LA Memorial Coliseum – design description

The proposal released in late October 2015 by University of Southern California envisages a complete refurbishment of the Los Angeles Coliseum. USC had already pledged to invest $70 million within a decade and $100m by 2054, but this project’s scale outgrows what was proposed earlier. Thus the increased budget of $270 million, expected to be raised entirely privately, without imposing any fees on USC students.

The University’s biggest challenge will be the south stand. As the stadium is listed as a monument, it cannot be changed entirely. With this in mind a brand new building with up to 10 floors will be raised in the south, comprising new sports, press and corporate facilities, including suites, loges and a viewing/event deck on top of it all.

The wider seating bowl will not be changed, but addition of new seats, aisles and handrails will result in decreasing capacity to some 77,500. The project also includes complete replacement of all electronic systems (lighting, giant screens, WI-Fi, etc.) and renovation of the historic peristyle decorating eastern entrance to the stadium.

Detailed design is expected in 2016, while construction may begin in 2017. By 2019 the project might be finalized and, worth noting, the Coliseum would be used for football throughout!