Qualcomm Stadium vs Snapdragon Stadium

Posted in 2024 in Facts & History

Qualcomm Stadium vs Snapdragon Stadium

Posted in 2024 in Facts & History

Qualcomm Stadium, once home to the Chargers and prior to the construction of Petco Park, the San Diego Padres, is no more.

Qualcomm was sold to San Diego State University in 2020. Demolition began in December 2020 and Snapdragon was built next door.

What’s Different

A closer look at Snapdragon vs Qualcomm.

Capacity

Snapdragon is about half the capacity, at 34,500. Qualcomm Stadium held approximately 71,000.

Playing Surface

Both Qualcomm Stadium and Bashor Field at Snapdragon use a natural grass playing surface

Cost

Snapdragon Stadium cost an estimated $310 million to construct. Constructed in the 1960s, Qualcomm Stadium cost a lean $27 million.

Naming Rights

A timeline of Qualcomm’s names and sponsors:

San Diego Stadium (1967-1979)

Jack Murphy Stadium (1980-1996)

Qualcomm Stadium (1997-2016)

Snapdragon Stadium will be known as Snapdragon Stadium for at least 15 years. That contract, reportedly $45 million, lasts through 2037. Snapdragon is the brand name of Qualcomm’s mobile platform.

Snapdragon Stadium History & Milestones

Snapdragon Stadium opened for a SDSU Aztecs scrimmage on August 20, 2022. The first game in the stadium was played on September 3. View Snapdragon Stadium Concert History.

Qualcomm Stadium History

1960s: The Inception and Construction
In the early 1960s, local sportswriter Jack Murphy championed the idea of a multi-purpose stadium for San Diego. In November 1965, a $27 million bond was approved for construction. Construction started in December 1965 on the stadium designed in the Brutalist style. The stadium opened in 1967 as San Diego Stadium.

1967-1980: Early Years and Renaming

San Diego Chargers, a member of the American Football League (AFL), played the inaugural game on August 20, 1967. In September 1980, the stadium was renamed San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium in honor of Jack Murphy. Capacity increased in 1983 with the addition of over 9,000 bleachers.

1990s: Renovations and Naming Rights

Major renovations in 1997 enclosed the stadium, adding nearly 11,000 seats in preparation for Super Bowl XXXII. In 1997, Qualcomm Corporation acquired naming rights, and the stadium was renamed Qualcomm Stadium. It became known as “The Q” and was home to the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres.

2000s: Sports Teams and Renovations

San Diego Padres played at the stadium from 1969 to 2003. Qualcomm Stadium hosted Super Bowls XXII (1988), XXXII (1998), and XXXVII (2003). It also hosted MLB All-Star Games in 1978 and 1992, along with MLB playoffs and World Series games.

2010s: Transitions and Demolition

The naming rights shifted to San Diego County Credit Union in 2017, becoming SDCCU Stadium. The San Diego Chargers moved to Los Angeles in 2017. The stadium hosted its final event, the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl, in December 2019. Demolition of the stadium began in December 2020.

Legacy and Impact

The stadium played a pivotal role in hosting NFL games, MLB games, Super Bowls, and MLB All-Star Games. It was the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team and hosted college bowl games. The legacy of the stadium lives on in the new Snapdragon Stadium, opened in 2022, and in the memories of San Diego sports history.

Key Events and Achievements

Hosted Super Bowls XXII, XXXII, and XXXVII.
Hosted MLB All-Star Games in 1978 and 1992.
Home of the San Diego Chargers (1967-2016) and San Diego Padres (1969-2003).
Renamed multiple times due to changing naming rights: San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, Qualcomm Stadium, SDCCU Stadium.
Past Concerts
The talented artists performing at Qualcomm Stadium are too numerous to list, among them Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Elton John, Pink Floyd,The Who, Metallica and Guns N Roses. Some of the biggest concerts in the stadium’s history were The Rolling Stones in 1998, One Direction in 2015, Beyoncé in 2016, U2 in 2017, and Coldplay (Coldplay is coming to Snapdragon this year).
Fun fact: There are more than a few easter eggs at the new stadium that survived from the Qualcomm days.

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