SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: Fans arrive for a Grupo Firme performance at Pechanga Arena on August 14, 2021 in San Diego, California. Due to the industry shut down caused by coronavirus, this is the first event at Pechanga Arena since March 9, 2020 when Tame Impala performed. (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)
San Diego, California – One of San Diego’s most recognizable sports and entertainment landmarks isn’t changing names anytime soon. Pechanga Arena San Diego announced Wednesday that it will keep its current name through at least December 2026, extending its naming rights deal with Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula.
The updated agreement cements Pechanga Resort Casino as the longest-running naming rights partner in the arena’s nearly 60-year history. Initially opened in 1966 as the San Diego International Sports Arena, the venue has seen a carousel of names over the decades—from the iPayOne Center to Valley View Casino Center—before settling on Pechanga Arena in late 2018.
The name may have shifted over the years, but the arena’s role in San Diego’s cultural and sports identity has remained constant. Today, it serves as home turf for the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League and the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League. Beyond sports, it remains a reliable venue for major concerts, family events, and touring entertainment.
In 2024 alone, the arena was ranked 18th in the world for mid-size venues (10,001–15,000 capacity), with gross sales topping $29.1 million and more than 277,000 tickets sold, according to Billboard. That puts it in elite company globally—proof that San Diegans still pack the place for live events, whether it’s a playoff hockey game or a sold-out concert.
Since August 2024, the arena has been under the leasehold of Midway Rising, a redevelopment group working with the City of San Diego on plans for the site. While long-term redevelopment efforts are still unfolding, the extension of the Pechanga naming deal signals continuity and stability as the arena continues to serve as the city’s largest indoor venue.
For locals, the arena has always been more than just a building. It’s where families gather for Disney on Ice, where generations have screamed through rock shows, and where a homegrown hockey team fights for pride on the ice. As it nears its 60th anniversary, Pechanga Arena remains a fixture of San Diego’s sports and entertainment scene—and now, its name is sticking around a little longer too.
