Tickets
Guest Tickets
Guest admission at Viejas Arena will be available through mobile ticketing. Candidates who graduated in fall 2024 or applied for spring/summer 2025 graduation by the February 3, 2025 filing deadline may claim guest admission tickets. Graduates will claim their initial allotment of guest tickets online, free of charge. SDSU does not authorize the sale of complimentary tickets.
All guests ages 1 and older must have tickets to attend commencement. Babies under 12 months may attend without a ticket but must sit on an adult's lap. Strollers are not permitted in the arena during commencement. Baby car seats are allowed but must be placed in a ticketed seat. Graduates and guests are encouraged to read through the Viejas Arena A-Z Guide for venue-related questions.
Most ceremonies will feature RESERVED SEATING, with guests assigned specific seats. Other ceremonies will offer GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING, allowing guests to choose any available seat.
Viejas Arena Seating
Viejas Arena is a top-loading venue. There is no bottom- or mid-level guest entry into the arena. When guests enter the arena, they will be at the TOP of every section. Stairs with handrails are available in each section that guests can use to access their seats. There are three types of guest seating in Viejas Arena:
Seats with Back Supports and Armrests (Rows 6-29)
- Available in every section of the arena
- Comfortable seating with back supports and armrests
- Width of each seat may vary from 18 to 20 inches wide
Bleacher-Style Bench Seats (Rows 30-35)
- Available in every section of the arena
- No back supports or armrests
- Width of each “seat” may vary from 18 to 20 inches wide
ADA Mobility and Wheelchair-Accessible Seating (Row 36)
- Available at the TOP of every section of the arena
- Stairs are NOT NEEDED to access this row
- Designed for guests who use mobility devices (wheelchairs, scooters, crutches, etc.)
- Ideal for guests who cannot walk up and down a lot of stairs
- One companion may sit with a guest requiring accessible seating
Graduates and guests can contact the Viejas Arena Ticket Office at [email protected] with additional questions regarding commencement guest tickets.
Graduates must have an active GoAztecs account with their SDSU.edu email to claim guest tickets online. Those who previously claimed Aztec football or basketball tickets can use their existing account. Graduates should confirm they either have an account already set up with their SDSU.edu email or create a new GoAztecs account prior to March 17.
GUEST TICKET DISTRIBUTION
On Monday, March 10, graduates will receive an email with a link to the GoAztecs site to claim guest tickets. Tickets can be claimed starting Tuesday, March 18 to Thursday, March 20, based on each college’s designated day and time (details below).
Guest ticket allotments vary by college and are determined by the number of graduates, Viejas Arena seating capacity, and State Fire Marshal safety guidelines. Seating details and allotments are listed below.
The deadline to claim guest tickets is Monday, April 28 at 4 p.m.
| COLLEGE | CEREMONY DATE / TIME | TICKET ALLOTMENT/SEATING STYLE | GUEST TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE TO CLAIM |
|
SCIENCES |
MAY 16, 8:00 a.m. | 7 / RESERVED SEATING | MARCH 18, 11:00 a.m. |
|
ARTS & LETTERS |
MAY 16, 1:00 p.m.. |
8 / RESERVED SEATING |
MARCH 18, 1:00 p.m. |
|
EDUCATION & UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES (IS3D) |
MAY 16, 5:00 p.m. | 8 / GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING | MARCH 18, 3:00 p.m. |
|
FOWLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS |
MAY 17, 8:00 a.m. | 4 / RESERVED SEATING | MARCH 19, 11:00 a.m. |
|
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES |
MAY 17, 1:00 p.m. | 8 / RESERVED SEATING | MARCH 19, 1:00 p.m. |
|
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES & FINE ARTS |
MAY 17, 5:00 p.m. | 6 / RESERVED SEATING | MARCH 19, 3:00 p.m. |
|
GRADUATE STUDIES 1
|
MAY 18, 8:00 a.m. | 8 / RESERVED SEATING | MARCH 20, 11:00 a.m. |
|
GRADUATE STUDIES 2
|
MAY 18, 1:00 p.m. | 8 / RESERVED SEATING | MARCH 20, 1:00 p.m. |
|
ENGINEERING |
MAY 18, 5:00 p.m. | 8 / GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING | MARCH 20, 3:00 p.m. |
Additional Guest Ticket Distribution
As part of the ticket distribution process, all graduates must have the opportunity to claim their initial allotment of tickets. This process is underway, and the deadline for graduates to claim their initial ticket allotment is Monday, April 28.
Additional guest tickets are not guaranteed but may be available after the initial distribution. In mid-April, the university will assess the number of remaining tickets and compare that with the number of graduates who have yet to claim theirs. Once this review is complete, the university will notify graduates via email if there is an opportunity to claim additional tickets. Please note, in previous years, only a maximum of two additional tickets have been made available.
Starting Monday, May 5, each college will have a designated date and time when additional tickets are available to claim. These numbers are determined by the total number of graduates registered for the ceremony and the maximum seating capacity at Viejas Arena and cannot be adjusted. The additional guest ticket allotment will be updated here in late April.
If the graduate is attending a ceremony with reserved guest seating, additional guest tickets are not guaranteed to be together or near the originally claimed tickets. In some cases, only scattered single seats may be available. For ceremonies with general admission, seating is mostly first-come, first-served.
One option for graduates who need extra tickets is to connect with other graduates within their college who may have unused tickets. Graduates can transfer any extra tickets they do not need to other graduates.
All commencement guest tickets are complimentary. The university and Viejas Arena do not authorize the sale of complimentary tickets.
On commencement day, guests can check the Viejas Arena Ticket Office for any available additional tickets. Availability is not guaranteed.
Accessing Guest Tickets
Graduates can transfer guest tickets starting Monday, May 5 at 11 a.m., either individually or collectively, to one guest. Guests must create a GoAztecs account to access transferred tickets, or graduates can share their GoAztecs login so guests can bypass account creation.
Once guests receive their tickets, they should upload them to their smartphone wallet. To avoid delays, graduates should encourage guests to save tickets to their wallets before arriving at the venue, as Wi-Fi may be unreliable during commencement. Mobile tickets saved to a wallet do not require Wi-Fi for entry.
Screenshots and printed mobile tickets are not accepted for entry. Guests using them will be directed to the Viejas Arena Ticket Office and may experience delays entering the venue.
Please review these step-by-step instructions on transferring and accepting guest tickets:
Graduates and guests can contact the Viejas Arena Ticket Office at [email protected] with questions regarding guest tickets.