Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum facts for kids
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The Coliseum
L.A. Coliseum The Grand Old Lady |
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Logo since 2022, first revealed
as the stadium's 100th anniversary (2023). |
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The stadium during a USC and University of Oregon football game, November 2019
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 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Location in California
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Location in the United States
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| Address | 3911 South Figueroa Street |
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| Location | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°0′51″N 118°17′16″W / 34.01417°N 118.28778°W |
| Public transit |   Expo Park/USCExpo/Vermont |
| Owner | State of California, Los Angeles County, and City of Los Angeles |
| Operator | University of Southern California |
| Executive suites | 42 |
| Capacity | 77,500 93,607 (pre-2018) |
| Surface | Bermuda grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 21, 1921 |
| Opened | May 1, 1923 |
| Renovated | 1930, 1964, 1977–78, 1983, 1993, 1995, 2011, 2017–2019 |
| Construction cost | US$954,872.98 (original)($16.4 million in 2022 dollars ) $954,869 (renovations in 2010) ($1.28 million in 2022 dollars ) $315 million (renovations in 2018) |
| Architect | John and Donald Parkinson (original) DLR Group (renovations) |
| General contractor | Edwards, Widley & Dixon Company (original) Hunt & Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company (renovations) |
| Tenants | |
Former List
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Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
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The Peristyle plaza entrance to the Coliseum, including the two bronze Olympic statues, December 2022
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| Area | 29.2 acres (11.8 ha) |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003866 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1984 |
| Designated NHL | July 27, 1984 |
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a famous stadium in Los Angeles, California. It's known for hosting many big events. The Coliseum was built in 1923 to honor veterans of World War I. It is the only stadium in the world to host the Summer Olympics three times. It hosted the Olympics in 1932, 1984, and will again in 2028.
The stadium is a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important place in American history. Today, it is the home field for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans football team. The Coliseum is right next to the USC campus.
The State of California, Los Angeles County, and the City of Los Angeles own the Coliseum together. The University of Southern California manages and runs the stadium.
In 2018, United Airlines became the sponsor for the playing field. It is now called United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Coliseum has been home to many sports teams. These include the Los Angeles Rams (NFL), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), and Los Angeles Raiders (NFL). It also hosted the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967.
In 2019, USC finished a big renovation of the stadium. This project cost $315 million and updated many parts of the stadium. The seating capacity was changed from 92,348 to 77,500.
Contents
How the Coliseum Works
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission helps oversee the stadium. This group makes sure USC manages the Coliseum well. USC is in charge of running the stadium every day. They also manage the nearby BMO Stadium.
Since 2013, USC has been responsible for the Coliseum's long-term care. This includes making sure the stadium stays in good shape. USC also pays rent to the State of California for the land.
USC's Home Field
The Coliseum is mainly the home of the USC Trojans football team. Many games, especially against rivals like UCLA and Notre Dame, fill the stadium. The Coliseum can hold 77,500 fans. It also has special suites and club seats.
USC's women's lacrosse and soccer teams sometimes play important games here. The university also rents out the Coliseum for other events. These include international soccer matches and big music concerts.
In 2021, USC held its graduation ceremonies at the Coliseum. This was because of health rules from the previous year. It was the first time in 70 years that USC graduations happened at the stadium. Starting in 2025, USC will regularly hold its main graduation ceremony at the Coliseum. This is because their campus venues are now too small for all the guests.
Coliseum History
Building the Stadium
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The Coliseum was planned in 1921 to honor World War I veterans. Construction started on December 21, 1921. It was finished very quickly, in just over 16 months, opening on May 1, 1923. John and Donald Parkinson designed the stadium. It cost about $954,873 to build.
When it first opened, the Coliseum could hold 75,144 people. In 1930, before the 1932 Olympics, it was made even bigger. The stadium grew to 79 rows of seats, holding 101,574 fans. The famous Olympic torch was added then. The stadium was even called Olympic Stadium for a short time. The torch still stands at the east end of the stadium.
New large video screens were added in 2017. These replaced older scoreboards. The "Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum" letters and Olympic rings were added to the east side in the 1950s. The "Court of Honor" plaques at the east end remember important events and people.
Stadium Upgrades and Changes
For many years, the Coliseum could seat over 100,000 people. In 1964, it had its first big renovation in over 30 years. Most of the old wooden seats were replaced with new, individual chairs. This reduced the seating capacity to about 93,000.
The Coliseum was sometimes difficult for NFL teams. Its large size meant games were often not sold out. This could lead to local TV blackouts.
More changes happened between 1977 and 1978. A larger grandstand was built, and the capacity became 71,500. For the 1984 Olympics, a new track was installed. The football field was permanently placed inside it.
In 1993, the Coliseum had a $15 million renovation. The field was lowered by 11 feet, and new seats were added closer to the action. Locker rooms and restrooms were also updated. These changes aimed to make the stadium better for football.
New Video Screens
In 2011, a new large HD video scoreboard was built on the west end. It joined the existing screen on the east end. This new screen was first used on September 3, 2011, for a USC football game.
2018–2019 Renovation Project
After USC took over the stadium lease in 2013, they planned major renovations. In 2015, USC announced a $270 million project. The upgrades included replacing all seats and building a modern press box. New aisles, wider seats, and a new sound system were also part of the plan. The famous peristyle area was restored and renamed. The stadium also got Wi-Fi, new concession stands, and updated lighting.
This project reduced the stadium's capacity to about 78,500 seats. Construction began on January 8, 2018. USC funded the entire $315 million project. It was finished by the 2019 football season. This was the first major upgrade in 20 years.
Naming the Field
In 2018, United Airlines became the first company to buy naming rights for the stadium. There were some concerns about changing the historic "Memorial Coliseum" name. Veterans groups and the Coliseum Commission raised questions.
In 2019, USC suggested the name "United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum." Both sides agreed to this name. However, during Los Angeles Rams home games in 2019, the field signage was covered. This was because the Rams had a different sponsor.
Famous Events at the Coliseum
Early Years: 1920s–1940s
The first game at the Coliseum was on October 6, 1923. The USC Trojans beat Pomona 23–7. USC has played all its home games here since then.
From 1928 to 1981, the UCLA Bruins also played home games at the Coliseum. When USC and UCLA played each other, they would switch sides of the stadium. UCLA moved to the Rose Bowl in 1982.
In 1932, the Coliseum hosted the 1932 Summer Olympics. It was the main site for track and field, gymnastics, and the opening and closing ceremonies. These games were the first to have an Olympic Village for athletes.
The Los Angeles Rams football team moved to the Coliseum in 1946. They played there until 1979, and then returned from 2016 to 2019. The Coliseum also hosted college track and field championships many times.
Mid-Century: 1950s–1960s
The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team played at the Coliseum from 1958 to 1961. This was while their new stadium was being built. The Coliseum was not ideal for baseball because of its shape. The left-field fence was very close to home plate, only 251 feet away. To fix this, a 42-foot high screen was put up in left field.
Despite the odd shape, the Coliseum could hold huge crowds for baseball. The 1959 World Series games here drew over 90,000 fans each. A 1959 exhibition game honoring Roy Campanella had 93,103 people. This was a record for a baseball game in the Western Hemisphere for many years.
In 1960, John F. Kennedy gave his famous "New Frontier" speech at the Coliseum. This was during the 1960 Democratic National Convention.
The Coliseum hosted the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967. The Green Bay Packers played the Kansas City Chiefs. It also hosted Super Bowl VII in 1973. The Los Angeles Chargers also played their first season here in 1960.
Later Years: 1970s–1980s
In 1970, the first Senior Olympics took place at the Coliseum. In 1972, the first stadium motocross race was held here. This event grew into the Supercross championship. In 1973, Evel Knievel jumped 50 cars on his motorcycle across the stadium.
The Coliseum hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics. It was the first stadium to host the Summer Olympics twice. It was again the main venue for track and field and the ceremonies.
Many famous musicians have played concerts here. The Rolling Stones played in 1981 and 1989. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played four concerts in 1985. U2 and Metallica also performed here.
The Los Angeles Raiders football team played at the Coliseum from 1982 to 1994. They moved back to Oakland in 1995.
Modern Era: 1990s–Present
The 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament was held at the Coliseum. The United States men's national soccer team won the final. The stadium also hosted the Gold Cup finals in 1996, 1998, and 2000.
In 2008, the Dodgers hosted another exhibition baseball game. This time it was against the Boston Red Sox. A record-breaking crowd of 115,300 people attended. This set a Guinness World Record for baseball game attendance.
The Coliseum has hosted many music festivals and concerts. In 2011, the LA Rising festival featured Rage Against the Machine and Muse. In 2022, the German band Rammstein performed two shows. Also in 2022, Deadmau5 and Kaskade played to 50,000 people. This was the largest one-day electronic dance music event in North America at the time.
Rams Return and Future Olympics
The Los Angeles Rams returned to the Coliseum in 2016. They played there while their new home, SoFi Stadium, was being built. Their first game back in 2016 drew 89,140 fans. The Rams played their final game at the Coliseum on December 29, 2019. They then moved to SoFi Stadium.
Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics again in 2028. The Coliseum will be the first stadium to host events for three different Olympic Games.
NASCAR Racing
In 2022, NASCAR held a special pre-season race at the Coliseum. A temporary quarter-mile track was built inside the stadium. This was the first time NASCAR raced on such a short track since 1971. Joey Logano won the first race. The event was held again in 2023 and 2024.
Seating and Attendance Records
The Coliseum's seating capacity has changed over the years. It started at 75,144 in 1930. It grew to over 100,000 in the 1930s and 40s. After renovations, it was 93,607 from 2008 to 2017. Today, it seats 77,500 people.
Largest Crowds
The largest event ever at the Coliseum was a Billy Graham crusade in 1963. It had 134,254 people.
The biggest college football crowd was 104,953 for a USC vs. Notre Dame game in 1947. For NFL games, 102,368 people watched the Los Angeles Rams play the San Francisco 49ers in 1957.
The 2008 exhibition baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers set a new world record. It had 115,300 fans.
Art and Memorials
At the Coliseum's entrance, there are two life-sized bronze statues of athletes. These were created by Robert Graham for the 1984 Olympics. They are called the Olympic Gateway.
Court of Honor Plaques
The "Court of Honor" has plaques that remember important people and events. These include famous athletes, coaches, and leaders. They celebrate the Coliseum's long history.
Coliseum Cauldron
The Coliseum Cauldron is a large torch built for the 1932 Olympics. It was used again in 1984. The cauldron is still at the stadium and is lit for special occasions.
It was lit to honor Israeli athletes who died in a tragic event during the 1972 Summer Olympics. It was also lit after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. The cauldron burned for a week after the September 11 attacks in 2001. It was lit to honor former President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II.
More recently, it was lit for the Rams' return in 2016. It also burned to honor victims of the 2018 California wildfires and the Thousand Oaks shooting. The cauldron was lit to remember sports legends like Kobe Bryant and Rafer Johnson. It was also lit for the Kanye West and Drake benefit concert in 2021.
Since May 1, 2023, the cauldron has been lit on the first day of each month. This celebrates the Coliseum's 100th anniversary. It was also lit for the Los Angeles Dodgers Victory parade in November 2024.
Images for kids
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The Peristyle plaza entrance to the Coliseum, including the two bronze Olympic statues, December 2022
See also
In Spanish: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum para niños
