AZTEC BOWL AT SDSU DEDICATED 85 YEARS AGO

On Oct. 3, 1936, the San Diego State college football team dedicated its new stadium — dubbed the Aztec Bowl — with a win over Occidental College.

The San Diego State team played their first season 100 years ago. For their first 15 years they played in Balboa Stadium, which had been built for the 1915 Panama-california Exposition.

From 1936 to 1966 the Aztecs played their games at the Aztec Bowl, before moving to the larger multipurpose San Diego Stadium in Mission Valley for the 1967 season. In 1995 the Aztec Bowl was partially demolished to make way for construction of the indoor facility now known as Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl. The old concrete bleachers remain.

A new stadium is now under construction on the campus of San Diego State University at SDSU Mission Valley.

From The San Diego Union, Sunday, Oct. 4, 1936:

AZTECS NOSE OUT OCCIDENTAL, 7-0

CALLIES SCORES 4TH PERIOD TOUCHDOWN CHRISTEN NEW BOWL IN FITTING STYLE

San Diego State 7, Occidental 0. That score will go down in the archives of San Diego State college and to the Aztecs it was a glorious finish to another red letter day as they dedicated their new football bowl with a victory...

STATE COLLEGE BOWL DEDICATED; 7500 SEE GAME

In the beautiful natural amphitheater on State college campus, before more than 7500 spectators, the college’s new bowl was dedicated yesterday afternoon in a brief ceremony preceding the football game with Occidental College which ended in a victory for the home team.

“We are witnessing a great drama that has come true,” said President Walter R. Hepner. “It was, for the most part the dream of Dr. E.L. Hardy, for many years president of our college. If there had been no Dr. Hardy, there would be no bowl today.”

Byron Lindsley, student body president, presented Hepner, who introduced Dr. Hardy.

The bowl is the only one owned by any California state college and the only stadium owned by any college south of Stanford. It has a seating capacity of 10,000. There is a potential seating capacity of 42,000.

“The state legislature authorized sale of the old college site on El Cajon Ave., and investment in a new campus and buildings in 1925,” said Dr. Hardy. “One of the requisites of the new campus was that it should include an area for a stadium.”

Dr. Hardy introduced George White, San Diego WPA director, who said federal appropriations for work on the campus came to $484,000, the stadium being the major project; that work had been given to an average of 200 men daily since August, 1934.

William Van Dusen, president San Diego board of air control, dropped flowers on the field from an airplane. There was a bugle call to colors by Bonham Brothers Boys band. An American flag, gift of Padre Serra post, American Legion, was raised. Sweetwater Union High School band played.

State Sen. Fletcher expressed gratitude for Dr. Hardy’s vision and for federal aid in brining the bowl into being. George B. Mcdougall, state architect, and Armistead B. Carter, state board of education, also spoke. The college swing band played. An electric timer’s clock and score board were presented to the college by the junior chamber of commerce represented by its president, Fred Kunzel.