About Snapdragon Stadium
Snapdragon Stadium sits on the SDSU Mission Valley campus in San Diego — a 35,000-seat multi-sport venue where the San Diego State Aztecs play football, San Diego FC plays MLS soccer, and the San Diego Wave FC plays in the NWSL. Built on the site of the old Qualcomm Stadium, it is one of the newest and most versatile stadiums in America, designed to expand to 55,000 seats should the NFL ever return to San Diego.
The $310 million project, designed by Gensler and built by Clark Construction, broke ground in August 2020 and opened just two years later — a remarkably fast construction timeline. The old Qualcomm Stadium (originally San Diego Stadium, 1967) was demolished to make way, ending 53 years of history that included three Super Bowls, the Chargers, and the Padres. In a twist of corporate fate, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon brand purchased the naming rights for the new venue — the same parent company returning to name the replacement.
The stadium’s three tenants give it year-round relevance. SDSU Aztecs football fills it on fall Saturdays. San Diego FC, the MLS’s 30th team, launched in 2025 with Snapdragon as home. The San Diego Wave FC set an NWSL attendance record in their first match here in 2022, drawing approximately 32,000 fans and proving that San Diego has an appetite for professional women’s soccer that rivals any city in America.
San Diego’s mild climate makes the open-air design ideal. The MTS Green Line trolley stops at Stadium Station right at the entrance — one of the best transit connections of any stadium on the West Coast.
Getting to Snapdragon Stadium
Public Transit
Snapdragon Stadium has one of the best transit connections of any stadium on the West Coast — the trolley drops you at the front door.
→ Via MTS Green Line: Stadium Station is right at the stadium entrance. Service runs every 15 minutes or better on event days, with extra trolleys added for large events. Fare is $2.50 one-way via the PRONTO app. The Green Line serves Santee, El Cajon, La Mesa, SDSU, Mission Valley, Old Town, and Downtown.
→ Via Connecting Lines: From Chula Vista, National City, or La Jolla, take the UC San Diego Blue Line to Old Town Transit Center and transfer to the Green Line. From La Mesa or Lemon Grove, take the Orange Line to Grossmont and transfer.
The trolley is the best option — cheap, fast, and avoids the parking hassle entirely. From downtown San Diego, the ride takes about 20 minutes.
Driving + Parking
The stadium address is 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego, CA 92108. I-8 and I-15 are the primary approaches.
→ From Los Angeles (~118 mi): I-5 South to I-8 East. About 2 hours.
→ From Orange County (~97 mi): I-5 South to I-8 East. About 1 hour 30 minutes.
→ From Tijuana, Mexico (~25 mi): I-5 North to I-8 East. About 30 minutes plus border wait.
The stadium has 6,000+ on-site spaces. General parking starts around $30, up to $50 for concerts. The Orange Lot is the largest and primary tailgating area. All lots are cashless. Alternatively, park at any trolley station for $3/hour and ride the Green Line — no traffic, no parking stress.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft drop off at Mission Village Drive near Gate 1 on the north side. Post-event pickups are in the Purple Lot on the northeast side. Expect surge pricing after events — walk 10 minutes to Mission Center Road to escape the surge zone and save $10–$20.
From the Airport
→ San Diego International Airport (SAN): Just 5 miles west, about 10–15 minutes by car — one of the closest airport-to-stadium distances in American sports. Major domestic hub with service from nearly every carrier. Rideshare runs $12–$18. You can also take the Green Line trolley from Old Town Transit Center (connected to the airport by bus route 992).
History of Snapdragon Stadium
Snapdragon Stadium was built on the site of the old Qualcomm Stadium — a venue that hosted three Super Bowls, the Chargers, and the Padres over 53 years. The original San Diego Stadium opened in 1967 and cycled through names (Jack Murphy Stadium, Qualcomm Stadium, SDCCU Stadium) before its final event, the 2019 Holiday Bowl. Demolition began in December 2020.
Groundbreaking (August 17, 2020): The $310 million project, designed by Gensler and built by Clark Construction, broke ground as part of the larger SDSU Mission Valley development — a 166-acre campus project that includes the stadium, a river park, housing, and retail.
First Game (September 3, 2022): SDSU Aztecs fell to the Arizona Wildcats 38-20 in the stadium’s debut. The atmosphere — new facility, clear San Diego skies, trolley service to the front door — set the standard for what this venue would become.
NWSL Record (September 17, 2022): San Diego Wave FC’s first match at Snapdragon drew approximately 32,000 fans, setting a then-NWSL single-game attendance record. The moment put women’s professional soccer in San Diego on the map.
San Diego FC Debut (March 1, 2025): San Diego FC played their inaugural MLS home match before 34,506 fans — a 0-0 draw against St. Louis City SC that set the stadium’s largest sporting crowd record and introduced the city’s newest professional franchise.
From the ashes of Qualcomm Stadium to an NWSL attendance record to MLS expansion, Snapdragon Stadium is where San Diego’s sporting future lives — a venue built for three teams, expandable to 55,000, and connected to the trolley line that makes getting there as easy as getting to any stadium in California.
Photo Gallery
Fun Facts
Snapdragon Stadium was designed to expand from 35,000 to 55,000 seats should the NFL ever return to San Diego — making it one of the few college stadiums in America purpose-built with professional expansion in mind.
San Diego Wave FC's first match at Snapdragon on September 17, 2022 drew approximately 32,000 fans, setting a then-NWSL single-game attendance record and more than doubling the previous record — proving San Diego's appetite for women's professional soccer.
The stadium was built on the site of the old Qualcomm Stadium (1967–2020), and the Snapdragon naming rights were purchased by Qualcomm's own Snapdragon brand — the same parent company returning to name the replacement for the venue it had already named once before.
Stadium Location
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the seating capacity of Snapdragon Stadium?
- Snapdragon Stadium seats 35,000 in its current configuration and was designed to be expandable to 55,000 for a potential NFL franchise. For soccer matches, the capacity is approximately 32,000–34,500 depending on configuration.
- Where is Snapdragon Stadium located?
- Snapdragon Stadium is at 2101 Stadium Way in San Diego, California 92108. It sits on the SDSU Mission Valley campus, built on the site of the former Qualcomm Stadium, about 8 miles east of downtown San Diego.
- Can you take the trolley to Snapdragon Stadium?
- Yes. The MTS Green Line stops at Stadium Station, right at the stadium entrance. Trolleys run every 15 minutes or better on event days with extra service added. A one-way fare is $2.50 via the PRONTO app. The trolley is the easiest and cheapest way to reach the stadium.
- What teams play at Snapdragon Stadium?
- Three teams call Snapdragon Stadium home: the San Diego State Aztecs (NCAA FBS football, Mountain West Conference), San Diego FC (MLS, joined 2025 as the league's 30th team), and San Diego Wave FC (NWSL). The stadium also hosts concerts, Monster Jam, and Supercross.
- Is Snapdragon Stadium the same as Qualcomm Stadium?
- No. Qualcomm Stadium (originally San Diego Stadium, opened 1967) was demolished in 2020–2021. Snapdragon Stadium is a brand-new $310 million facility that opened in 2022 on the same site. Both naming rights were held by Qualcomm, but they are completely different structures.
- Is there parking at Snapdragon Stadium?
- The stadium has 6,000+ on-site spaces. General parking starts around $30, up to $50 for concerts. The Orange Lot is the largest and primary tailgating area. All lots are cashless. Alternatively, park at a trolley station for $3/hour and ride the Green Line to the stadium.
- How far is the airport from Snapdragon Stadium?
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) is just 5 miles west, about 10–15 minutes by car — one of the closest airport-to-stadium distances in American sports. Rideshare runs $12–$18.
Last updated: 2026-03-06
