{"id":534,"date":"2025-04-24T12:24:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T19:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/?page_id=534"},"modified":"2025-04-24T12:24:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T19:24:42","slug":"a-building-boom-in-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/","title":{"rendered":"A Building Boom in San Diego"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 1960s San Diego was trying to shed its sleepy-town reputation. Skyscrapers were going up downtown, growth was encouraged. By the end of the decade, the city hosted three major league sports teams: the Chargers, the Padres, and the Rockets. The Chargers were the first to arrive, in 1961, transferring from Los Angeles after the inaugural season of the American Football League. As part of the deal the city made with Chargers&#8217; owner Barron Hilton, various changes were made to Balboa Stadium &#8211; improved locker rooms, expanded parking lot, and especially the addition of a second deck to the stadium to increase the capacity to 34,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move was announced in January of 1961; bids went out in April; construction was underway in June, and by September the stadium was ready. It was a different era &#8211; things happened fast. Here&#8217;s a slideshow of some photos of the work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-506\" data-id=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-05.jpg\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Making the footings for the upper deck supports<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-507\" data-id=\"507\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-04-1.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-512\" data-id=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6102-03.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"921\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-504\" data-id=\"504\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-01-1024x921.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-01-1024x921.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-01-300x270.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-01-768x691.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-01-1536x1381.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-01-2048x1841.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-500\" data-id=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6102-01.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-513\" data-id=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6103-07-1.jpg\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Supports for the upper deck are in place<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The upper deck was still under construction when the Chargers started playing preseason games. Here is a screengrab from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kvgnv7xJidY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wide World of Sports segment<\/a> of the game against the Dallas Texans, played September 3rd, where you can see the incomplete upper deck:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/balboaIncomplete-1024x701.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/balboaIncomplete-1024x701.png 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/balboaIncomplete-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/balboaIncomplete-768x526.png 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/balboaIncomplete.png 1384w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two weeks later, on September 17th, the upper deck was complete and the Chargers opened the regular season with a 44-0 win over the Oakland Raiders. Here&#8217;s an aerial view of the completed stadium, from the San Diego Union the next day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"962\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/San_Diego_Union_1961-09-18_26_crop.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/San_Diego_Union_1961-09-18_26_crop.png 962w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/San_Diego_Union_1961-09-18_26_crop-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/San_Diego_Union_1961-09-18_26_crop-768x441.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 962px) 100vw, 962px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hard to imagine that they filled in those gaps in the upper deck in just two weeks. But, as the song says, &#8220;those were different times&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of the implied deal to get the Chargers to move to San Diego was that the city would construct a modern stadium for them to play in. In November of 1965, the voters of San Diego passed a $27,000,000 bond ($274,000,000 in 2025 dollars). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some photos from a gathering of boosters for the new stadium:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-542\" data-id=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6503-09.jpg\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Barron Hilton and Sid Gilman (middle two)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1007\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-541\" data-id=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6504-12-1007x1024.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6504-12-1007x1024.jpg 1007w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6504-12-295x300.jpg 295w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6504-12-768x781.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6504-12-1510x1536.jpg 1510w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1007px) 100vw, 1007px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-543\" data-id=\"543\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6503-11.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-544\" data-id=\"544\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6504-01.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some photos of the groundbreaking ceremony, held just a month after the referendum passed (December 18th, 1965):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"693\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-520\" data-id=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6506-05-1024x693.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6506-05-1024x693.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6506-05-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6506-05-768x520.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6506-05-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6506-05-2048x1386.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-524\" data-id=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6507-02.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"826\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-516\" data-id=\"516\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-01-1024x826.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-01-1024x826.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-01-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-01-768x620.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-01-1536x1239.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Barron Hilton, owner of the Chargers<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"855\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-519\" data-id=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-08-1024x855.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-08-1024x855.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-08-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-08-768x642.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">San Diego mayor Frank Curren<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"822\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-518\" data-id=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-06-1024x822.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-06-1024x822.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-06-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-06-768x616.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-06-1536x1233.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-06-2048x1644.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Hilton and Al Harutunian (chairman of the Stadium Advisory Committee) set off the ceremonial explosion<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-517\" data-id=\"517\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6505-04.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, some photos are various phases of construction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-526\" data-id=\"526\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-07-1024x1024.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-07-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-07-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-07-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-07-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-07-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-07-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-525\" data-id=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-03.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1021\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-527\" data-id=\"527\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-11-1024x1021.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-11-1024x1021.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-11-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-11-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-11-768x766.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6604-11-1536x1532.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"885\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-528\" data-id=\"528\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-03-1024x885.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-03-1024x885.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-03-300x259.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-03-768x664.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-03-1536x1327.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1022\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-529\" data-id=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-12-1022x1024.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-12-1022x1024.jpg 1022w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-12-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-12-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-12-768x770.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6607-12-1532x1536.jpg 1532w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1924\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-532\" data-id=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6701-02-scaled.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6701-02-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6701-02-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-533\" data-id=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6701-03.jpg\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stadium opened on August 20, 1967, with the Chargers hosting the Detroit Lions in a preseason game. The Padres moved in in 1969. The Padres left for Petco Park in 2004; the Chargers left for Los Angeles in 2017. The stadium was demolished in December of 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the 1960s San Diego was trying to shed its sleepy-town reputation. Skyscrapers were going up downtown, growth was encouraged. By the end of the decade, the city hosted three major league sports teams: the Chargers, the Padres, and the Rockets. The Chargers were the first to arrive, in 1961, transferring from Los Angeles after [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-534","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Building Boom in San Diego - A Slice of AFL History<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Building Boom in San Diego - A Slice of AFL History\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the 1960s San Diego was trying to shed its sleepy-town reputation. Skyscrapers were going up downtown, growth was encouraged. By the end of the decade, the city hosted three major league sports teams: the Chargers, the Padres, and the Rockets. The Chargers were the first to arrive, in 1961, transferring from Los Angeles after [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Slice of AFL History\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-05.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/\",\"name\":\"A Building Boom in San Diego - A Slice of AFL History\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/6101-05.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-24T19:24:42+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/6101-05.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/6101-05.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Making the footings for the upper deck supports\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A Building Boom in San Diego\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/\",\"name\":\"A Slice of AFL History\",\"description\":\"A random collection of articles about the American Football League (1960-1969)\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ebydurbin.net\\\/aflhistory\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Building Boom in San Diego - A Slice of AFL History","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Building Boom in San Diego - A Slice of AFL History","og_description":"In the 1960s San Diego was trying to shed its sleepy-town reputation. Skyscrapers were going up downtown, growth was encouraged. By the end of the decade, the city hosted three major league sports teams: the Chargers, the Padres, and the Rockets. The Chargers were the first to arrive, in 1961, transferring from Los Angeles after [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/","og_site_name":"A Slice of AFL History","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-05.jpg","width":1,"height":1,"type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/","url":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/","name":"A Building Boom in San Diego - A Slice of AFL History","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-05.jpg","datePublished":"2025-04-24T19:24:42+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-05.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6101-05.jpg","caption":"Making the footings for the upper deck supports"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/a-building-boom-in-san-diego\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A Building Boom in San Diego"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/","name":"A Slice of AFL History","description":"A random collection of articles about the American Football League (1960-1969)","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=534"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":546,"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/534\/revisions\/546"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebydurbin.net\/aflhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}