Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Rams
About Stadium
Having been introduced in 1921, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is by far the oldest stadium in use in today’s NFL. At 93,607 total capacity, it’s also the largest stadium currently in use by an NFL team. From 1953 to 1964, the seating capacity grew to its largest ever at 123, 528, before shrinking to 97,500 in 1965. It was the first stadium to ever host the Summer Olympic Games twice.
The Olympic Cauldron that was built for the two pairs of Olympics games still stands at the head of the stadium, and its flame is still lit during 4th quarter of USC Trojans football games. It’s flame has also been lit to memorialize some special events such as the September 11 Attacks, the death of Ronald Regan in 2004, and again in April of 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.
As the oldest stadium in modern professional American sports, it’s seen its fair share of championships and historic moments, including the 1959 World Series, the first AFL-NFL Championship game (later dubbed Super Bowl I), and later would host Super Bowl VII. Along with its long list of notable sporting events it was also the setting for a number of Hollywood films.
It’s currently host to college football’s USC Trojans, and the NFL’s LA Rams.
•Capacity: 93,607
•Opened: May 1, 1923
•Playing Surface: Natural Grass
•Location: 3911 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California, 90037
History
• Originally built in 1921 as a memorial to Los Angeles veterans of World War I, it’s the oldest stadium in the NFL today.
• On October 6, 1923, the inaugural game was played at the stadium between Pomona College and University of Southern California. The USC Trojans won the game by the score of 23-7.
• From 1928 to 1981, the stadium was also used by the UCLA Bruins for their football games.
• In 1932, the Coliseum hosted its first Summer Olympic Games, and again in 1984, becoming the first stadium to host the Summer games twice.
• When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to LA in 1958, they played in the Coliseum until their own stadium was finished construction in 1962.
• The NFL’s Pro Bowl event was held at the stadium from 1951 to 1971.
• In 1973, daredevil Evil Kanievel jumped 50 cars on his motorcycle, traversing the length of the entire football field in the process.
• In 1982, after being blocked from upgrading his team’s stadium in Oakland, Al Davis took his Raiders out of Oakland and south the Los Angeles, where they played at the LA Memorial Coliseum till 1994 when Davis moved the team back to Oakland.
• In 2006, the University of Southern California was in talks with the state fora long term lease, and even made a bid to buy the stadium. After some intense negotiations, they reached a deal in 2007 to keep the USC Trojans there for 25 years, giving the state 8% of ticket sales, but requiring some renovations be done to the aging stadium.
• The Rams first played at the Coliseum in 1942, and after multiple relocations, in 2015 the St. Louis Rams ended their tenure and will be returning to Los Angeles where they’ll play the 2016 NFL season.
Past and Current Teams
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) (1946–1979, 2016–2018)[4]
Los Angeles Christmas Festival (NCAA) (1924)
UCLA Bruins (NCAA) (1933–1981)
Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) (1946–1949)
Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) (1958–1961)
Los Angeles Chargers (AFL) (1960)
Los Angeles Wolves (USA) (1967)
Los Angeles Toros (NPSL) (1967)
Los Angeles Aztecs (NASL) (1977, 1981)
Los Angeles Raiders (NFL) (1982–1994)
Los Angeles Express (USFL) (1983–1985)
Los Angeles Dragons (SFL) (2000)
Los Angeles Xtreme (XFL) (2001)
Los Angeles Temptation (LFL) (2009–2011)
