A new stadium in San Diego tops off

This week, a building team that includes Clark Construction Group topped out the 35,000-seat-capacity Aztec Stadium at San Diego State University.

The structural steel operations for the $310 million stadium were completed 11 months after construction commenced. Once the stadium opens in September 2022, it is expected to host more than 300 events annually, including collegiate and professional football and soccer games, concerts, and cultural events.

The facility, which project architect Gensler Sports designed to meet LEED Gold certification, is the first phase of SDSU Mission Valley, a mixed-used, medium-density campus innovation district that will include transit, 95,000 sf of retail, 4,000 residences and 400 hotel rooms, and more than 80 acres of parks and recreation space. This district is projected to have a $3.1 billion economic impact on San Diego, create 17,000 jobs, and increase the university’s enrollment by 15,000.

What had been Qualcomm Stadium was demolished—after the San Diego Chargers football team relocated to Los Angeles—to make way for SDSU Mission Valley. In June 2020, the university agreed to pay the city $88 million to acquire 135 acres of Mission Valley for this district.

CREATED 6,500 CONSTRUCTION JOBS

The Aztec Stadium is supported by 2,500 steel beams. Image: Clark Construction Group.

Some 30,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured for Aztec Stadium, which is supported by 2,500 steel beams. On average, 300 craft workers representing 15 different trade partners were on-site daily. The construction of the stadium provided nearly 6,500 construction jobs in total. In aggregate, local firms—including 35 San Diego-based businesses—were awarded $250 million in construction contracts.

Signature design elements that create connectivity to the field include the venue’s concourse level “neighborhoods,” designed to reflect the city’s diverse communities, and unique standing-room-only “piers” that jut out over stadium seating and conjure a coastal vibe.