SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — One of the most recognized aspects of SDCCU Stadium may have been removed, but it will find a new home at San Diego State's forthcoming Aztec Stadium.
The large 45 foot-by-150 foot mural on the back of the stadium's scoreboard was untouched despite four different stadium names and teams leaving. But as the crews continue to slowly demolish the 53-year-old stadium, passerby's will notice the mural is no longer there.
Despite some fans hoping to take home a piece of the art, similar to how mementos of the stadium were auctioned off, the mural isn't being sold.
According to SDSU, the university considered a variety of factors to evaluate whether the artwork could be saved but in the end, it was too expensive.
Instead, SDSU says it has documented the mural using high-resolution photography and video to archive the images in the university's archives and will use those images for a public exhibit that will live within Aztec Stadium, saying in part:
"In two decades of conserving public art, the university has been able to identify key factors that determine whether a mural can be saved as is, including size, condition, type of substrate, type of paint, and other criteria that ensure the integrity of the art. These factors determine the total cost of a mural restoration project.
The stadium mural, due to its size, condition, and substrate is cost prohibitive to save. When a mural cannot be preserved, SDSU has developed protocol to record it in detail and display it elsewhere. SDSU has already documented the mural through high-resolution photography and video taken from a flat angle to eliminate distortion. These files will be archived in Special Collections and University Archives at the SDSU Library. In addition, images of the mural are being used in a public exhibit within the new Aztec Stadium."
Named "The Fan Game," the mural was created by Mario Uribe in 1989-1990 and featured 13 panels depicting various scenes of fans cheering in the stands. The mural was designed to pay, "homage to sports fans and is a celebration of the festive community spirit found in the stands," according to the city's Commission for Arts and Culture.
Aztec Stadium is slated to open for its first games in 2022.
