Viejas Arena

Former names	Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (1997–2009)
Location	5500 Canyon Crest Drive San Diego, CA 92115
Coordinates	32°46′25.5″N 117°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 ground	March 27, 1995
Opened	July 24, 1997 (26 years ago) (1997-07-24)[1]
Construction cost	$29 million ($55 million in 2023 dollars[2])
Architect	Sink Combs Dethlefs Carrier Johnson[3]
Structural engineer	Martin/Martin[3]
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.[4]
General contractor	Blake 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).

History

Opened in 1997, Viejas Arena has provided a venue for athletic games, entertainment, and concerts for decades. The arena is built on the site of the old Aztec Bowl stadium, which hosted San Diego State Aztecs football games as well as other athletic games, entertainment, and cultural events from the time of its construction in 1936 until 1967.

Viejas Arena is built directly into a canyon hillside, and encloses one end of the old horseshoe-shaped Aztec Bowl. Two sections of the stadium's original concrete bleachers and cobblestone walls can be seen from each side of the arena's north entrance. The arena features an "open-air" concourse design that allows patrons to experience breaks, concessions, and event activities outdoors.

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 Viejas 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] Viejas 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.