SAN DIEGO — San Diego State University announced a new name for their stadium currently under construction in Mission Valley, Snapdragon Stadium.
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., based in San Diego, has entered into a long-term agreement, securing exclusive naming rights to the new stadium expected to open in Fall 2022.
According to a release by SDSU, the $45M deal, structured as a 15-year, $3 million per year agreement, marks a new, yet nostalgic era in the San Diego sports story, as two San Diego institutions, with a shared commitment to serving the greater San Diego community, come together.
“We are thrilled to have secured the exclusive naming rights to San Diego State University’s new stadium, Snapdragon Stadium. Snapdragon stands for premium experiences and leading-edge performance, which is what fans can expect from this new state-of-the-art venue,” said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated."
“Qualcomm is well-recognized and respected not only here in San Diego, but globally,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre.
The 35,000-seat stadium -- previously known as Aztec Stadium -- and SDSU's 132-acre Mission Valley campus have been in the works since San Diego voters approved Measure G in November 2018. In May 2020, the city council sold the city-owned stadium and property for $86.2 million to the university.
The university's plan for the SDSU Mission Valley campus includes an "innovation district" to support SDSU's education, research, entrepreneurial, technology and athletics programs, as well as 86 acres of parks, recreation and open space, about 4,600 market-rate and affordable residences, 400 hotel rooms, 95,000 square feet of retail space and enhanced use of the MTS Green Line Stadium trolley station and accommodation of the planned Purple Line.
SDSU Mission Valley is set to expand the university's economic impact by an estimated $3 billion per year and intended to increase SDSU's enrollment by 15,000 students, according to the university.
The first game at the new stadium is expected to be on Sept 3, 2022 when the SDSU Aztec football team is scheduled to play the University of Arizona Wildcats in the season home opener.
SDSU first broke ground on the Mission Valley stadium site in August 2020.
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