COLISEUM COMMISSION
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena is one of the most historic sports monuments in America today. The two buildings have operated in tandem since 1959, but the storied history of the complex dates back to the early 20th Century.
LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM COMMISSION
The Coliseum and Sports Arena are under the authority of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, which was formed under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act on September 25, 1945. Although this governing body is comprised of representatives from the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles and the State of California, no taxpayer funds are used to support the facilities. The complex is supported solely by revenue generated from these two facilities.
For a list of the officials comprising the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, click here
Correspondence to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission can be sent to:
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission
3911 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90037
Ph: 213/747-7111
info@lacoliseum.com
HISTORY
THE COLISEUM
The Coliseum opened its doors to Los Angeles in June of 1923. Some 5 months later, on October 6,1923, the first football game was played in the stadium, with the University of Southern California hosting Pomona College before a crowd of 12,836, with the Trojans prevailing, 23-7. It was a modest beginning for a venue that would later play a very prominent role in college and professional football.
The Coliseum has served as the home field for the University of Southern California Trojans since 1923. Additionally, countless historic events have taken place inside these venerable walls during nine decades of celebrated history. It is the only facility in the world to play host to two Olympiads (X and XXIII), two Super Bowls (I and VII) and one World Series (1959).
Along with the adjacent Sports Arena, the Coliseum is credited with helping to start the migration of professional sports teams to the West Coast. The complex provided a home for the Rams (from Cleveland, 1946-79 NFL), the Dodgers (from Brooklyn, 1958-61, MLB), and the Lakers (from Minneapolis, 1960-67, NBA), and has also been home to a variety of Southern California teams as wellthe Raiders (from Oakland, 1982-94, NFL), UCLA Football (1933-81) and was the expansion home of the Chargers (1960, NFL) the Clippers (from San Diego, 1984-99, NBA), USC Basketball (1959-2006, NCAA), UCLA Basketball (1959-65, NCAA), the Cobras (1988, Arena Football), the Ice Dogs (1995-96, IHL), the Sharks (1972-74, WHA), the Stars (1968-70, ABA) and Kings (1967, NHL).
In 1984, the State of California and the United States Government declared the Coliseum a State and Federal Historical Landmark for its contribution to the history of California, as well as to that of the United States as a whole.
On March 29, 2008, the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox in front of a crowd of 115,300, setting a Guiness World Record for largest attendance ever at a baseball game. Other historic events include Billy Graham's appearance in 1963 in front of 134,254 (still an all-time Coliseum record), Nelson Mandela's triumphant return to the United States, the first ever Papal Mass by Pope John Paul II in 1987 and the 1976 Bicentennial Spectacular,
The Coliseum has also hosted decades of memorable concerts, including a record five sold out nights of Bruce Springsteen in 1985 (total attendance, 322,986) four sold out nights for the Rolling Stones, U2, Metallica, The Who, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Kid Rock and more. It is also the site of the Electric Daisy Carnival - an electronic music festival that on June 28, 2008 drew more than 60,000 people to the Coliseum.
A new mark for the highest paid attendance (63,101) for a Latin music concert in the United States was set on March 18, 2006, as RBD took the Coliseum stage.
Known also for its place in International Soccer Competition, the Coliseum has been the site of many memorable matches. The all-time Coliseum (as well as National) attendance record for a soccer match was set on August 6, 2006, as 92,650 fans turned out to see a double-header featuring Chivas vs. Barcelona and Chivas USA vs. the New England Revolution. The crowd eclipsed the previous mark of 91,585, set in 1999 as Mexico took on Argentina.
RECENT IMPROVEMENTS
Prior to the 2008 USC Football Season, the Coliseum underwent a series of several substantial renovations. A new, state of the art, full color LED videoboard was installed in place of the existing display. Manufactured by Optec and featuring outstanding 16mm resolution, the new video board can display in High Definition, and offers vastly improved clarity and brightness, offering a clear, realistic picture even when in direct sunlight. At the west end of the Coliseum, another LED videoboard, measuring 45' x 5', has replaced the previous scoreboard structure, allowing for larger graphics, and the ability to carry a video feed.
A brand new sound system was also installed at the same time. For this, the Coliseum enlisted Meyer Sound, of Northern California, the company entrusted with providiing sound equipment for the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, to create a new system from scratch. The results mark the first permanent installation of Meyer's state of the art SB-3 Technology. Originally developed for the military, the SB-3 system was created for use on aircraft carriers, where weather variables necessitate the efficient and highly targeted delivery of audio signals.
Additionally, new seating sections were added at the north and southeast corners of the facility, bringing the total capacity to 93,607 for football games.
The Coliseum Memorial Court of Honor
The Court of Honor, located at the Peristyle end of the Coliseum, comprised of 54 commemorative plaques at present, got a thorough refurbishment as well. Chronicling outstanding persons or events, athletic or otherwise, that have had a definite impact upon the history, glory and growth of the Coliseum, the plaques were restored to their former glory.
To see a complete list of all those individuals and events commemorated, click here
THE SPORTS ARENA
The Los Angeles Sports Arena opened its doors to the public in July of 1959, hosting a bantamweight boxing title match between Jose Becerra and Alphonse Halimi.
Featuring a capacity of over 15,000, the Sports Arena plays host to a variety of events throughout the year, including mainstream and Hispanic concerts, religious events, and frequent other cultural and musical events. It is also the site of frequent commercial and feature film shoots.
Among the many notable events that have taken place at the Sports Arena are the boxing competition for the XXIIIrd Olympiad, two NCAA Basketball Champions (men in 1968, women in 1992), numerous NBA Championship series, an NBA All-Star Game (1963); the 1960 Democratic National Convention where John F. Kennedy was nominated for President.
Major events at the Sports Arena have included Bruce Springsteen's most two most recent, sold out Los Angeles performances (October 29th and 30th), as well as annual Halloween and New Year's Eve Celebrations and electronic music festivals. The Sports Arena is also the site of frequent Naturalization Ceremonies, where immigrants make their way to the floor of the Arena to take the Oath of Citizenship.