San Diego Legion will be playing their home games at Torero Stadium next season.

The MLR club had been using Snapdragon but the arrival of Major League Soccer there next season always seemed like overbooking, with the NWSL Wave and SDSU gridiron sides also using it.

Within hours of the MLR rugby schedule being released, a schedule which cited Legion’s home games at TBC (to be confirmed), a second press release was issued announcing the rugby side’s departure from Snapdragon.

In 2024, Legion set a new Major League Rugby attendance record of 12,085 fans, surpassing their previous record of 11,423 fans in 2023.

A gushing press release described the move as a “strategic venue change” but events last week made this move more likely.

San Diego Wave’s final home match of the season against Racing was moved to Louisville at the last minute amid concerns about the state of the Snapdragon field. Ironically, the club had created the fixture as “Fan Appreciation Day’ after a torrid season which saw three coaches and losses pile up.

Conflicting press releaes from the club and the venue owners did nothing to diminish the fans’ frustration.

Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego will serve as a venue for most of the San Diego Legion’s regular season matches for 2025. However, playoff games may still be hosted at Snapdragon Stadium if the Legion make the post-season.

Here are extracts from the Legion’s press release:

The move back to Torero Stadium is driven by the Legion’s commitment to enhancing the fan experience with Saturday night games– all set within Torero Stadium’s intimate, fan-focused environment.

By hosting games at Torero stadium, fans can enjoy the convenience of Saturday game times, making it easier for families and working professionals to attend.

“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 Legion previously played its home games at Torero Stadium from its inaugural 2018 season through 2019. The team thrived in the intimate atmosphere, fostering a strong connection with the Legion’s dedicated fanbase. The decision to return to Torero Stadium comes in response to feedback from Legion fans who expressed a preference for attending Saturday events.

Snapdragon Stadium remains a pivotal partner to San Diego Legion and a premier sports destination for San Diego, with the addition of San Diego FC in Major League Soccer further boosting Snapdragon’s standing as a world-class facility.

On the playing side, the 2025 season also marks a new chapter for the Legion with the arrival of John Manenti as head coach and Alejandro Pradillo, the first ever Mexican to play in MLR.