View source for Balboa Stadium

{{Short description|Multi-sport stadium in San Diego, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Balboa Stadium
| nickname = 
| image = Balboa Stadium.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = 
| fullname = 
| address = 1405 Park Boulevard
| location = [[San Diego, California]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|32|43|15|N|117|9|2|W|display=it}}
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=12|type=point}}
| pushpin_map = <!--United States San Diego#-->USA#California
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the [[United States]]##Location in [[California]]
| pushpin_label = San Diego
| broke_ground = 
| built = 1914
| opened = 
| renovated = 1978
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[San Diego|City of San Diego]]
| operator = [[San Diego Unified School District]]
| surface = [[Artificial turf]]<br>originally natural grass
| construction_cost = 
| seating_capacity = 3,000 (1978–present)<br>34,000 (1961–1966)<ref>{{cite book|last=Grasso|first=John|title=Historical Dictionary of Football|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTUPQ2Zm-dQC&pg=PA350|access-date=June 9, 2014|page=350|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2013|isbn=978-0810878563}}</ref><br>23,000 (1960)<br>15,000 (1914)
| architect = Quayle Brothers
| former_names = City Stadium
| tenants = [[San Diego High School]] Cavers (1915–present)<br>[[San Diego East-West Christmas Classic]] ([[NCAA]]) (1921–1922)<br>[[San Diego State Aztecs football|San Diego State Aztecs]] (NCAA) (1921–1935)<br>[[Harbor Bowl]] (NCAA) (1947–1949)<br>[[Poinsettia Bowl]] (military) (1952–1955)<br>[[San Diego Chargers]] ([[American Football League|AFL]]) (1961–1966)<br>[[San Diego Toros]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1968)<br>[[San Diego Pumitas]] ([[National Premier Soccer League|NPSL]]) (1999–2007)<br>[[San Diego Flash]] (2010) (NPSL; charity events)<br>[[San Diego Boca FC]] (NPSL) (2011–2014)<br>[[San Diego Growlers]] ([[American Ultimate Disc League|AUDL]]) (2015–2017)
| dimensions = 
}}

'''Balboa Stadium''' is an outdoor [[stadium]] in [[San Diego]], California, adjacent to [[San Diego High School]] and [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]]. Owned by the City of San Diego, it is leased to [[San Diego Unified School District]]. The stadium is used for local athletics and high school events. It has been the home of the San Diego High School Cavers athletic teams since it opened in 1915.

The original stadium was built in 1914 as part of the 1915 [[Panama–California Exposition]] with a capacity of 15,000. The stadium expanded in the 1960s to a capacity of 34,000. Due to [[Earthquake engineering|seismic safety]] concerns, it was demolished in the 1970s and a smaller venue with a 3,000-seat capacity was built, opening in 1978. Most of the original stadium's distinguishing architectural features were removed.

The stadium hosted the [[San Diego State Aztecs football]] team from 1921 to 1935. It also hosted the [[San Diego Chargers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1961 to 1966. Additionally, the stadium hosted various [[bowl game]]s, including the [[San Diego East-West Christmas Classic]] from 1921 to 1922, the [[Harbor Bowl]] from 1947 to 1949, and the [[Poinsettia Bowl]] from 1952 to 1955.

==Earlier uses==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-13799, San Diego, Stadion, Luftaufnahme.jpg|thumb|200px|Aerial view from west in 1932]]
The original stadium was built in 1914 as part of the 1915 [[Panama–California Exposition]], also in [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]], with a capacity of 15,000. A horseshoe design that opened to the south, it was designed by the Quayle Brothers architectural firm and originally called '''City Stadium'''. On May 31, 1915, the stadium was dedicated and around 20,000 people came to watch track and field events.<ref>{{cite book|last=Amero|first=Richard W.|title=Balboa Park and the 1915 Exposition|year=2013|edition=1st|location=Charleston, South Carolina|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-1-626193-45-1|page=88}}</ref> Since 1915, it has been the home field of the [[San Diego High School]] Cavers athletic teams.

Auto racing took place on a quarter-mile dirt track in Balboa Stadium from about 1937 through July 4, 1961, when the racing stopped so the facility could be used for pro football. Balboa Stadium was one of the hotbeds of midget racing starting in about 1937 until the early 1950s (except for the war years). When interest in midget racing started waning, jalopies became popular. The San Diego Racing Association was formed in 1953 and started sanctioning the racing. By 1958, the San Diego Racing Assn had transformed from a jalopy association to a sleeker modified sportsman (the forerunners of today's super modifieds). Jalopy champions of the SDRA at Balboa included Glen Hoagland (1953), Jim Wood (1954), Jack Krogh (1955), Harris Mills (1956), Don Ray (1957), and Mondo Iavelli (1958). Don Thomas (1957) was the inaugural modified champion with Art Pratt being a three time titlest (1958 - 1959 - 1960). Rip Erikson took the honors in the 1961 season that was split between Balboa Stadium and Cajon Speedway. Also holding events at Balboa Stadium during the 1950s were occasional visits by the URA midgets and the NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Models. During the 1950s it was not unusual for more than 10,000 fans to attend a weekly show at Balboa.

The stadium also hosted local amateur and professional [[baseball]] contests in the period prior to the establishment of the [[Pacific Coast League]] Padres in 1936. [[Babe Ruth]], [[Lou Gehrig]], [[Ty Cobb]], and [[Satchel Paige]] played in Balboa Stadium.

College football's [[Harbor Bowl]] was held there from 1947 to 1949. The [[San Diego East-West Christmas Classic]] was held there in 1921 and 1922. From 1952 through 1955, the stadium hosted the [[Poinsettia Bowl]], contested between armed services football teams. From 1958 to 1964, it hosted the [[Leatherneck Bowl]], a charity game between [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]] and another military service team.

The stadium has been the site of famous races in [[track and field]]. In 1965, high-schooler [[Jim Ryun]] from Kansas beat world-record holder and reigning [[Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|1500 m Olympic champion]] [[Peter Snell]] of [[New Zealand]] in a mile race in 3:55.3 on June 27,<ref name=prepry>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IPxVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6788%2C6322962 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=AP, UPI reports |title=Prep Ryun steals the Snell-Grelle mile 'duel' |date=June 28, 1965 |page=3B}}</ref><ref name="ftaigut">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Gwilym S. |date=1965-07-05 |title=Fast teen-agers in grown-up time |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1965/07/05/606323/fast-teenagers-in-grownup-time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042033/https://www.si.com/vault/1965/07/05/606323/fast-teenagers-in-grownup-time |archive-date=2017-12-05 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |page=14}}</ref> an American high school record that stood for 42 years. A year later, [[Tim Danielson]] from San Diego area [[Chula Vista High School]] ran 3:59.4 in the same stadium to become only the second high school runner to run a sub-4:00 mile. Only three high school runners have managed to break that barrier since ([[Marty Liquori]] in 1967, [[Alan Webb (runner)|Alan Webb]] in 2001, and [[Lukas Verzbicas]] in 2011). Fifty years after Ryun first broke the [[4 minute mile]], the stadium hosted a "Festival of Miles" featuring a return of Ryun.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 5, 2014 |title=Eric Avila Finds Redemption, and First Sub-4 Mile, at Jim Ryun Meet |url=http://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2014/06/05/records-set-at-ryun-meet-marking-50-years-since-first-prep-sub-4/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714220025/https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2014/06/05/records-set-at-ryun-meet-marking-50-years-since-first-prep-sub-4/ |archive-date=2014-07-14 |work=[[Times of San Diego]]}}</ref>

The first two major meets of the developing age division of [[Masters athletics]] were held in Balboa Stadium, July 19–20, 1968, and July 3–6, 1969.

During the mid to late 1950s, a huge musical production, ''The California Story'', was put on in Balboa Stadium as part of the [[Fiesta del Pacifico]] celebration. The extravaganza featured a cast of 1,300 people, including a symphony orchestra and a 150-voice choir.<ref name="Pourade">{{cite book |last=Pourade |first=Richard F. |url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/dream/dreamchapter5.htm |title=City of the Dream 1940-1970 |publisher=Copley Press |year=1977 |isbn=978-0913938195 |chapter=5: A Fiesta - Reliving the days of the dons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101140034/https://sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/dream/dreamchapter5.htm |archive-format= |archive-date=2016-01-01 |via=sandiegohistory.org}}</ref> Performances were directed by [[Meredith Willson]], who also contributed music and lyrics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/metro/freeman/20020601-9999_1c1freeman.html|title='Music Man' still leads Broadway's hit parade|last=Freeman|first=Don|date=June 1, 2002|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=June 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222641/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/metro/freeman/20020601-9999_1c1freeman.html|archive-date=June 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The production followed the history of California from the arrival of [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] in 1540 through the early 20th century.<ref name="Golden">{{cite book|last=Starr|first=Kevin|title=Golden Dreams: California in an Age of Abundance, 1950-1963|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gvFyunCAQbMC&q=%22Fiesta+del+Pacifico%22+%22San+Diego%22&pg=PT84|year=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-515377-4}}</ref> It was billed as "the biggest non-movie spectacle ever produced anywhere."<ref name="1957 program">{{cite web |title=San Diego Fiesta del Pacifico folder 1957 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Diego-Fiesta-Pacifico-folder-1957/dp/B00EVUAMFS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606220635/https://www.amazon.com/Diego-Fiesta-Pacifico-folder-1957/dp/B00EVUAMFS |archive-date=2014-06-06 |access-date=June 6, 2014 |work=Program}}</ref>

==San Diego Chargers==
To accommodate the [[American Football League]]'s [[1961 San Diego Chargers season|Chargers]], which moved from [[1960 Los Angeles Chargers season|Los Angeles]], the seating capacity was increased from 23,000<!--(at that time)--> to 34,000 by adding an upper deck in May.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-17 |title=SAN DIEGO CONCERT ARCHIVE |url=http://www.sandiegoconcertarchive.com/concertarchive/08-august.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617075111/http://www.sandiegoconcertarchive.com/concertarchive/08-august.html |archive-date=2024-06-17 |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=sandiegoconcertarchive.org}}</ref> It was their home for six years, through the [[1966 San Diego Chargers season|1966 season]].

Balboa Stadium witnessed the [[History of the San Diego Chargers|Chargers]]' glory years in the [[American Football League]], which featured such players as [[John Hadl]], [[Lance Alworth]], [[Jack Kemp]], [[Keith Lincoln]], and [[Ernie Ladd]], and hosted the [[1961 American Football League Championship Game|1961]], [[1963 American Football League Championship Game|1963]], and [[1965 American Football League Championship Game|1965 AFL championship games]] (1W, 2L), as well as the 1961, 1962, and 1963 [[AFL All-Star games]]. In their six seasons here, head coach [[Sid Gillman]]'s club had a home record of {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|28|12|2|record=y}},}} winning four Western Division titles and one [[American Football League#AFL Championship Games|league crown]] ([[1963 San Diego Chargers season|1963]]).

In [[1967 San Diego Chargers season|1967]], the Chargers left Balboa for the new [[San Diego Stadium]] (later known by multiple other names) in [[Mission Valley, San Diego|Mission Valley]], where the club's glory slowed and the titles stopped (although they did win several [[American Football Conference|AFC]] Western Division titles) until they won the [[AFC Championship Game|AFC championship]] in [[1994 San Diego Chargers season|1994]]; the Chargers returned to Los Angeles in 2017.

==Concerts==
The stadium was used for popular music concerts and other public gatherings through the 1960s and 1970s. 

On August 28, 1965, [[the Beatles]] performed at the stadium during their [[The Beatles' 1965 US tour|second North American tour]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegoconcertarchive.com/concertarchive/08-august.html|title=San Diego Concert Archive, August|work=San Diego Concert Archive|access-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref> 

On September 3, 1968, [[Jimi Hendrix]] performed at the '''Balboa Stadium''' with his band [[The Jimi Hendrix Experience]].

[[The Doors]]' concert at Balboa with [[Ike & Tina Turner]] on October 26, 1969 was canceled by the [[Municipal council|city council]] due to [[Jim Morrison]]'s arrest for [[indecent exposure]] earlier that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Doors, Ike & Tina Turner 1969 San Diego, CA Concert Handbill |url=https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/music-memorabilia/posters/the-doors-ike-and-tina-turner-1969-san-diego-ca-concert-handbill/a/41165-4227.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515 |website=Heritage Auctions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stovold |first=Roger |date=Oct 29 - Nov 12, 1969 |title=Day of Decision |url=https://digitalcollections.sdsu.edu/do/444d67d1-b7c3-4690-b6c7-0180a787f5f5#page/14/mode/2up/search/day+of+decision |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241108094034/https://digitalcollections.sdsu.edu/do/444d67d1-b7c3-4690-b6c7-0180a787f5f5#page/14/mode/2up/search/day+of+decision |archive-date=2024-11-08 |work=[[San Diego Free Press]] |pages=14 |via=SDSU Digital Collections}}</ref>

Notable musicians and signers who have performed at the stadium include [[Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young]], [[the Doobie Brothers]], [[Linda Ronstadt]], the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Peter Frampton]], [[Yes (band)|Yes]], [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], [[Robin Trower]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[Steely Dan]], [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]], [[Jefferson Airplane]], [[Santana (band)|Santana]] and [[Fleetwood Mac]].<ref>{{cite web |title=San Diego Concert Archive, September |url=http://www.sandiegoconcertarchive.com/concertarchive/09-september.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617075111/http://www.sandiegoconcertarchive.com/concertarchive/08-august.html |archive-date=2024-06-17 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |work=San Diego Concert Archive}}</ref>

==Notable events==
[[File:Pres. Wilson addressing 50,000 people, San Diego Stadium, Sept. 19, 1919 LCCN2007661940.jpg|thumb|center|800px|Woodrow Wilson's speech at Balboa Stadium, Sep 19, 1919]]
On September 19, 1919, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]] spoke in front of over 50,000 people in Balboa Stadium in support of the creation of the [[League of Nations]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Pourade|first=Richard F.|title=Gold in the Sun|year=1965|location=San Diego|edition=1st|page=236|publisher=The Union-Tribune Publishing Company|isbn=0-913938-04-1}}</ref> This was the first presidential speech to use an electronic voice amplification system. This system was invented by Edwin S. Pridham and Peter L. Jensen. They called their invention the "Magnavox" ("Great Voice") moving coil device. The two would go on to found the [[Magnavox]] company.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shepherd |first1=Gerald A. |date=Spring 1986 |title=When the President Spoke at Balboa Stadium |url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/86spring/president.htm |url-status=dead |journal=The Journal of San Diego History |volume=32 |issue=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051120005139/https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/86spring/president.htm |archive-date=2005-11-20}}</ref>

On September 21, 1927, [[Charles Lindbergh]] visited San Diego, where the [[Spirit of St. Louis]] was built by [[Ryan Aeronautical]], and was greeted with a hero's welcome at the stadium. With over 60,000 in attendance (10,000 more than President Wilson) he performed a low-level fly over at 100 feet, dipping his aircraft's wings and circling the stadium 8 times. He landed and was then paraded through the city to the stadium where the crowd had to be held back by 650 [[U.S. Marines]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shepherd |first1=Gerald A. |date=Winter 1994 |title=When the Lone Eagle Returned to San Diego |url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/94winter/eagle.htm |url-status=dead |journal=The Journal of San Diego History |volume=40 |issue=1 & 2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221013416/https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/94winter/eagle.htm |archive-date=2001-02-21 |via=[[San Diego Historical Society]]}}</ref>

On December 7, 1941, a Navy vs. Marines football game was interrupted at halftime by news of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. The game was never finished.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Notable events at Balboa Stadium|last = Bucher|first = Ric|date = July 26, 1987|work = The San Diego Union}}</ref>

The stadium was also the site of the first match of the [[NASL Final 1968]].

On March 24, 1976, the [[San Diego Jaws]] played the [[Pelé]] led [[New York Cosmos (1971–1985)|New York Cosmos]] in front of 18,128 people to a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Littlefield |first1=Larry |date=March 25, 1976 |title=Pele held scoreless by Jaws in 1-1 tie before 18,128 fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106293819/pele-held-scoreless-by-jaws-in-1-1-tie/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |location=San Diego |page=A-15 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Modern stadium==
[[File:Balboa Stadium 5678 (2687990768).jpg|thumb|200px|View from northeast in 2008]]
The original stadium was demolished in the 1970s due to concerns about its stability during an earthquake,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee |first=Bobbie Jo |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-21-me-4422-story.html |title=New Balboa Stadium Track Closer to Reality; Coliseum Comes Next |date=March 21, 1987 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714231017/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-03-21/local/me-4422_1_balboa-stadium |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was rebuilt in 1978 with a much smaller [[seating capacity]] than when it housed the Chargers. Most of its distinguishing architectural features were removed. The remaining seating is made up of simple concrete bleachers, which also form the walls of the canyon the field is built in.

San Diego's largest and oldest running club, the [[San Diego Track Club]] also calls Balboa Stadium its home. It is used by [[San Diego High School]] for local high school sporting and other events. During the 1990s and the 2000s, it was also used as the home field (for football only) by [[St. Augustine High School (San Diego, California)|St. Augustine High School]] and [[San Diego City College]].

Balboa Stadium is the site of the annual "Stand Down" program, an outreach to provide services to needy and homeless military veterans, sponsored by the Veterans Village of San Diego.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prestigeplacements.net/Charities/vvsd.html |title=Veterans Village of San Diego |work=Prestige Placements |access-date=November 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607224722/http://www.prestigeplacements.net/Charities/vvsd.html |archive-date=June 7, 2008 }}</ref>

An article in the ''[[U-T San Diego|San Diego Union-Tribune]]'' on November 27, 2006, highlighted the stadium's state of disrepair. [[Artificial turf]] installed in 2001 was torn and rippling, and the track surrounding the field had dangerous depressions thought to be able to cause injury to runners.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gao |first=Helen |date=November 27, 2006 |title=Track, turf in trouble? |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061127/news_1m27balboa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129233810/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061127/news_1m27balboa.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 22, 2014 |work=U-T San Diego}}</ref> Both the turf and the track have since been completely renovated.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Balboa Stadium}}
*[http://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/past/BalboaStadium.htm NFL Stadiums - Balboa Stadium]
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br>[[San Diego Chargers]]
 | years = 1961 &ndash; 1966
 | before = [[Los Angeles Coliseum]]
 | after = [[Qualcomm Stadium]]
}}
{{end}}

{{Balboa Park}}
{{Los Angeles Chargers}}
{{San Diego Toros}}
{{San Diego State Aztecs football navbox}}
{{San Diego Toreros football navbox}}
{{Defunct NFL stadiums}}
{{NASCAR K&N Pro Series racetracks}}

[[Category:American Football League venues]]
[[Category:High school football venues in California]]
[[Category:Sports venues in San Diego]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in California]]
[[Category:Defunct NCAA bowl game venues]]
[[Category:San Diego Chargers stadiums]]
[[Category:San Diego State Aztecs football venues]]
[[Category:San Diego Toreros football]]
[[Category:San Diego Toros sports facilities]]
[[Category:Defunct college football venues]]
[[Category:Balboa Park (San Diego)]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:College track and field venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Ultimate (sport) venues]]
[[Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in California]]
[[Category:College football venues in California]]