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The Los Angeles Sports Arena
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The Los Angeles Sports Arena
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Memorial Sports Arena is one of the oldest in the NBA, and though the Clippers will be relocating to the Staples Center, they are still very much at home in the arena that housed the Lakers from 1960 to 1968. They continue to play several games each season at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, ostensibly to build their fan base.The arena is well maintained and doesn't show its age. But because the Clippers don't have a fancy, high-tech scoreboard, among other extras, a game here is unique: At a time when most teams compete to see which has the best mascot or electronic presentation, the Clippers stress the action on the court.
Source: Fodor's Four Sport Stadium Guide
Facts and Figures
Plans approved: January 15, 1948
Legislation: April 29, 1955
Governor Goodwin T. Knight signed legislation authorizing the sale of $8,200,000 in revenue bonds to finance project.Excavation: June 14, 1956
Guy F. Atkinson Company of Long Beach began excavation for earth to be used on a freeway fill. The firm paid $23,000 for the earth and saved an expense estimated at $200,000.Architect: June 14, 1957
Welton Becket and Associates of Los Angeles were hired.Bonds: March 21, 1958
$7,800,000 in revenue bonds sold.Contractor: March 21, 1958
L.E. Dixon Company of San Gabriel, the original contractor for the Coliseum, was awarded contract.Ground Breaking: April 7, 1958
The official ground breaking was held in the "famous hole."Roof Truss: October 3, 1958
The longest single truss ever erected on an arena was placed.Dedication: July 4, 1959
Vice President Richard M. Nixon dedicted the Arena in "recognition of all who served their country in all wars."First Event: July 8, 1959
Bantamweight title fight between Jose Becerra and Alphonse Halimi before 13,657 fans.Original Cost: $7,407,644.00
Total Capitalized Cost: $8,361,462.00
Dimensions:
Vertical clearance to first girder -- 75 feet
Interior length -- 437 feet
Interior width -- 317 feet
Length of arena floor between permanent seat lines -- 262 feet
Width of arena floor between permanent seat lines -- 144 feet
Length of floor between columns -- 278 feet
Width of floor between columns -- 160 feet
Total arena level floor space -- 130,000 sq. ft.
Total concourse level floor space -- 101,557 sq. ft.
Total building developed floor space -- 317,087 sq. ft.
Minimum ceiling height beneath permanent seats -- 10 ft., 4 in.
Basketball Floor: 60 ft. X 112 ft. (Court: 94 ft. x 50 ft.)
Boxing/Wrestling Ring: 24 ft. x 24 ft. x 42 in.
Ice Floor: 200 ft. x 85 ft.Cat Walk:
Lower -- 6 feet wide, 360 degrees television, 62 ft. above arena floor.
Upper -- 4 feet wide; 4 across, 2 lengthwise; 75 ft. above arena floor.Dressing Rooms:
4 -- Team dressing rooms, 28' x 12'
2 -- Shower and drying rooms, 10' x 17'
2 -- Trainer rooms, 15' x 9'
2 -- Restroom areas, 9' x 13'
1 -- Officials dressing room, 12' x 15' with restrooms
1 -- Star dressing room 30' x 14'Escalators: Three reversible escalators service the arena level
Exhibit Area:
Arena level exhibit space -- 110,000 sq. ft.
Concourse level exhibit space -- 50,000 sq. ft.
Total exhibit space all areas -- 160,000 sq. ft.Handicapped Access:
A number of operational improvements have been made to the Sports Arena to enhance accessibility for the handicapped. These include the installation of 14 additional handicapped parking stalls, hand rails on both sides of the pedestrian ramp leading to the floor level seating, handicapped accessible drinking fountains, an Assistive Listening System to aid the hearing impaired, conversion of restroom facilities, dressing rooms and bathroom fixtures for the handicapped and increased informational signage.Exit Doors:
Arena level -- 66
Concourse -- 124
Total -- 190Media Service:
Print, radio and television media may be serviced on each side of the arena by installation of any kind of portable facilities.Five permanent TV locations are located on the concourse level. In addition, a six-foot wide catwalk is suspended from the ceiling and circles the arena for cameras or spotlights.
Ramps:
- Trucks can access the arena via a 40 ft. wide ramp located on the west side of the building.
- Spectators can reach arena level seating area either by circulatory ramp on the southwest side of the building or by a stairway located next to the north doors. There are also escalators located at the southwest and northeast sides of the building.
Seats:
- All foam rubber, upholstered theater-type individual chairs from 20-22 inches wide. All fixed seats are on 15 inch risers per row, 32 inches back-to-back.
- Total permanent balcony seats -- 12,389
Seating Capacities:
Loge Concourse Arena Level Total Basketball 4,057 8,313 3,568 15,956 Boxing 4,057 8,313 4,357 16,727 Circus 4,057 8,313 2,476 14,846 Convention 4,057 8,313 5,000 21,427 Ice Hockey/Rodeo 4,057 8,313 2,176 14,546 Ice Shows (north end blocked) 4,057 8,313 2,521 14,891 Stage Show (center) 4,057 8,313 3,852 16,222 Stage Show (end) 4,057 8,313 3,956 16,326 Track and Field 4,057 8,313 1,214 13,584 Wrestling 4,057 8,313 4,357 16,740 Total balcony fixed seating (except ice shows) 12,389 Spotlights:
10 gladiators and 4 genarcos -- 5 each side, 2 on each end.Luxury Suites:
Two suites, comprising 28 seats, include a private entrance, bathrooms and lounge with television, complete bar and waitress service.Clipper Club:
Private club and restaurant located on the arena level of the facility.Ticket Windows:
Ticket office windows -- 8
Outside south/east pylon windows -- 6
Portable booths -- 2 (total of 7 windows)
Tickets for most events are also available at Ticketmaster locations.Marketing/Public Relations/Group Sales:
The complex has a full-service marketing, public relations and group sales staff designed to provide promoters all the tools necessary to host a successful event in the Los Angeles market.
Directions to L.A. Memorial Sports Arena
March 1999 - "They can blow it up if they want. It's a depressing building. You come in here and there's no energy in the building, kind of blah. The biggest thing is I'm glad I wasn't traded here, or I would have had to play here like another 15 games." - Golden State Warriors Guard Bimbo Coles
April 1999 - "This Place? Nothing positive. OK, I want to say something positive. It's positively a dump." - Houston Rockets Forward Charles Barkley
(From Los Angeles International Airport and hotels near the airport) Follow airport signs to the Century Freeway (105) East. Continue east on the 105 to the Harbour Freeway (110) North. Travel north on the 110 (approximately 15 miles) to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Turn left (west) on King Blvd. to the second traffic light (Hoover) and turn right to enter the Sports Arena grounds.(From Marina del Rey area hotels) Travel east on the Marina Del Rey Freeway (90) to the San Diego Freeway (405) North. Head north on the 405 to the Santa Monica Freeway (10) East. Travel east on the 10 to the Harbor Freeway (110) South. Exit Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Turn right (west) on King Blvd. to the second traffic light (Hoover) and turn right to enter the Sports Arena grounds.
Filming at the Sports Arena
Located in Hollywood's backyard, the Coliseum and Sports Arena are frequently used as locations for commercials, television series and major motion pictures. Our credits include the following:
Movies The Last Boy Scout
Rocky I
Rocky II
Rocky II
Two Minute Warning
Kinjite
The Omega man
Soylent Green
Wayne's World II
Mighty Ducks II
Forget Paris
Frank Sinatra Story
Escape from LA
The Great White Hope
Larger than Life
Space Jam
The Fan
Sunset ParkTelevision Shows The Adventures of Mark & Brian
Full House
Charlie's Angels
Dragnet
Cagney & Lacey
Heart to Heart
Simon and Simon
The Wonder Years
The Hank Gathers Story
Hunter
Beverly Hills 90210
Baywatch
Arliss -- HBOVideo Tesla
Van HalenTelevision Commercials For numerous national and international companies USC ARENA COULD BE RAZED
December 2, 2010
Copyright 2010 MediaVenturesLos Angeles, Calif. - The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena could be demolished, yielding to either an amphitheater or a soccer stadium under draft plans released earlier to reinvigorate the publicly managed, cash-strapped entertainment venue. The report came from Annenberg Digital News, a service provided by the University of Southern California.
The L.A. Memorial Coliseum Commission released a 347-page draft environmental impact report for the dueling project options for the 15-acre Sports Arena campus near Exposition Park.
The Sports Arena has come under recent scrutiny because its financial woes may have forced the Coliseum Commission to rescind a ban on electronic music festivals, more commonly known as raves, at the facility, Annenberg reported. The festivals have been one of the few steady streams of revenue for the aging facility, likely bringing in a few hundred thousand dollars annually. The release of the draft environmental impact report officially brings the commission to a crossroads.
As early as January, the nine people who sit on the panel will have to decide to do one of three things: go forward with the soccer stadium idea; construct an amphitheater ; or launch a smaller renovation of the existing facility.
Annenberg said the amphitheater option would feature an 800-square-foot stage backed by an open half-dome shell and a large grass field flanked by flag poles. Not included in the plans are any fixed seats, video boards or fencing. Concession stands and restrooms "may be provided," the report says. Events that could be held include Farmer's Markets, rallies, festivals, exercise groups, concerts, neighborhood carnivals and special ceremonies.
The other option reported by the service envisions a 22,000-seat Major League Soccer stadium, offering some competition to the Home Depot Center in Carson. The stadium plan calls for MLS games, exhibition games and USC soccer games to be played there. At the varsity level, USC only has a women's team. Local teams would be allowed to practice there as well.
Annenberg reported that during the past five years, an event has been held there, on average, only once every six days. Nearly all of the events attracted less than 10,000 people.
The report states the Sports Arena needs $8.2 million in upgrades - from new seats to new plumbing and heating systems - within the next five years to keep operating. Each of the past five fiscal years, however, has brought operating losses totaling nearly $4 million. Because the commission doesn't receive any taxpayer subsidies, it doesn't have the cash to pay for those fixes.
The arena's present configuration allows it hold about 15,000 people for hockey, boxing and basketball events.
LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM MAY BE RAZED FOR STADIUM
February 3, 2011
Copyright 2011 MediaVenturesLos Angeles, Calif. - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum commissioners are considering a plan to demolish the 52-year-old Sports Arena and replace it with either an amphitheater and open-air "multiple use space" - capable of hosting rallies, festivals, carnivals and overflow parking for Coliseum events - or construct a major league soccer stadium seating 22,000 spectators, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Sports Arena opened in 1959 and was once the preeminent large-scale indoor venue in Los Angeles, home to the Lakers and the Clippers.
According to an environmental impact report, the Sports Arena "has had an operating loss of between $750,000 and $900,000 each of the last five fiscal years."
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