multi-purpose arena in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The arena, Gore Arena, is located on the campus of Campbell University and hosts the university's basketball, volleyball, and wrestling programs. It is named for Gilbert Craig Gore, the late son of a Campbell alum. The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center is a part of the expansion plan of Campbell's athletic facilities, which includes a new football stadium and renovations to existing Taylor Field of the baseball program. The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center replaced Carter Gymnasium, which was the second smallest gymnasium in Division I Basketball with just 947 seats, second only to Charleston Southern's Fieldhouse which holds 750. The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center also host events such as the universities commencement ceremonies and other university related events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aztec Bowl (stadium)</span> Sports venue at San Diego State University (1936–1995)

The Aztec Bowl was an outdoor stadium in San Diego, California, located on the campus of San Diego State University. The stadium was home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team.

References

  1. Wesch, Hank (July 25, 1997). "It's an Arena. SDSU Shows Off New Baby". The San Diego Union-Tribune . Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  2. 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.
  3. 1 2 3 Raker-Beam Construction Requires Rugged Steel Forms
  4. M-E Engineers Projects - Sports (archived)
  5. Union-Tribune, San Diego. "Viejas floor named Steve Fisher Court". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  6. "Bash at the Beach 1998". Pro Wrestling History. July 12, 1998. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  7. Wong, Alex. "Remembering When the Rodman-Malone NBA Finals Feud in 1998 Led to a WCW Match". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  8. Viejas Arena at goaztecs.cstv.com, URL accessed November 24, 2009. Archived 11/24/09