Stadium station (San Diego)

Stadium station is a San Diego Trolley station on the Green Line. The elevated station has an island platform as well as side platforms. The area around the station is undergoing re-development into San Diego State University's Mission Valley campus and Snapdragon Stadium for the San Diego State Aztecs football team. It was built in the parking lot of the former San Diego Stadium.

Stadium
Stadium station in 2019
General information
Location9449 Friars Road
San Diego, California
United States
Coordinates32°46′52″N 117°7′9″W / 32.78111°N 117.11917°W / 32.78111; -117.11917
Owned bySan Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Operated bySan Diego Trolley
Platforms2 side platforms, 1 island platform
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeElevated
AccessibleDisabled access
History
OpenedNovember 23, 1997 (1997-11-23)
Rebuilt2005
Previous namesQualcomm Stadium (1997–2017)
Services
Preceding station San Diego Trolley Following station
Fenton Parkway Green Line Mission San Diego
towards El Cajon
Former services
Preceding station San Diego Trolley Following station
Fenton Parkway
towards San Ysidro
Blue Line
1997-2005
Mission San Diego
Terminus
Fenton Parkway Special Event Line
pre-2012
Terminus
Location
Map

History

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This station opened on November 23, 1997 as part of the Blue Line Mission Valley Line extension to Mission San Diego station.[1] The station, originally called Qualcomm Stadium station, was built in the parking lot of its namesake stadium, the home of the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers. The station saw heavy use on stadium event days. On non-event days, the stadium parking lots served as a massive park and ride facility.

Blue Line service to this station was replaced by the Green Line on July 10, 2005 as part of the Mission Valley East extension.[2] Before the opening of the Mission Valley East extension, this station was rebuilt to raise the platform to accommodate the new low-floor trolley vehicles, giving passengers level access to trains without using steps or a wheelchair lift.

The station was renamed after Qualcomm's naming rights to the stadium expired in June 2017, coinciding with the Chargers' departure from San Diego.

The station closed on November 1, 2020, for two years to accommodate the demolition of San Diego Stadium and the construction of Snapdragon Stadium.[citation needed] The station briefly reopened on August 20, 2022, for a preview event at the new stadium and reopened permanently on September 3, 2022.[3][4] A new plaza is planned to be constructed during redevelopment of the surrounding lots.[5]

Station layout

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There are two tracks, each served by a side platform and a shared island platform. East of the station is a siding for trains short-turning back to Downtown.

Side platform, doors will open on the right
Track 2   Green Line toward 12th & Imperial (Fenton Parkway)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Track 1   Green Line toward El Cajon (Mission San Diego)
Side platform, doors will open on the right

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MTS Historical Timeline". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  2. ^ Ristine, Jeff (July 23, 2006). "After 25 years, the trolley keeps on moving". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
  3. ^ "Trolley Station Open Saturday for SDSU Scrimmage at New Snapdragon Stadium". Times of San Diego. August 18, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Stadium Trolley Station Celebrates Reopening for Snapdragon's First Game" (Press release). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. September 2, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Kenney, Kirk (May 3, 2022). "Snapdragon Stadium update: Plenty of parking — for now — but trolley will remain option". The San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved October 9, 2022.