Pechanga Arena
Pechanga Arena (historically known as the San Diego Sports Arena) is an indoor arena in San Diego, California. The arena is home of the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), San Diego Strike Force of the Indoor Football League (IFL), and the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Former names
San Diego International Sports Center (1966–70)
San Diego Sports Arena (1970–2005; 2007–10)
iPayOne Center (2005–07)
Valley View Casino Center (2010–18)
3500 Sports Arena Blvd
City of San Diego
Boxing: 16,100
Basketball: 14,500[1]
Ice hockey: 12,920[2]
November 18, 1965[3]
November 17, 1966
US$6.4 million
($61.9 million in 2023 dollars[4])
Mark L. Faddis[5]
Richard Bradshaw[5]
Trepte Construction Company[5]
Constructed in 1966, the arena has been home to numerous San Diego-based teams in several different sports. In major sports leagues, the arena hosted the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s San Diego Rockets from 1967-1971 and San Diego Clippers from 1978-1984.
In 2023, Stan Kroenke's development group announced that it will be the chief investor for the redevelopment of the site; a project known as Midway Rising. The proposal includes a modern 16,000-seat arena, housing units, multi-acre urban park, and a mixed-use entertainment, arts, and cultural district.
Arena's future[edit]
As use of the arena for sports and entertainment declined during the 1990s and 2000s, the city considered plans to redevelop the property. A Request For Proposals (RFP) was issued, and in August 2020 Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced that the city had chosen a developer to convert the arena and its surrounding 48 acres into an entertainment district. The proposed plan would include a new sports arena, thousands of housing units, and retail and park space.[46]
In a November 2020 election, the city's voters removed a pre-existing height limit of 30 feet on structures in the area, giving developers more flexibility.[47] However, in June 2021 the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) notified the city that the plan violated the state's recently modified Surplus Land Act, which mandates that local governments must offer surplus land first to developers who will reserve 25% of housing units for low-income families. In July the city prepared to declare the property surplus, meaning not needed for the city's use, with the condition that any proposal should include refurbishing or replacing the sports arena as an entertainment venue. If the state HCD approves that condition, the city will issue a new RFP to a state-approved list of affordable housing developers.[48]
The November 2022 election again has Measure E on the ballot for San Diego voters to remove or preserve the current height restrictions for the neighborhood zone west of the I-5 freeway and south of I-8 down to the San Diego International Airport including Liberty Station and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.[49]
Three developers proposed a new mixed use arena with housing, shopping, and parks. The projects were titled "Midway Rising", "Hometown SD", and "Midway Village+", with Midway Rising eventually winning the bid.[50] In 2023, Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke joined the Midway Rising group as a majority investor, bringing a massive boost as he had previously redeveloped the Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood.