USC-Funded LA Memorial Coliseum Modernization Plan Wins Key Approval

The University of Southern California [USC] has secured approval from the Coliseum Commission to proceed with its $270 million privately funded upgrade of the LA Memorial Coliseum – a significant step in the modernization of LA 2024’s proposed Ceremonies and track-and-field venue.

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The Coliseum Commission comprises representatives from the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles and the State of California and oversees the stadium’s ongoing operation and maintenance. The plans will now go to LA City Council for final approval before USC commences renovation in Fall 2017, with works scheduled for completion by August 2019. The renovations will be financed entirely by USC, with no taxpayer funding.

USC’s extensive modernizations will enable LA 2024 to provide the perfect stage for Olympians and Paralympians with no additional permanent construction required to host the Games, in line with the LA bid’s low-risk philosophy of making optimal use of the city’s extensive existing sports assets.

The renovations will preserve the LA Coliseum’s iconic ‘peristyle’ façade, while introducing the cutting edge sports facilities and amenities of a modern world-class stadium. These include upgraded training, new recovery and changing facilities, wider seats, more aisles, more legroom, modernized restrooms, brand new hospitality suites, lounges, press facilities, concessions and lighting systems, plus gameday enhancements for the digital age such as updated Wi-Fi technology and two additional big screens. The renovation will also significantly improve and enlarge the stadium's accessible seating areas.

For the Games, LA 2024 proposes to install a temporary athletics deck for competition, with warm-up and operations facilities housed underneath, ensuring maximum convenience for athletes. Innovative fit-out techniques will ensure the temporary transition between American football and track-and-field will be quick and efficient, allowing LA 2024 to reduce costs and minimize disruption by returning the stadium to USC shortly after the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony.

The LA Coliseum previously hosted the Ceremonies and track-and-field and the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games and is the current home of the USC Trojans college football team and the NFL’s LA Rams.

LA 2024 CEO Gene Sykes said: "LA 2024 congratulates our partner USC for this major milestone in their mission to turn the LA Coliseum, our beloved LA sports cathedral, into a state-of-the-art stadium for the 21st century. As a bid, LA 2024 is incredibly fortunate to have ambitious, forward-thinking partners committed to keeping their venues at the cutting edge of athlete experience, sports presentation and fan engagement through consistent private investment. It means Los Angeles can deliver a spectacular stage for the Olympians and Paralympians of 2024 without expending Organizing Committee resources on costly, complex construction projects."

Dan Stimmler, Chief Operating Officer of the Coliseum, said: "Overall, people love the Coliseum because of the history of it. I think if you can keep the history and bring up the experience you have on a gameday, everyone will benefit. The Coliseum has an amazing history and now will have the facilities to match that."

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