SAN DIEGO – While Aztec fans await the opening of its state-of-the art stadium in Mission Valley, SDSU is still welcoming fans for its home football games this year in Carson, California, with plenty of activities available for Saturday's showdown between the undefeated No. 25 Aztecs (4-0) and New Mexico (2-3) at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Members of the U.S. Marine Corps will be recognized throughout the contest, and Saturday's game is also Cheer and Dance Day where local youth cheer and dance groups were invited to participate in a pregame meet and greet with the SDSU Cheer and Dance teams. For more information, follow the SDSU Cheer (@SDSUCheer) and Dance teams (@SDSUDanceTeam) on Instagram.
Aztec Village, a staple of the SDSU football gameday experience, opens at 3:30 p.m. outside the North end zone, featuring food and beverage vendors, a live DJ, a photo booth and a prize wheel, as well as a Kids Zone that includes inflatables and face painting. Additionally, college football games from around the nation will be televised in Aztec Village, which is free and open to the public, even those individuals without a game ticket.
After the stadium gates open at 4:30 p.m., San Diego State students will receive a complimentary Aztec football T-shirt. These will be distributed at the top of the student section.
Kickoff for the Aztecs-Lobos showdown is set for 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats 20 minutes prior to kickoff for the pregame show featuring former SDSU star Kevin O'Connell, who will serve as this week's Honor Warrior.
O'Connell made 33 starts at quarterback for the Aztecs from 2004-07 and finished with 7,689 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. He owns a program record for quarterbacks with 1,312 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns and is third all-time in total offense and completions, fourth in passing yards and fifth in passing touchdowns. O'Connell was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round in 2008 and, following a brief stint as a broadcaster, began his NFL coaching career, including the past three seasons as an offensive coordinator with the last two coming with the Los Angeles Rams.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued new guidelines, which affects the remainder of San Diego State football home games played at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. All guests ages 12 and older are now required to provide either a photo identification with matching proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or photo identification with matching negative COVID-19 test results from within 72 hours of kickoff time in order to enter the stadium. Guests under the age of 12 are currently not required to provide a negative COVID-19 test but, like all attendees, will be required to wear a mask except when actively eating or drinking.
Due to the available vaccination and testing options, refunds for tickets and parking will not be offered. Guests who are unable or unwilling to meet any of the above requirements have the option of transferring or reselling their tickets and parking passes.
Fans attending Aztec football games in Carson this year are reminded that Dignity Health Sports Park is a cashless stadium. Fans can order concessions through the LA Galaxy app and have them ready for pick-up at designated concession stands. DHSP has also installed reverse ATMs to facilitate onsite cashless transactions.
In addition, tickets for the 2021 SDSU football season will be digital and available on your mobile device. To access tickets, refer to the instructions at www.GoAztecs.com/MobileTicketing
Student tickets for Aztec football games are also mobile and can be accessed at www.GoAztecs.com/StudentMobileTix, starting the Monday prior to each home game week at 9 a.m. Current enrolled students receive free admission to each regular-season home game. To access the mobile tickets, students should simply visit GoAztecs.com/StudentMobileTix on their iPhone or Android device and log in with their official SDSU email address on file with the Registrar's Office for their tickets to be automatically delivered to their phone prior to each home game. Students are also able to purchase up to two (2) student guest tickets directly from GoAztecs.com/StudentMobileTix.
Round trip bus transportation is also available for SDSU students to/from Dignity Health Sports Park on 2021 Aztec Football home game dates. Students can purchase a round trip bus pass for $5 when claiming their free student tickets on their mobile devices at GoAztecs.com/StudentMobileTix, starting on Monday at 9 a.m. the week prior to game week for each home game. Students are encouraged to order bus passes early as availability may fill up. Guests are not permitted on the student buses.
To continue improving safety measures for all fans, Dignity Health Sports Park has implemented a policy that will limit the size and type of bags permitted to enter the stadium. Permitted items include:
- Bags that are clear plastic or clear vinyl and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12"
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziplock bag or similar)
- Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a 4.5" x 6.5", with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bags
- *Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate designated for this purpose.
For more information on Aztec football gamedays at Dignity Health Sports Park, including parking, tailgating policy, COVID-19 guidelines, additional bus transportation, and local hotels and airports, visit www.GoAztecs.com/FBGameday