Pechanga Arena San Diego has been the city’s big indoor room for metal for decades. Opened in 1966 as the San Diego International Sports Arena, it is where Metallica filmed their January 1992 shows for Live Shit: Binge & Purge, and where Slayer launched their final world tour in May 2018 alongside Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth and Testament.
Arena-level metal tours still route through the Midway District building, which seats about 14,500 for basketball and 16,100 for boxing. Over the years it’s gone by San Diego Sports Arena, iPayOne Center and Valley View Casino Center. The Midway Rising redevelopment plans call for replacing it with a new 16,000-seat arena, so the old building’s metal history is worth remembering while it’s still standing.
Venue Info
- Address: 3500 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110
- Phone: (619) 224-4171
- Neighborhood: Midway District
- Capacity: 14,500 (basketball) / 16,100 (boxing)
- Former names: San Diego International Sports Arena, San Diego Sports Arena, iPayOne Center, Valley View Casino Center
