With San Diego balancing budget deficits, infrastructure backlogs and one of the largest unhoused populations in the nation, the fiscal legacy of Qualcomm Stadium serves as a cautionary tale.
Qualcomm Stadium, which was demolished in 2021, carries roughly $11.5 million in outstanding bond principal, according to the city’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget. San Diego is paying approximately $4.9 million annually on the remaining lease-revenue bonds, scheduled to be paid off in 2027.
Qualcomm Stadium, formerly known as Jack Murphy Stadium, was originally constructed in 1967 and hosted everything from three separate Super Bowls to SDSU football games. Most prominently, the San Diego Chargers called the venue home until their relocation to Los Angeles in 2017. The stadium was demolished in 2021, after the Chargers’ departure and after SDSU’s 10-year lease agreement with the city ended…