Pechanga Arena

Pechanga Arena is an indoor arena in San Diego, California. It opened in 1966 and is an example of New Formalism architecture. The city of San Diego has recognized it as a historic resource.

Over the years, the arena has been home to many sports teams. Today, it is where the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League and the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League play.

In the past, it was home to basketball teams like the San Diego Rockets and the San Diego Clippers. It also hosted big events such as the 1971 NBA All-Star Game and a famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton in 1973.

In June 2023, a company led by Stan Kroenke announced plans to rebuild the site. The project, called Midway Rising, would replace Pechanga Arena with a new, larger arena, homes, a park, and entertainment spaces.

History

The Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California was built in 1966 for $6.4 million by Bob Breitbard, a local football player who played for the San Diego State Aztecs. To make space for the arena, the city removed a housing project that had been there since 1943. The arena could hold 13,000 people for hockey games and 13,700 for basketball games. It was 77 feet tall, built before height limits were set in the area.

The arena opened on November 17, 1966, with over 11,000 fans watching the San Diego Gulls win their first game. In 2013, it was named one of the top locations in San Diego sports history.

Naming history

The arena has had several names over the years:

• San Diego International Sports Arena (November 17, 1966—1970)
• San Diego Sports Arena (1970—March 19, 2005; May 9, 2007—November 12, 2010; December 1, 2018—December 5, 2018)
• iPayOne Center (March 20, 2005—May 8, 2007)
• Valley View Casino Center (November 13, 2010—November 30, 2018)
• Pechanga Arena (December 5, 2018—present)

The name changed to "Valley View Casino Center" in 2010 and then to "Pechanga Arena" in 2018 after a new agreement.

Events

Sports

The arena can seat many people for different sports and shows. It holds 12,000 for indoor football, 12,920 for ice hockey, indoor soccer, and box lacrosse, 14,500 for basketball and tennis, and up to 16,100 for boxing and mixed martial arts.

The arena opened in 1966 with a hockey game won by the San Diego Gulls. Many sports teams have played there over the years, including basketball teams like the San Diego Rockets and San Diego Clippers. The arena also hosted big events like the 1973 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton and the 1975 NCAA men's basketball Final Four.

Concerts

Many famous musicians have performed at the arena. The Stone Poneys played there in 1968, followed by Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, and Jimi Hendrix in 1969. Elvis Presley performed there in 1970 and 1976. The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Queen, Alice Cooper, the Bee Gees, ABBA, Bob Marley, Heart, Duran Duran, The Scorpions, Rush, Van Halen, Dio, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Janet Jackson, MC Hammer, Gloria Estefan, Metallica, Nirvana, Britney Spears, U2, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Eric Clapton, Justin Bieber, LMFAO, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Muse, Jason Aldean, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tyler, The Creator, Lana Del Rey, Maluma, Slayer, Shakira, Halsey, Ellie Goulding, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Tame Impala, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, and AJR.

Other events

The arena has hosted many wrestling events, including shows for WWE like Raw, SmackDown, and ECW. It also hosted the 2011 Wrex the Halls with Florence and the Machine and Blink-182. The venue has featured roller games and roller derby events, as well as Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live in 2019.

Arena's future

During the 1990s and 2000s, the arena was used less for sports and entertainment. The city thought about new plans for the land. In August 2020, Mayor Kevin Faulconer shared that the city picked a developer to change the arena and its surrounding land into a fun place with new activities. The plan included a new sports arena, many homes, shops, and parks.

In November 2020, voters chose to remove a rule that limited how tall buildings could be. But in June 2021, a state group said the plan didn’t follow rules about saving land for affordable homes. The city got ready to say the land wasn’t needed anymore, but wanted to keep the sports arena as a place for fun. If allowed, the city would ask new groups to help build homes that are affordable.

In 2022, voters had another vote about building heights. Three groups offered ideas for new buildings, homes, shops, and parks. The plan called "Midway Rising" was chosen. In 2023, Stan Kroenke joined this group, helping with the project. He had also helped change the old Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood.