Snapdragon Stadium

Snapdragon Stadium is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue located in San Diego, California, on the campus of San Diego State University (SDSU) in Mission Valley. Officially opened in August 2022, the stadium serves as the home ground for the SDSU Aztecs football team (Mountain West Conference), San Diego Wave FC (National Women’s Soccer League), and San Diego FC (Major League Soccer), establishing itself as a central hub for sporting events in the region.

Originally known as Aztec Stadium during its planning and early construction stages, Snapdragon Stadium was developed following the departure of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers in 2017. With SDCCU Stadium slated for demolition, SDSU put forward a proposal for a right-sized, modern stadium that would better suit collegiate and local needs. The proposal competed with a private initiative, SoccerCity, but voters approved SDSU’s Mission Valley redevelopment plan in 2018.

Construction began on August 17, 2020, shortly after SDSU officially acquired the 135-acre site from the City of San Diego for $88 million. The venue is part of the $3.5 billion SDSU Mission Valley project, which includes academic buildings, housing, retail and office space, and an extensive 80-acre park system, including a 34-acre river park.

The stadium has a standard seating capacity of 35,000 and was designed with flexibility in mind. It can be expanded to 55,000 seats to accommodate future needs, including the potential return of an NFL franchise to San Diego. The playing surface is named Bashor Field, following a $15 million donation from philanthropist Dianne L. Bashor.

Snapdragon Stadium is named after Qualcomm’s Snapdragon brand of processors, under a naming rights deal announced in December 2021. Qualcomm previously held naming rights to the original stadium from 1997 to 2017 and briefly rebranded it as Snapdragon Stadium in 2011.

The stadium was inaugurated with an SDSU football scrimmage on August 20, 2022, and the Aztecs played their first official game there on September 3, 2022, against the University of Arizona. Despite excitement around the opening, the match exposed issues with stadium shade and heat preparedness, as high temperatures led to numerous cases of heat-related illness among attendees.

Since opening, the stadium has quickly become a key venue for professional sports. San Diego Wave FC began playing there in September 2022, setting a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) attendance record with over 32,000 fans during their debut match against Angel City FC. In March 2025, San Diego FC played its inaugural MLS home match at the stadium in front of 34,506 spectators, the largest crowd to date at the venue.

Snapdragon Stadium has also hosted international football friendlies, including matches featuring Mexico, the United States, Brazil, and Canada, and major tournaments such as the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2024 W Gold Cup, and the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. The stadium was also the site of the 2023 NWSL Championship Final.

Beyond football and soccer, the stadium accommodates other sports. It served as the main venue for the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship, hosted the first-ever outdoor National Lacrosse League (NLL) game—the Stadium Showdown—and is among the venues being considered for matches during the 2031 Men’s and 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cups. San Diego Seals (NLL) and San Diego Legion (MLR) have also played at the stadium, although the Legion later returned to Torero Stadium for regular play.

In addition to sports, Snapdragon Stadium regularly hosts concerts and entertainment events, with artists like Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimmy Buffett, P!nk, and Shakira performing to tens of thousands of fans. Thrive Park, the outdoor area surrounding the stadium, is used for festivals like the Holo Holo Music Festival and ISOKnock.

The venue is also set to host the Holiday Bowl, moving from its previous location at Petco Park, solidifying its role as a year-round destination for major events.