A former National Football League (NFL) stadium is in the middle of a $3.5 billion redevelopment after being demolished back in 2021.

Before they became the Los Angeles Chargers, they were known as the San Diego Chargers from 1961 to 2016. The Chargers left the City of Angels, however, after one season in 1960, and went on to create their own history in San Diego, playing at the Qualcomm Stadium.

The Qualcomm Stadium was also home to the Major League Baseball (MLB) outfit San Diego Padres until 2003.

In 2017, the Chargers left San Diego and returned to LA, playing their home matches at Dignity Health Stadium before moving to the SoFi Stadium three years later. The SoFi Stadium also houses fellow NFL giants, the Los Angeles Rams.

What Happened to Qualcomm Stadium?

A few months after purchasing the iconic stadium, SDSU decided to demolish the venue, with the project completed by March 2021. The reason behind the decision was the fact that they felt Qualcomm Stadium was no longer financially viable for college football.

Following the demolition, the 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium was built and opened in 2022, hosting SDSU Aztecs football as well as teams like San Diego FC and San Diego Wave FC.

The $3.5 Billion Multi-Phase Redevelopment

With the Snapdragon Stadium only occupying a small part of the land that housed Qualcomm Stadium, the surrounding areas are now being further redeveloped.

It has been reported that the entire project is set to cost around $3.5 billion, with a 34-acre park already in place and opened in 2023. The park, which was built on land that was previously used as a parking lot, is now filled with native vegetation, basins to filter stormwater, and playgrounds for family use.

It is believed that, according to SDSU data, more than 400,000 people visited the park in 2025, with the next phase of the project swinging into action.

The project, titled ‘AvalonBay Communities Mission Valley’, includes plans to build more than 600 apartments as well as 30,000 square metres of retail space, which will contain a grocery store.

More than 100 units of affordable housing are set to be available for residents in early 2028, and they are expected to remain income-restricted for 55 years, with 20 units available for people who suffer from intellectual or developmental difficulties.

This summer, it was announced that there is a proposal to build a senior living community for around 250 residents, with the state of California also investing $3.95 million to build a National Security Hub. It is expected that once the project is completed, it will bring in an annual income of around $3 billion to the region.