Viejas Arena sits on the spot where San Diego State played football from 1936 to 1967, in a stadium called the Aztec Bowl. The arena was built on the same site, and two sections of the original bleachers and some of its cobblestone walls are still there.
From Cox Arena to Viejas
The arena opened in July 1997 as Cox Arena. On July 1, 2009, it took the Viejas name under a naming deal with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. San Diego State owns it and runs it with Associated Students, and in winter it belongs to Aztecs basketball.
Billy Joel and Elton John picked this room to open their 2001 Face to Face tour. Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Cher, Britney Spears and John Mayer have played here too.
How big a show gets
The arena's concert setups scale from about 3,000 seats for a smaller show up to well over 12,000 for a full house. That puts it in the same size class as Pechanga Arena in the Midway, and a long way from a stadium crowd. Expect arena tours from pop, Latin and hip-hop acts, plus commencement ceremonies and other campus events.
The Trolley and campus parking
By Trolley. The Green Line stops at the SDSU Transit Center, the only underground station in the Trolley system, about 55 feet below campus. From the platform it is a walk across campus to the arena. The Rapid 215 bus also ends there after running up El Cajon Boulevard from downtown.
By car. For concerts, pay on site at Parking Structures 12 and 7, which the arena says open about 90 minutes before doors. Tailgating and overnight parking are not allowed anywhere on campus. The arena also warns of slow exits onto Canyon Crest Drive, so be patient leaving a big show.
The two campus venues use different garages. The Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre sends its crowd to Structures 3 and 6/6B, so if both have events on the same night, follow the signs for your venue.
Around campus
Aztecs football plays down the hill at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley, a short ride west on the same Green Line. That guide covers game days. For everything near the College Area and Mission Valley, see our Mission Valley and SDSU page.