Cox Arena

Infobox Stadium | stadium_name=Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl


location= 5500 Canyon Crest Drive
San Diego, California 92115
broke_ground=
opened=1997
owner=San Diego State University
operator=San Diego State University
Associated Students of SDSU
construction_cost=$29 million USD
architect=Carrier Johnson
tenants=San Diego State Aztecs (1997-present)
San Diego Shockwave (NIFL) (2007)
seating_capacity=Basketball: 12,414

Cox Arena, located on the San Diego State University (SDSU) campus in San Diego, California, USA, is the home of the SDSU Aztecs men's and women's basketball teams. Built in 1997, it seats 12,414 for basketball and up to 12,845 for concerts. Cox Arena also hosts SDSU's commencement ceremonies. Previously, the Aztecs played at Peterson Gymnasium also on the SDSU campus

Cox Arena was built on the site of the old Aztec Bowl football stadium (a Works Progress Administration project) on the SDSU campus, and the university (or its affiliated corporation) still owns the arena. It was named for Cox Communications, which owns the local cable television system in the greater San Diego regional area, and which paid fees to become the arena's corporate sponsor. The arena's official name is Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl.

Cox Arena hosted the men's NCAA basketball tournament first and second rounds in 2001 and 2006. In the 2006 tourney, the first-round games were delayed and the building evacuated due to a bomb-sniffing dog picking up scents of a potentially dangerous substance. These fears were unfounded, however, and play went on as scheduled. Because of its status as SDSU's home court, the Aztecs were not allowed to open the tournament at home (under "pod system" rules).

Cox Arena has also hosted WCW Bash at the Beach in 1998. In 2007, Cox Arena was the home of the San Diego Shockwave indoor football team for one season.

Cox Arena is also used as a large concert venue where major national acts perform.

ee also

* SDSU Aztecs
* San Diego State University

External links

* [http://www.cox-arena.com/ Cox Arena] - official page
* [http://goaztecs.cstv.com/facilities/sdsu-trads-cox.html Cox Arena page on goaztecs.cstv.com]