Written by: Amanda Angulo
San Diego State University has recently begun building a new stadium in Mission Valley after tearing down what used to be home to the former San Diego Chargers. The university has renovated an office building into a museum just outside the new stadium site, commemorating athletic traditions.
The museum will also have a theater that stimulates the fan experience from any seat in the stadium. This museum has been called The Aztec Stadium Experience Center and was built mainly for donors and members to invest in the future of the SDSU building.
SDSU has borrowed nearly $610 million to prepare the land around the stadium and build it, yet it is $110 million over what was originally planned for.
Athletic Director John David Wicker has clarified that “no student fees have been or will be used to help.” Wicker has even mentioned that the university has received major philanthropic gifts and sold out their $3.7 million founders suites. These serve a purpose to the major supporters by allowing them to come and see any games, concerts, and events for 15 years.
The stadium and the land around it will be ready for nearly 4,600 housing units, hotels, and parks within a year. This demonstrates that this may be the cleanest resolution to a major San Diego sports venue ever. However, the only thing is that the project will not be done as soon as SDSU planned.
Before this land was planned into becoming another extension of SDSU, it was initially supposed to go to the hands of FS Investors. Although, when the public began to see what they had in mind, they went against it. So SDSU swooped in and decided to remodel one of the most valuable plots of land in San Diego.
Photo from: Joe Little
