Torero Stadium

Torero Stadium sits on the University of San Diego campus, but the ground is defined by what sits behind the stands. It is a small venue, not because of a lack of history, but because it was built for a different scale of event. The capacity is fixed at 6,000, a number set during a renovation in 2001 that prepared the pitch for the WUSA’s San Diego Spirit. Before that, it was a modest venue for local university sport.

The pitch itself is the main attraction, known as Walter J. Zable Field. It is natural grass, specifically Bandera Sports Bermuda grass, laid down after a renovation in 2012 that included an advanced drainage system. This surface has held up through several professional tenants. The San Diego Loyal SC played their USL Championship matches here, and for that season, the ground was opened up to 8,000 spectators with standing room. The permanent limit remains lower, but the field has seen crowds of 6,100 for a National Women’s Soccer League match against the Portland Thorns FC in 2022. That attendance record was set during a period when the stadium served as a temporary home for several professional teams, including the San Diego Wave FC.

It is a ground that has hosted serious finals. In 2012, it became the first West Coast Conference campus venue to host an NCAA national championship, the Women’s College Cup. The stadium has also seen NFL practice sessions, with the New England Patriots using the turf in 2014. Unlike the newer stadiums in the city, it was not selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup; those matches are scheduled for Snapdragon Stadium instead. The stadium has no former names. It has been Torero Stadium since 1961, a quiet, hillside venue that has played host to everything from college lacrosse to international friendlies.