San Pablo Arena

Sunday is usually a day for an outing. In San Pablo in the Spring of 1928, many went to see the bull fights at the new arena built and dedicated in April 1928. The arena was located on Road 17 (Brookside Drive) in San Pablo situated between the two railroad tracks of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe. Today, a wood product manufacturing business is here in the area of 850 Brookside Drive.

The world of bullfighting in California is shadowy and mysterious, half hidden from public view. In the U.S. bloodless bullfighting has a curious history. Although bullfighting has been illegal in the United States since 1957, there was an exception made for the bloodless Portuguese style, if they were part of religious celebrations.

José Avila, the editor of 'The Portuguese Tribune' and a well-known expert in the field, in a contributing article, "Bullfighting in California—A Brief History," explains in a summary, the details and uncertainties of the 'Festa Brava' (bull fighting) in the state of California. There are two distinct periods regarding the history of bullfighting (Festa Brava) in California - before and after 1974. According to old articles, in 1926 there were already four bullrings (known as 'praças de toiros') in California--San Pablo, Tracy, Tulare and Los Baños, all owned and operated by the Portuguese. — The history of the Portuguese in California as a integral part of the history of the state. Focuses on the extent, the evolution, and the significance of the involvement of the Portuguese in California agriculture over the past 150 years. A portion of his article can be seen here: https://www-portuguesetribune-com.translate.goog/articles/mayonediaseafestabrava/?_x_tr_sl=pt&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc&fbclid=IwAR3wtPfu8h6HxPkUHVCeWTNcX1qf9vv8sLSPXz6yRr-WMqIS80neHCbRD8s

There were fourteen praças de toiros (bullrings) in California. Of these, only three are not located in California's Central Valley—San José (1,200 seats), Morgan Hill's rancho Grande Bullring (2,000 seats), and Artesia (1,200 seats). The other bullrings are: Orland (1,500 seats), Escalon's Campo Bravo Bullring (1,200 seats), Thornton's Sao Joao Bullring (3,000 seats), Elk Grove (1,500 seats), Tracy's Campo Pequeno Bullring (1,200 seats), Crows Landing/Turlock's Pico dos Padres Bullring (2,500 seats), Gustine's Bella Vista Park Bulling (4,000 seats), Stevinson's Santo Antão Bullring (3,000 seats), Madera's Espirito Santo Bullring (3,000 seats) Laton (1,500 seats) , and Tulare (2,000 seats). 

Included here are several articles written about this controversial bull ring in San Pablo.