Aztec Bowl, Historic stadium at San Diego State University, US
Aztec Bowl is a historic stadium built into a natural canyon slope on the San Diego State University campus. The facility features concrete seating and stone walls integrated into the hillside, with portions of the original structure now visible alongside the newer Viejas Arena.
The stadium was built in 1937 using Works Progress Administration funding, originally seating 10,000 spectators for college football games. Over the decades, it became a major venue for university events and gatherings.
The place took its name from the Aztecs, reflecting the university's identity and spirit. The design worked with the natural canyon terrain rather than against it, creating a space that felt part of the landscape itself.
The site is best reached on foot from the campus center and can be visited as part of a campus tour without special access requirements. The preserved stone walls and concrete seating areas are freely accessible, though some sections are overlapped by newer structures.
The stadium took advantage of the canyon's natural shape, with one end zone built directly against the hillside's rock formation. This approach saved materials while creating a dramatic natural backdrop for events.
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