Future of the LA Memorial Sports Arena site (Los Angeles, Anaheim: fit in, lease)

[pbergen]

despite the news that UCLA basketball is set to make the los angeles memorial sports arena in exposition park its temporary home next season, the long-term future of the facility remains unresolved.

the sports arena has reportedly been hemorrhaging money in recent years, as it no longer has an anchor sports tenant and cannot compete with nearby venues such as the staples center for top concerts and other events. because of this, the historic but decaying facility that has been the subject of redevelopment rumors, including an MLS soccer stadium, an outdoor amphitheater/concert venue, and a practice facility for a relocated LA NFL team (assuming farmers field is eventually built). an environmental impact report has even been completed by the coliseum commission so that alternative uses for the site can be considered.

my question is, what would you guys want to see built on that site if the sports arena ends up being razed? do any of the proposed uses sound appealing? or would you rather see something else? does anyone feel the sports arena is too historic to be torn down and should be renovated instead?

i'd especially like to hear from any natives and/or longtime locals of the area surrounding exposition park.

here are a few snippets from the article linked above:

Although getting the Bruins would temporarily revive the Sports Arena, it could also be the building's last hurrah.

Built in 1959 at a cost of $8.3 million, the Sports Arena and the 15 acres of Exposition Park around it have been the focus of an environmental impact report that greenlights alternative uses that would reduce the building to rubble.

A 22,000-seat soccer stadium, a relocated NFL team's practice facility and an outdoor concert/festival venue are among the possibilities for the corner of Figueroa Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just south of the Coliseum.

"The EIR doesn't mean a wrecking ball is coming to the place tomorrow," Jon Lee, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission spokesman, said. "But it articulates options. The commission wanted to be forward-thinking on this. It's a license to act, a nice thing to have on the shelf."

The 16,000-seat Sports Arena, which opened with a boxing match, has "become increasingly underutilized," according to a report by the commission.

[Charles]

Instead of building a downtown football stadium, renovate the mammoth Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, raze the sports arena, and use that land to build more parking and a venue for family friendly tailgating.

What about the Fabulous Forum? Owned by a church or something
What about the Rose Bowl? Use for UCLA home games and the Rose Bowl and what else? Soccer sometimes?

[pbergen]

Originally Posted by Charles

Instead of building a downtown football stadium, renovate the mammoth Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, raze the sports arena, and use that land to build more parking and a venue for family friendly tailgating.

these suggestions make lots of sense, which is why they'll probably never happen. sad but true.

renovating the coliseum is pretty much a no-go at this point because the coliseum commission does not want to alter the stadium to the nfl's specifications (i.e. add lots of club seats and luxury boxes, eliminate the track, etc), which would probably mean losing its historic landmark status.

also, i believe the coliseum commission entered a lease agreement with usc that gave the university first right of refusal on an nfl team - and usc has stated many times that it doesn't want to share the stadium under any circumstances.

and from what i've read and heard, the coliseum commission has been extremely difficult in its dealings with the nfl and has done nothing but drag its feet and block any of the numerous nfl stadium proposals over the years. along with city/state government indecisiveness and an inability of the proposed ownership groups to work together, the coliseum commission has been a major factor why the nfl still hasn't returned to LA.

What about the Fabulous Forum? Owned by a church or something

yeah, i've heard that, too. i think it hosts one of those megachurches which broadcasts its services on local tv.

too bad...there's so much history at the forum.

What about the Rose Bowl? Use for UCLA home games and the Rose Bowl and what else? Soccer sometimes?

i think the residents of pasadena are adamantly opposed to an nfl team as a permanent tenant at the rose bowl due to traffic concerns. yet at the same time, it's a historic landmark and people would be in an uproar if it were ever razed or significantly renovated.

really, the coliseum makes the most sense. but it looks like that ship has sailed.

[bigdumbgod]

New L.A. landmark: World's Largest Hot Tub.

[losangeles123]

it can become a possible MLS stadium for Chivas USA

[M26PershingTank]

The Los Angeles Sports Arena will be with us for decades to come. According to Wikipedia: "The arena has recently undergone a major renovation to bring it up to 21st century seismic standards and is well maintained. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission embarked on a seismic retrofit, designed to bring the Sports Arena up to 21st century seismic standards. In order to reinforce the existing 316,700-square-foot (29,420 m2) structure, a series of steel braced frames were connected to the existing concrete structural system at both the arena and loge levels of the building. To provide a solid footing for these steel frames, portions of the arena floor had to be excavated, then reinforced to provide extra strength. Once the steel frames were fitted and incorporated into the existing structure between existing concrete was then re-poured into the area. The original crown of the arena, one of its most distinguishing characteristics, was the countless small ceramic tiles, each measuring no more than a square inch in width. A multitude of the crown's tiles were loosening and many others were discolored. In order to remedy this, a new crown was designed, this time using individual sections of EIFS Exterior Insulation Finishing System, which offered the decided advantages of better durability, easier maintenance and improved thermal characteristics. A foundation surface was applied directly over the existing tiles, in order to seal the crown and give the new surface something to adhere to. Once the structural work was finished, the walls, ceilings, doors, floors and other areas involved in the modification had to be put back together. Throughout the entire project, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena remained open for business. The resulting arena now features a brand-new crown around the exterior of the building, as well as a new terrazzo floor on the concourse level."

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by M26PershingTank

, a new crown was designed, this time using individual sections of EIFS Exterior Insulation Finishing System, which offered the decided advantages of better durability, easier maintenance and improved thermal characteristics. A foundation surface was applied directly over the existing tiles, in order to seal the crown and give the new surface something to adhere to. Once the structural work was finished, the walls, ceilings, doors, floors and other areas...

...were all deftly covered with enigmatic graffiti art designs by enthusiastic local youth, thus solidifying the new erection's immersion into the surrounding neighborhood.

[Samoi137]

Originally Posted by Charles

Instead of building a downtown football stadium, renovate the mammoth Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, raze the sports arena, and use that land to build more parking and a venue for family friendly tailgating.

What about the Fabulous Forum? Owned by a church or something
What about the Rose Bowl? Use for UCLA home games and the Rose Bowl and what else? Soccer sometimes?

Gee, the Sports Arena was pretty spiffy when it hosted the 1960 Democratic Party Convention. That was less than 52 years ago.

Doesn't USC now control the Coliseum? When I went to UCLA, they had their home games at the Coliseum. I saw the Dodgers play there before Dodger Stadium was built. If the Angels played at the Coliseum, they could switch from being the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (LAAA) to the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles (AALA). Rose Bowl has several soccer matches and, I believe, a weekly swap meet.

[Charles]

Do what the Romans did with their Coliseum. Seal it up and fill it with water and conduct mock naval battles in it.

Water Battles at the Colosseum

http://www.roman-colosseum.info/imag...-naumachia.gif

[BRinSM]

the sports arena is a dump. i actually used google maps and some editing software a while back and determined that dodger stadium would fit in the space now occupied by the sports arena and the surrounding parking lots. obviously new parking would need to be added, but maybe that could be shared with the neighboring coliseum. dodger stadium is great and all, but it has 3 entrances in/out and is built on the top of a hill. it is certainly not ideal for easy access or future neighboring development.