Viejas Arena Named Venue of the Year at Sports San Diego Game Time Gala

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Viejas Arena, home of the San Diego State men’s and women’s basketball teams, was named the Venue of the Year at the Sports San Diego Game Time Gala on Friday night. The Gala took place at UC San Diego’s LionTree Arena.

Viejas Arena won the Venue-of-the-Year Award over four other finalists, including Jenny Craig Pavilion, Pechanga Arena, Snapdragon Stadium and The Club at Omni La Costa Resort. 

“We are thrilled that Viejas Arena was voted the Venue of the Year,” said John David Wicker, SDSU Director of Athletics. “Viejas Arena is a significant homecourt advantage for both our men’s and women’s basketball teams. We are proud to host so many events at a great venue, including another successful NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in March.”

“We are humbled to be nominated for Venue of the Year and are honored to be included alongside San Diego’s outstanding venues,” said Tim Ripke, Director of Viejas Arena. “As a premier sports and entertainment venue that brings more than half a million guests together each year, we attribute the quality of our services to our dedicated and passionate staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make each event possible.”

Viejas Arena is also the host venue to the San Diego Mojo, a women’s professional indoor volleyball team, as well as numerous concerts, university functions, cultural events and other special-event programming.

In March, Viejas Arena played host to six NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games, including four in the first round and two in the second round.  It was the sixth time that Viejas Arena hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The venue hosted the 2001 NCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship as well as first and second round games of the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

"Viejas Arena is at the heart of the student experience and a place where lifelong memories are made," said Milan Rawls, Associated Students Executive Vice President. "Associated Students is proud to operate a facility where students can cheer on our teams and host events that reach our local and global communities."

Built in 1997, Viejas Arena is built on the site of the old Aztec Bowl stadium which hosted San Diego State football games as well as other athletic, entertainment and cultural events from the time of its construction in 1936 until 1967. Built directly into a canyon hillside, Viejas Arena encloses one end of the old horseshoe-shaped Aztec Bowl. Two sections of the stadium's original concrete bleachers and cobblestone walls frame each side of the arena's north entrance. In addition, the university's 10-ton granite boulder, a California landmark commemorating President John F. Kennedy's 1963 commencement address at Aztec Bowl, has also been placed in this area.