The Snapdragon stadium will be host to the semi-finals and the final of the first ever W Gold. It will also be used for all Group B games.
Initially known in the planning stage as the Aztec Stadium, the 35,000 capacity Snapdragon Stadium is an outdoor facility located on the campus of San Diego State University.
Following the departure of the NFL’s Chargers, focus began on building a new stadium for the university’s American Football team that was modern.
The stadium broke ground in August 2020 and opened two years later in August 2022.
As well as being the home of the San Diego Aztecs, Snapdragon Stadium is also home to the San Diego Wave FC who play in the NWSL and in 2025 will become the home of San Diego FC, the new Major League Soccer expansion team.
The MLS awarded its 30th franchise to San Diego in California, and to an investment group led by Egyptian Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. The franchise has been bought for $500 million. The last record for franchise sale was the $325 million paid by Charlotte in 2019. Having the Snapdragon as the team’s home stadium was a key factor in the decision.
The stadium is already used to soccer sell-outs. Wave FC set a new NWSL attendance record when it debuted in the new stadium on September 17, 2022. On September 1, the team announced the game had sold out its 32,000 capacity for that game, more than two weeks before kick off.
The stadium is also rapidly becoming a venue of choice for football with LigaMX sides Club Tijuana and Club America having played a friendly there, as well as Mexico’s national team hosting Cameroon in a friendly.
In 2023, the stadium staged the semi-final of the Gold Cup on July 12, its highest profile match to date.
Last July(2023) the stadium hosted friendlies between Wrexham and Manchester United, as well as San Diego Loyal vs Borussia Dortmund.
In other sports the stadium is the home of Major League Rugby club, the San Diego Legion. San Diego is amongst the cities being considered for hosting matches during the 2031 (men’s) and (women’s) Rugby World Cup.
It will also be the primary venue for the 2023 Lacrosse World Cup.
W Gold Cup 2024
Sat, February 21: Group Stage 4.30 pm Panama v Columbia 4.30 pm & 7.15 pm Brazil v TBC
Sat, February 24: Group Stage 4.30 pm TBC v Panama & 7.15 pm Columbia v Brazil
Tues, February 27: Group Stage 4.30 pm Columbia v TBC & 7.15 pm Brazil v Panama
Wed, March 6: Semi-finals 4.00 pm & 7.15 pm
Sunday, March 10: Final at 5.15 pm