Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Lore & Background

The Coliseum was the site of the first AFL–NFL World Championship Game (later called Super Bowl I) and Super Bowl VII. It has hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984, and will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, becoming the first stadium to host the Olympics three times. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on July 27, 1984.

In Their Own Story

The sun dipped below the concrete grandstands of Exposition Park, casting long shadows across the grass. Fans in powder blue filtered through the turnstiles, their murmurs rising into a hum that vibrated against the ancient stone arches. It was 1960, and the air smelled of fresh cut turf and anticipation. A player stepped onto the field, the yellow goal posts standing tall like sentinels of a new era. The crowd roared as the coin flipped, launching a legacy that would span decades across two coasts, all beginning under these lights at the Coliseum.

Reader's Guide

The Coliseum is jointly owned by the State of California's Sixth District Agricultural Association, Los Angeles County, and the City of Los Angeles, and is managed and operated by USC. As of 2016, its permanent seating capacity was 93,607 for USC football and Rams games. The stadium features a peristyle with an Olympic cauldron and rings, and has undergone multiple renovations, including a major $315 million renovation completed in 2019.

Did You Know?

• The Coliseum was originally built as a memorial to Los Angeles veterans of World War I.
• It was the temporary home of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1958 to 1961 and hosted games of the 1959 World Series.
• The Los Angeles Raiders played at the Coliseum from 1982 to 1994.
• The stadium's field runs east to west with the press box on the south side.

Olympic Legacy and Historic Venues

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stands as a cornerstone of American sporting history, distinguished as one of only two National Historic Landmarks in the region alongside the Rose Bowl. As part of a diverse array of world-class facilities ranging from the roof-covered SoFi Stadium to multi-purpose arenas like Crypto.com Arena, the Coliseum represents the enduring infrastructure that allows Greater Los Angeles to consistently deliver premier national and international sporting experiences.

A Hub for Professional Excellence

Greater Los Angeles has evolved into an unparalleled powerhouse for professional sports, boasting a remarkable collection of twelve major league teams across various disciplines. This metropolitan area is home to franchises in the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL, creating a dense ecosystem of elite competition. The region's dominance is quantified by its recent success; since 2000, nine of these twelve teams have secured a combined twenty-four championships. Notably, when the Rams captured Super Bowl LVI in 2022, Los Angeles achieved a rare feat, becoming only the second city ever to win at least one championship in all four major professional sports within a single decade. This accomplishment was reached in just over seven years, spanning from the Kings' victory in 2014 to the Rams' triumph in 2022. With teams like the Dodgers and Lakers holding some of the highest valuations in their respective leagues, the area remains a central stage for professional athletic achievement.

Collegiate Powerhouse and Championships

The sporting culture of Los Angeles extends far beyond professional leagues, anchored by nine universities competing at the NCAA Division I level. The rivalry between the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans defines much of this landscape, contributing to a region where colleges have produced upwards of 200 national championship teams. This collegiate strength was recently highlighted when the city hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2023. The depth of talent and competition is further evidenced by recent realignments, such as both major local universities moving to the Big Ten Conference in 2024 after years in the Pac-12. This robust academic athletic environment ensures that Los Angeles remains a critical pipeline for future stars while maintaining its own legacy of collegiate supremacy.

Diverse Sporting Events and Geography

The unique geography and favorable weather of Southern California have established it as a premier destination for a wide variety of sporting events beyond traditional stadium games. The region serves as a global hub for surfing and beach volleyball, leveraging its coastal assets to host international competitions. In recent years, the city has successfully hosted high-profile marquee events, including the MLB All-Star Game in 2021 and the MLS All-Star Game in 2022. Golf enthusiasts also flocked to Los Angeles when the United States Golf Association returned the U.S. Open to the area in 2023 at the Los Angeles Country Club. Furthermore, the city has a storied history with football's biggest stage, having hosted Super Bowl LVI and eight other Super Bowls throughout its history. This versatility allows Los Angeles to function as a year-round destination for athletes and fans from every corner of the sporting world.