San Diego's historic Starlight Bowl gets a second chance

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Over the past decade or so, the historic Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park has been abandoned and neglected. It’s also been robbed, vandalized and taken over by the homeless.

But after all this time, San Diego's first outdoor amphitheater may be looking at another curtain call after all.

"I think bringing it back to life is absolutely essential. Having this on the campus of Balboa Park, it's not negotiable. It has to be," said Sparks Moeller, Save Starlight Bowl.

The Starlight Bowl has a history like no other going back almost 100-years in Balboa Park.

In 1935, the Ford Motor Company built the original band shell as part of the California/Pacific exposition. At that time, it was called the Ford Bowl. It was later changed to Starlight, and became a magnet for the biggest names in music.

"This venue was built in the 1930s, and all types of big bands, everyone from the Beatles, Stones, Almond Brothers, Bob Dylan, so much history here. And I am so proud that this organization has been fighting to bring this back," said Vince Puma, Save Starlight Bowl.

Up until 2012, the Starlight Bowl was still creating original theater and hosting musical venues. That was the year things fell apart. Fast forward to 2024, and the nonprofit Save Starlight Bowl is working with the city to bring back the magic.

As the oldest outdoor theater in San Diego, almost everyone has a concert or a show that they remember.

If save Starlight gets the contract on November 14, the new executive director already has a concert lined up that will being those memories rushing back.

"We are pre-registering people to buy tickets at savestarlight.org. We're going to do Stones, Beatles, Grateful Dead. All the bands that played here, we're going to do a professional tribute band and teach people about the impact of the bands to society, to San Diego," Puma continued.