Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is an American outdoor sports stadium located in the Exposition Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. The stadium serves as the home to the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans football team of the Pac-12 Conference. It is also the temporary home of the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). The Coliseum was home to the Rams from 1946 to 1979, when they moved to Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim.

The Coliseum is serving as their home stadium again until the completion of Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park in Inglewood. The facility had a permanent seating capacity of 93,607 for USC football and Rams games, making it the largest football stadium in the Pac-12 Conference and the NFL. USC, which operates and manages the Coliseum, began a major renovation of the stadium in early 2018. During the renovation project the seating capacity will be 78,467. Once USC completes the renovation in 2019, the seating capacity will be 77,500.

General information

Official website: https://www.lacoliseum.com/

Arena capacity: 93,607 spectators

Address: 3911 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90037, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 34°0′51″N 118°17′16″W

Year of construction: May 1, 1923

Construction cost: $954,872.98 million

Field: Bermuda grass lawn

Seating plan of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Features & Amenities

While most Trojans fans would consider midfield seats in Sections 6-8 or 21-23 the best seats in the Coliseum, the best experience at on a Saturday in L.A. may be behind the East endzone in the newest on-field premium seating area.

There fans will find the Field Suites and Field Club. Both locations promise seating directly on the turf from just a few yards behind the action. In addition to a close seat, fans will receive an all-inclusive dining experience, complimentary beer, wine and soda and a premium tailgate experience.

The tailgate experience allows early access to the field (a full three hours ahead of time), an opportunity to witness the Trojan walk from up close and post-game snacks and desserts.

Ticketholders in both areas will find clean, private restrooms near their seats, while club ticketholders will have access to the tented Field Club Lounge with televisions, modern outdoor furniture and an exclusive social atmosphere.

Student Seating

Students sit in the front area of sections 24-29.

The middle areas of sections 25-29 are reserved for students as well.

Recommended Seats for Kids and Family

Rows 30-50 in Sections 12 and 13:

• Best views for the money in the entire stadium;
• No blinding sun in your face;
• Fewer stairs to get to restrooms and concessions.

Recommended Seats for Impressing a Guest

Section bleachers:

• Interesting perspective from on-field bleachers;
• Some of the closest seats to the action.

Sections Field Club and Field Suites:

• Stand on the same grass the players do;
• All-inclusive experience with complimentary food and drinks;
• Exclusive field access with early entry and premium benefits.

Recommended Seats for Partying and Socializing

Sections 24, 25, 26 and 27:

• Designated student section;
• Great party atmosphere among loud and rowdy students.

Best Seats for Great Views of the Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

One of the most iconic venues in college sports – L.A. Memorial Coliseum – recently invited the NFL’s Rams to make the stadium their temporary home. For fans of the Rams franchise, the Coliseum is a far cry from the Edward Jones Dome. The stadium is completely exposed to the elements (in SoCal, this is usually a good thing), and the stadium has just a single “level” of seating. Continue reading to find the best spot to watch your next Rams or USC Trojans football game.

The Field Isn’t Centered Within the Seating Bowl

When looking at the Rams or USC seating chart, one of the first things you’ll notice is that the field isn’t centered within the main seating bowl. This isn’t an illusion – seats near midfield do face slightly away from the 50 yardline.

Despite the odd angle, you will do well to find seats in sections 6H – 8H on the South sideline or sections 21L – 23L on the North sideline (the H/L distinction simply specifies High and Low seat numbers within their respective section). These sections are located closest to midfield and provide the most comfortable views of the field.

Getting the Best View Means Choosing the Right Row

Once you’ve decided on a group of sections, it’s important to sit in a row that will maximize your siteline. This is incredibly important at the Coliseum where rows numbers go as high as 93 in some sections.

To get the best overall views of a Rams or USC game, we recommend rows 29-43 in the sideline sections mentioned above. It may be tempting to sit in a lower row, but we have found the players to be too distracting when sitting too close to the field. Rows 29 and higher allow you to easily see over the players – and afford you a comfortable view from end-to-end.

In addition to being at an ideal height, rows 29-43 are located just below the section tunnels at row 44. This is good for two things. First, you’ll be within 15 rows of the tunnel for quick trips to and from the concourse. Second, there is a lot of foot traffic outside of the tunnel. Sitting just below the tunnel means that the foot traffic will be behind you instead of in front of you.

Sunny Seats

A final consideration when finding the perfect view is what side of the field to sit on. For most games, we recommend sections 6, 7 and 8 where the sun will be at your back instead of in your face. This is also the Rams side of the field. If the sun doesn’t bother you – and you’re cheering on USC – sections 21-23 will put you in the midst of fellow Trojans fans and alum.

Where to buy tickets?

Box Office Hours

Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

The Coliseum Box Office is located at Gate 29, across from the California Science Center. Free 15-minute parking is located adjacent to the Box Office while you purchase your tickets. Box Office hours are subject to change based on holidays and event schedules.

Single Home Game Tickets

Usually single home game tickets for the Los Angeles Rams are sold through Ticketmaster. For more information, please visit the Rams website at www.therams.com/tickets or call the Rams Ticket Office.

Season Tickets

Whether purchasing or renewing, all season tickets are sold through the Los Angeles Rams website. For questions regarding season tickets, contact the Rams Ticket Office.

Playoff Tickets

Fans may visit www.therams.com playoffs for information. For questions regarding the ticket process, fans may contact the Rams Ticket Office.

Ticket prices run from $70 for seats in the corners of the peristyle end and are quite a distance from the field. If you are just looking to take in the action at a bargain (for NFL standards) regardless of your seating location this is your best bet. Otherwise, expect to pay in the triple digits for seats along the sidelines. With the success the Rams, do not expect the prices to dwindle anytime soon. The experience you get while watching one of the top teams in action could well be worth it.

How to get there?

The Memorial Coliseum is conveniently located at 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90037, just off I-110 and I-10 in Exposition Park. We are one block south of the University of Southern California, and near a number of attractions and dining options.

The stadium is also accessibly located near several public transportation routes including Metro light rail and bus lines, and even connects to Amtrak for visitors traveling from neighboring counties.

Coliseum Insider Tip: To avoid lengthy delays due to traffic and parking, we highly encourage all of our guests to take one of the many forms of public transportation to an event. The Metro, for example, has two stops within a short five minute walk to our front door!

For those guests who rideshare, please check with your favored provider for special event day rates and pickup/dropoff locations.

Rideshare

Lyft is our official rideshare partner. Take a Lyft ride to the game, and leave the car at home.

After the game, exit Gate 19 and head north to Exposition Blvd and then west to Vermont Ave. Walk North on Vermont Ave to meet your driver.

In all other locations, rideshare services are prohibited from entering Exposition Park area until 1 hour after the game.

Metro

The Coliseum is easily accessible using the Metro Expo Line at the Expo Park/USC or Expo/Vermont Stations.

The Metro Expo Line can be easily accessed with connections at 7th Street/Metro Center in downtown Los Angeles to the Metro Red/Purple Lines, and at Pico Station to the Metro Blue Line. Fans using the Metro Gold Line can make an easy transfer at Union Station to the Metro Red/Purple Lines for a connection to the Expo Line. Enhanced service will also be provided on the Metro Red/Purple and Gold Lines during game days.

The public is reminded to purchase a $3.50 round-trip fare at the beginning of trips to avoid lines when the games are over. Each person, including children over the age of 5, must have a valid TAP card and remember to tap before each boarding.

Last trains from Expo Park at 1:30am for transfers (2:10am for Expo Line only – no transfers). Enhanced service every 6 minutes begins two to three hours prior to kickoff and continues one to two hours after the game.

When leaving the Coliseum, exit the North side of the Coliseum at Gates 19 or 23.

For more Metro Gameday information, please visit:http://www.metro.net/riding/gameday/

Metro also has several convenient parking lots available (fees and availability may vary).

Red Line

• North Hollywood Red Line Station;
• Universal City/Studio City.

Gold Line

• APU/Citrus College, Azusa Downtown, Irwindale, Duarte/City of Hope, Monrovia, Arcadia and Sierra Madre Villa in East Pasadena;
• Fillmore in Pasadena, Heritage Square, Lincoln/Cypress, Indiana in Boyle Heights;
• Atlantic in East Los Angeles.

Expo Line

• La Cienega/Jefferson;
• Culver City;
• Expo/Sepulveda.

Expo/Bundy

• 26th Street/Bergamot;
• 17th Street/SMC.

Green Line

Ample parking is available at nearly all stations between Norwalk and Redondo Beach.

Metro Silver Line

Those fans coming from the San Gabriel Valley or the South Bay area can use the Metro Silver Line, with parking available at:

• Harbor Gateway Transit Center;
• El Monte Bus Station.

Customers can exit at 37th Street/USC station along the I-110 ExpressLanes and walk a few blocks to the Coliseum via Flower Street. Roundtrip fare on the Silver Line is just $5 and each person must have a valid TAP card to ride the Silver Line.  TAP vending machines are available at both Harbor Gateway Transit Center and El Monte Bus Station.

Metrolink

Metrolink from Orange County

To plan your trip to the LA Memorial Coliseum with Metrolink service from Orange County, please visit: http://www.octa.net/Metrolink/Trip-Planner/

Metrolink Rams Train

Catch the Metrolink Rams Train to cheer on the blue and gold at the L.A. Coliseum. Only 10 bucks round trip!

Just board a convenient Metrolink train near your home and take it to L.A. Union Station (LAX). From there, transfer to L.A. Metro Rail and you’ll be at the Coliseum quickly and easily with a few simple transfers. Transfers to L.A. Metro Rail are free with your Metrolink ticket. After the game, take the L.A. Metro Rail back to Union Station.  For more information on the Metrolink Rams train, click here: http://www.octa.net/Metrolink/Promotions/LA-Rams-Train/?terms=coliseum

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

Take Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner to L.A. Union Station (LAX) from the Central Coast, Ventura County, the San Fernando Valley, Orange County or San Diego County and transfer to the Metro Red/Purple Line and then at 7th/Metro transfer to the Expo Line.  Be sure to check possible service interruptions during October when planning your trip.

http://pacificsurfliner.com/ – schedules

Metro Expresslanes

Eleven miles of carpool lanes on the 110 Harbor Freeway have been converted to High-Occupancy Toll lanes, known as Metro ExpressLanes. All toll lane users must have a FasTrak installed in their vehicle regardless of vehicle occupancy.

To learn more and sign up for FasTrak, visit: www.metroexpresslanes.net

Ladot Bike Program

The recent completion of the MyFigueroa project will bring safety improvements for bicyclists on Figueroa St, but there are already a lot of great routes for getting around the Downtown and USC area on a bike.

For more information, check out bike.lacity.org

Parking

Exposition Park Parking

There are a limited number of public parking spaces in Exposition Park. For Rams and USC games, parking is by permit only. There are no cash lots. For all other events, public parking sells out quickly and rates may vary per event. Entrances to Exposition Park are located at MLK & Hoover and 39th & Figueroa. Exposition Park is managed by the Office of Exposition Park Management, a department of the State of California’s Natural Resources Agency.

USC Campus Parking

The USC Campus provides additional parking opportunities and is located one block north of the Coliseum on the north side of Exposition Blvd. Entrances are located at 36th Street and Vermont, South Figueroa Street and McCarthy Way.

During USC Football parking on campus is mostly reserved in advance. Public parking may be available at the USC Parking Center (3401 Grand Avenue) on a first-come first-serve basis for $25 cash only (prices subject to change without notice), with shuttle service to the game provided 3-hours prior to kickoff, and resuming at the start of the 4th quarter until 1 hour after the game.

Other Public Lots

For guests driving to the Coliseum for an event, we have multiple parking options for you to choose from, including parking on the USC campus which is just a short ten minute walk to the stadium. To avoid lengthy traffic and parking delays, we highly encourage all guests to take public transportation whenever possible, including the Metro rail line which has a stop on Exposition that is less than a five minute walk to our security gates!

Where to eat?

For such an old venue, the Coliseum does an outstanding job of creating space to allow for a diverse dining experience.

The food options are abundant, ranging from gourmet hot dogs from Daug Haus, Aussie Pies, Tamales, Kalua Pork Bowls to other offerings extending from Mexican to Asian.

Just outside the peristyle end is the Taste of Los Angeles where you will find an assortment of food trucks that vary throughout the season such as the lobstatruck or the Korean Belly Bomb.

The Fields LA is the newest addition in Exposition Park located next to nearby Banc of California Stadium. The Fields, open before and after the game and offers an array of pre and postgame dining options ranging from Soul Food, Seafood, Mediterranean, and organic greens.

Atmosphere

In spite of a current capacity of over 70,000, even with a full house at its loudest the noise tends to dissipate due to its vast size. The massive oval playing surface is very large for a conventional football field, which is placed closer to the west end zone and a great distance from the east peristyle.

In spite of the old yard’s deficiencies, this does not deter the fans from displaying their enthusiasm for the home team. While you won’t have the most up to date amenities found in most any modern day venue, there is still plenty of history steeped into the Coliseum. With the Rams scheduled to move to Inglewood in 2020, if you want an old-school experience, you owe it to yourself to take in at least one game before the Rams make way to more upscale quarters.

Neighborhood

On the grounds of the Coliseum is Exposition Park. If you are looking for other activities prior to the game, the Natural History Museum, the California African American Museum, as well as the Natural History Museum and the California ScienCenter are located inside the park. To be able to visit all the museums and fully take in the experience, you would probably need two days.If you’re limited on time, you may want to visit the California ScienCenter, home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Not far from the Coliseum is the L.A. Live entertainment complex directly across the street from Staples Center, easily accessible from the Coliseum through L.A. Metro Expo Line.

Fans

After over 20 years without an NFL team, after a slow start during their inaugural return, fans have embraced the Rams with open arms and have been rewarded greatly with a Super Bowl appearance in just its third year back.

It was once wondered if the fans could continually fill the stands at the Coliseum. The Coliseum, once at a capacity of over 80,000, was deemed too big for such a diverse market.

With the team reaching the postseason the last couple of seasons, the fans have returned to full form, truly making the Coliseum on game day, the Rams House.

History

Planning

The Coliseum was commissioned as a memorial to L.A. veterans of World War I (rededicated to all United States veterans of World War I in 1968). Construction of the stadium was completed in just over 16 months. Designed by John and Donald Parkinson, the original bowl’s initial construction costs were $954,873.

When the Coliseum opened in 1923, it was the largest stadium in Los Angeles with a capacity of 75,144. However, with the Olympics due in two years, the stadium was extended upward to seventy-nine rows seats with two tiers of tunnels, expanding the seating capacity to 101,574. The now-signature Olympic torch was added. For a time it was known as Olympic Stadium. The Olympic cauldron torch which burned through both Games remains above the peristyle at the east end of the stadium as a reminder of this, as do the Olympic rings symbols over one of the main entrances.

Renovations

For many years the Coliseum was capable of seating over 100,000 spectators. The stadium underwent its first major renovation only in over three decades.

The Coliseum underwent a $15 million renovation before the football season which included the following.

1. The field was lowered by 11 feet (3.4 m) and fourteen new rows of seats replaced the running track, bringing the first row of seats closer to the playing field (a maximum distance of 54 feet (16.5 m) at the eastern 30-yard-line).
2. A portable seating section was built between the eastern endline and the peristyle bleachers (the stands are removed for concerts and similar events).
3. The locker rooms and public restrooms were modernized.
4. The bleachers were replaced with individual seating.

Most of the original pale green wood-and-metal bench seating was replaced by individual theater-type chairs of dark red, beige, and yellow; these seats were replaced too, though the yellow color was eliminated much earlier. The seating capacity was reduced to approximately 93,000.

New Videoboard

On the Coliseum’s west end  a new 6,000 square-foot high-definition video scoreboard was constructed, accompanying the existing video scoreboard on the peristyle (east end) of the stadium. The video scoreboard officially went into operation at USC football’s home opener versus the University of Minnesota, with the game being televised on ABC.