The San Diego Legion set a franchise attendance record this spring and summer, drawing an average of 12,085 fans to their sparkling home at Snapdragon Stadium.

But the Legion announced Tuesday that they will leave the two-year-old facility for Torero Stadium on campus at USD. The reason: The Major League Rugby club says it wants to play more weekend home matches, a feat that couldn’t be accomplished at the increasingly busy Snapdragon Stadium. The Mission Valley park is home to San Diego State’s football team, San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and, soon, San Diego FC of Major League Soccer.

Torero Stadium seats 6,000 fans for football and rugby.

“We’re excited to return to Torero Stadium, where we have a strong history of success and a loyal fan base,” said David Haigh, CEO of the San Diego Legion. “We’re committed to creating the best experience for our fans in 2025, and we believe that Torero Stadium will offer the best venue for our fans and players in 2025.”

The club said it could host playoff games at Snapdragon depending on demand. The stadium’s general manager called the Legion “an incredible partner” since Snapdragon’s 2022 opening.

“While we’re sorry to see them go, we completely understand the decision to transition to a more suitably sized venue, and we fully support the team’s evolving needs,” Adam Millar said. “… We look forward to hosting SD Legion in the future at Snapdragon Stadium for various marquee and international events, as we remain committed to fostering the growth of rugby in Southern California.”

The Legion will open the 2025 season at home on Feb. 16 against the Seattle Seawolves. It’s a Sunday.

Originally Published: November 19, 2024 at 4:23 PM PST