Aztec Bowl (stadium) facts for kids
Viejas Arena, situated in the former Aztec Bowl stadium in 2005
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| Location | 5500 Canyon Crest Dr., San Diego, California |
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| Owner | San Diego State University |
| Operator | San Diego State University |
| Capacity | 10,000 (1936–1948) 12,592 (1948–1995) |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1933 |
| Opened | October 3, 1936 |
| Expanded | 1948 |
| Closed | March 1995 |
| Construction cost | $476,863 ($10.2 million in 2022 ) |
| Tenants | |
| Aztec football (NCAA) (1936–1966) Aztec rugby -men (USA Rugby) (1958–1995) Aztec rugby -women (USA Rugby) (1975–1986) Aztec soccer -men (NCAA) ( –1995) Aztec soccer -women (NCAA) ( –1995) San Diego Jaws NASL (1976) |
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Aztec Bowl
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| Part of | San Diego State College (ID97000924) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1994 |
| Boundary decrease | September 4, 1997 |
| Removed from NRHP | May 30, 2012 |
| Delisted CP | September 4, 1997 |
The Aztec Bowl was a large outdoor sports field located in San Diego, California. It was built on the campus of San Diego State University (SDSU). This stadium was once the home field for the university's football team, the Aztec football team.
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The Story of Aztec Bowl
Building the Aztec Bowl started in 1933. It was made possible with help from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that created jobs during tough economic times. The stadium first had 10,000 seats. In 1948, 2,592 more seats were added, making it even bigger.
Sports and Events at the Stadium
The Aztec Bowl was the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team for many years. They played there until 1967. After that, the football team moved to a new place called San Diego Stadium.
But the Aztec Bowl wasn't just for football! It also hosted exciting soccer matches. Many famous musicians performed concerts there too. The San Diego Symphony played music, and rock bands like the Police and the Grateful Dead held shows. Even the big music festival Lollapalooza came to the Aztec Bowl in 1994.
Famous Visitors and Its Legacy
A very important person visited the Aztec Bowl in 1963. John F. Kennedy, who was the president of the United States at the time, gave a speech there. He also received a special honorary degree from the university. Later, in 1973, the mayor of San Diego, Pete Wilson, celebrated his 40th birthday at the stadium.
Today, a basketball arena called Viejas Arena stands where the Aztec Bowl used to be. This arena was built right into the side of a canyon. You can still see parts of the old Aztec Bowl. Two sections of its original concrete seats and stone walls are still visible. They are a reminder of the stadium's long history.
National Recognition
The Aztec Bowl was recognized as an important historical place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. This list includes buildings and sites that are important to the history of the United States. However, the stadium was later removed from this list in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Aztec Bowl (San Diego) para niños
