As they plan a new SDSU stadium, San Diego State University officials are looking at current collegiate and professional facilities to lend inspiration.
In November, SDSU West–a proposal that includes a new Aztecs football stadium and surrounding development at the SDCCU Stadium site–was chosen to move forward by San Diego voters, who also rejected the competing SoccerCity. Current plans for the new stadium call for it to host more than just college football, as it will also be designed to accommodate professional soccer and potentially expand in the event that the NFL returns to San Diego.
To find potential ideas for the new stadium, SDSU officials–including athletic director John David Wicker–have been scouting out existing facilities. That effort includes visits to Colorado State’s Canvas Stadium on the college football side, and a stop at an acclaimed professional venue in Banc of California Stadium–the home of MLS’s Los Angeles FC. More from the San Diego Union-Tribune:
The third was Tuesday, ahead of SDSU’s basketball game that night against the Rams. This time, he was accompanied by President Adela de la Torre and several other high-level university administrators.
The idea was to tour 18-month-old Canvas Stadium, which is roughly the same size (36,500 seats) and cost ($220 million) as the one SDSU plans to open in Mission Valley by the fall of 2022. Voters approved Measure G in November, instructing the city to negotiate with the university for purchase of the property currently occupied by 51-year-old SDCCU Stadium.
On Thursday, the group toured Banc of California Stadium, the 22,000-seat home of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC next to USC that cost $350 million and opened in April.
“The president,” Wicker said, “is taking the time to fully understand what we’re trying to do.”
With those two facilities, SDSU officials are looking at venues that reflect some interesting trends within their respective sports. Canvas Stadium opened in 2017, and has been noted for its incorporation of modern college football stadium amenities such as party decks and premium areas. Banc of California Stadium opened when expansion Los Angeles FC began play last year, and has emerged as a stadium that provides a soccer-specific design as well as the ability to host multiple types of events–including concerts.
SDSU is looking to break ground in February or March of next year, and open the new stadium in time for the 2022 college football season and 2023 soccer season. The ballot initiative called for SDSU to acquire 132 acres from the city at fair market value, but the two sides will have to complete negotiations in order for any agreement to move forward.
Rendering courtesy Populous and San Diego State University.
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