OT: Holiday Bowl moving downtown to Petco Park

[WestCoastWildcat]

Football is no longer prohibited at Petco Park

After more than four decades in Mission Valley, college football’s Holiday Bowl is officially relocating downtown to Petco Park, the city-owned and San Diego Padres-operated ballpark where fo…

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

The Holiday Bowl is moving to Petco Park which is being modified to accommodate football games for 50,000 fans. The old Qualcomm Stadium has been demolished and is being replaced with a smaller 35,000 seat stadium for the Aztecs but the new stadium was deemed too small for the Holiday Bowl so it’s moving downtown. This new location for the bowl game is adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter and near Balboa Park. I think this a good decision to move the bowl game downtown. Just don’t know what the viewing experience will be sitting in a baseball stadium. The new Aztecs football stadium was topped off recently and should be ready for the 2022 season. The new SDSU campus extension that was the Qualcomm stadium site in Mission Valley is making steady progress. SDSU and the city are making several infrastructure improvements for roads, bridges, parks and flood control as part of building the new campus extension. This extension will allow SDSU to continue to grow.

Topping-out ceremony celebrates milestone in Aztec Stadium construction

A 35-foot steel beam was hoisted into place Wednesday during a midday topping-out ceremony that celebrated a milestone for Aztec Stadium as it rises on the SDSU Mission Valley property.The beam, wh…

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

 

[kaTNap]

The Holiday Bowl is not in the B1G bowl rotation anymore anyway; it's Pac-12 vs ACC.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I had a great experience at the Holiday Bowl, but I don't think there was more than 25,000 in actual attendance. Especially after the weather turned in the first half.

 

[Sheffielder]

Never been a fan of baseball/football stadium hybrids, especially when the outline of the baseball diamond is still there...just looks low rent.

 

[Alvious]

Never been a fan of baseball/football stadium hybrids, especially when the outline of the baseball diamond is still there...just looks low rent.

So I take it you're not going to the game against Purdue?

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

The Holiday Bowl is not in the B1G bowl rotation anymore anyway; it's Pac-12 vs ACC.

It’s out of the rotation for now but I expect the BigTen will be back in the mix again at some point (I hope). I think it’s good for the BigTen to have additional exposure as a participant in another bowl game in SoCal. The new location for the bowl game in downtown San Diego at Petco Park will make it a better experience for fans coming to the game compared to Mission Valley. The proximity to the airport and trolley should make it easy for fans to get around without renting a car. Should be plenty of hotel rooms downtown and also in Mission Valley as a 2nd choice.

 

[docrugby1]

I know a football field will fit. I attended a World Rugby 7's tournament there

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

I know a football field will fit. I attended a World Rugby 7's tournament there

Yes, they’ve been playing rugby at Petco for many years. The city and the Padres are spending around $2M to further modify Petco to better accommodate football games which was designed originally only for baseball. I’m hoping to see rugby matches at Petco and at USD. I think there is a strong future for the sport - I like the nonstop action.

 

[CatManTrue]

It’s out of the rotation for now but I expect the BigTen will be back in the mix again at some point (I hope). I think it’s good for the BjgTen to have additional exposure to another bowl game in SoCal. The new location for the bowl game in downtown San Diego at Petco Park will make it a better experience for fans coming to the game compared to Mission Valley.

I also hope the Big Ten adds the Holiday bowl back to the rotation. I couldn’t go in 2018 but hope to watch the Wildcats play in it again someday. San Diego is my favorite California city.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I’m in San Diego for a conference this weekend…staying at the Omni directly across from Petco. Such a cool area…would love to see the Cats back in a Bowl Game out here some day. Very nice venue with the Gaslamp District steps away. Still can’t believe they couldn’t get a deal done with the Chargers.

 

[JoeWildcat]

I’m in San Diego for a conference this weekend…staying at the Omni directly across from Petco. Such a cool area…would love to see the Cats back in a Bowl Game out here some day. Very nice venue with the Gaslamp District steps away. Still can’t believe they couldn’t get a deal done with the Chargers.

Would love to go back to the Holiday Bowl. Really enjoyed San Diego in late December.

 

[corbi296]

I’m in San Diego for a conference this weekend…staying at the Omni directly across from Petco. Such a cool area…would love to see the Cats back in a Bowl Game out here some day. Very nice venue with the Gaslamp District steps away. Still can’t believe they couldn’t get a deal done with the Chargers.

Enjoy Coral. Have stayed at the very same Hotel. Great spot, great town. If you are looking for some excellent Italian food, try Monello in Little Italy, not far from your hotel. Everything is good. Their cheese wheel pasta dish is a novelty worth trying.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Walk Little Italy and try the fine restaurants there. Also walk down the waterfront by the cruise terminal and maritime museum which includes the Star of India. If you have time taking a bay cruise or the Coronado ferry is always fun. If you have a car you can drive over the Coronado bridge and/or go to Cabrillo Monument on Point Loma that has panoramic views of the bay, Coronado and the coast. Enjoy.

 

[corbi296]

Walk Little Italy and try the fine restaurants there. Also walk down the waterfront by the cruise terminal and maritime museum which includes the Star of India. If you have time taking a bay cruise or the Coronado ferry is always fun. If you have a car you can drive over the Coronado bridge and/or go to Cabrillo Monument on Point Loma that has panoramic views of the bay, Coronado and the coast. Enjoy.

good suggestions. I was also blown away by Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial last time I was there. Great memorial but also stunning views of the area.

 

[NUChicago]

I’m in San Diego for a conference this weekend…staying at the Omni directly across from Petco. Such a cool area…would love to see the Cats back in a Bowl Game out here some day. Very nice venue with the Gaslamp District steps away. Still can’t believe they couldn’t get a deal done with the Chargers.

We travel to SD a lot. Every time we are in Mission Beach or by UCSD and I wear NU stuff I get GO CATS.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

I’m at Cabrillo Monument now. Such a clear and pretty day you can see the Coronado Islands (Mexico) today. Also suggest visiting the Midway museum near your hotel. They have a great collection of warplanes on the carrier. The Fish Market seafood restaurant near the carrier has great views of the harbor and it’s so nice today you can sit outside and soak up the sun.

At UCSD I recommend the Birch Aquarium and walking the beach from Scripps Pier to La Jolla Shores. UCSD has an eclectic collection of outdoor art called the Stuart Collection. The Geisel Library is the iconic architectural symbol for the campus. UCSD is a nice campus to tour though there is a lot of construction going on these days. Torrey Pines State Reserve has nice hiking trails with great views. I was involved in an annual event there this week where we take high school art students to the park for hikes and they also create paintings while they are there. I’m always amazed at their artistic talents.

 

[NU Houston]

I’m at Cabrillo Monument now. Such a clear and pretty day you can see the Coronado Islands (Mexico) today. Also suggest visiting the Midway museum near your hotel. They have a great collection of warplanes on the carrier. The Fish Market seafood restaurant near the carrier has great views of the harbor and it’s so nice today you can sit outside and soak up the sun.

At UCSD I recommend the Birch Aquarium and walking the beach from Scripps Pier to La Jolla Shores. UCSD has an eclectic collection of outdoor art called the Stuart Collection. The Geisel Library is the iconic architectural symbol for the campus. UCSD is a nice campus to tour though there is a lot of construction going on these days. Torrey Pines State Reserve has nice hiking trails with great views. I was involved in an annual event there this week where we take high school art students to the park for hikes and they also create paintings while they are there. I’m always amazed at their artistic talents.

We're considering driving to SoCal during the holidays, and stopping in San Diego for a few days. I appreciate the recommendations in this thread. With four kids in tow, we'll probably get a hotel, though an Airbnb rental is also an option. I've been there only once, and we did the Zoo and SeaWorld back then.

 

[FloridAlum]

We're considering driving to SoCal during the holidays, and stopping in San Diego for a few days. I appreciate the recommendations in this thread. With four kids in tow, we'll probably get a hotel, though an Airbnb rental is also an option. I've been there only once, and we did the Zoo and SeaWorld back then.

You went to the zoo, now go to safari park, which used to be called the wild animal Park

 

[NU Houston]

You went to the zoo, now go to safari park, which used to be called the wild animal Park

Thanks! I didn't even know it existed. Expensive, but still cheaper than Disneyland.

 

[FloridAlum]

Thanks! I didn't even know it existed. Expensive, but still cheaper than Disneyland.

It is different than the zoo, I enjoyed them both very much, the animals at safari park have a lot of wide open spaces and you almost feel like you’re in Africa or somewhere. There is also a tram you can take that circles the park.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

It is different than the zoo, I enjoyed them both very much, the animals at safari park have a lot of wide open spaces and you almost feel like you’re in Africa or somewhere. There is also a tram you can take that circles the park.

I am a member of the San Diego Zoo. If you have time do both. The Zoo Safari is a larger outdoor exhibition near Escondido. It is a fair distance away from the zoo. The zoo in Balboa Park has some new exhibits that might appeal. Both places have “behind the scene” tours I can recommend though I think they are pricey now. You can easily spend a day at either site. You may be able to get some kind of pass that will let you into both places at a discount. I don’t think you can go wrong visiting either place if you can only have time for one. Just factor in the driving time to the Zoo Safari if you are staying downtown or Mission Valley.

If you go to Balboa Park there are a lot of other places to enjoy as well. I highly recommend The Prado for dining in the heart of the park. I also recommend walking thru the Japanese Gardens. It’s quite a lovely restful spot. Let me know if I can make other suggestions.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Enjoy Coral. Have stayed at the very same Hotel. Great spot, great town. If you are looking for some excellent Italian food, try Monello in Little Italy, not far from your hotel. Everything is good. Their cheese wheel pasta dish is a novelty worth trying.

Made it to Monello on Sunday evening. The osso bucco was excellent. Thanks for the recommendation @corbi296

 

[corbi296]

Made it to Monello on Sunday evening. The osso bucco was excellent. Thanks for the recommendation @corbi296

Good choice. Another one of my favorite dishes.