The San Diego State Aztecs disappointed in their season opener, but Snapdragon Stadium ROCKS.
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Temperatures peaked at 108 degrees and new concessions stands struggled, but this stadium will serve SDSU very well.
San Diego, CA – Saturday, September 3 was a memorable day for Aztec Nation as San Diego State football played its first game in a brand new venue. The home team could not claim victory and it was the hottest day on record ever in San Diego for an official football match, including the NFL’s Chargers, and while some concessions stands were not fully prepared to handle the crowd of 34,046 fans, a dynamite new venue is here to serve Aztecs football for many years to come if you look past the anomalies.
As an SDSU alum, a sports writer, and an Aztecs football and basketball superfan, I took it upon myself to cut through the national media’s headlines and provide a first-hand chronicle of the Snapdragon experience.
GAME ONE EXPERIENCE
Arriving at Snapdragon, my son Quinn and I reached Friar’s Road two-and-a-half hours before kickoff. We paid in advance online to park in the orange lot. Even arriving early, it took us 15 minutes from stadium entrance to the lot.
We parked and then entered the largest tailgate scene I’ve ever seen at an Aztecs event. Both the orange and yellow lots were fully packed with San Diego State tents, campers, flags, and fans. Aztec Nation was out in full force.
Walking through the orange lot and over to the yellow lot, we stopped by the Sons of Montezuma tailgate tent to visit founder, content director, and podcaster Matteo Ortiz as he hosted his live game day podcast, along with co-host Dan Morton. The crew gave out merchandise and distributed shirts, flags,