The gladiators that once inhabited the Roman Colosseum are not all that different than the Men of Troy who now inhabit the Los Angeles Coliseum. Gladiators would enter the Colosseum and fight against each other as well as animals and condemned criminals. At times they would battle to the death in order to entertain the masses. Trojans fight bears, ducks and even sun devils to keep their record. They may not battle to the death but they play to entertain. The gladiators each had a specific fighting style to match their physique and talents. They used different weapons to overcome their enemies and help the Roman Empire sustain its power. The Men of Troy each have a specific position, which match their body type. They use the strength of each player to come together as a team and maintain the Trojan dynasty.
As a Los Angeles landmark, historic destination, home of the Trojans and host of two Olympic Games, the Coliseum is arguably one of the greatest sports arena settings in the world. The heritage that backs the stone façade along with the Olympic cauldron that still burns make this venue unforgettable for fans, magical for the home team and intimidating for the visitors.
Heroes, Champions, Legends
Heroes and champions have made the Coliseum what it is today. From the 1959 World Series with 92,706 people packed into a makeshift baseball stadium, to the first Super Bowl in 1967, the Coliseum has witnessed epic performances, produced indelible memories and has defined the “big” event.
Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale pitched at the Coliseum. O.J. Simpson and Marcus Allen struck the Heisman pose. The Fearsome Foursome ransacked NFL quarterbacks. Zola Budd ran – barefoot; Mary Decker fell. The other “babe” Babe Didrikson became a female athlete for the ages. Carl Lewis struck Olympic gold four times. Bruce Springsteen took fans down to The River, and the Stones got Satisfaction here. Pope John Paul II said mass on the Coliseum turf. The Coliseum has set the standard for stadiums around the world and many times the setting itself has been as much of the story as what has taken place on the legendary Coliseum floor.
Constructed For GreatnessThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was finished in May of 1923 just 16 months after construction began. The Coliseum was originally designed as a memorial to veterans of World War I. When it opened, it was the largest stadium in Los Angeles. It can now hold up to 93,607 people.
The Coliseum is made up of the press box and the peristyle, which has special seating and on USC game day, the retired jerseys of USC’s Heisman trophy winners. It has one red and one yellow stripe that wraps around the entire stadium. In front of the Coliseum are two gold statues of both a male and female’s bodies. It also has the cauldron, which stands at the north side of the Coliseum and burns bright during the fourth quarter of football games. The mighty Coliseum stands out in the bustling city of Los Angeles and has become one of L.A.’s longest standing monuments.
Truly Historic
In a word, the Coliseum is historic. The people and players who have entered the Coliseum include a long line of famous and iconic individuals. One of the most impressive tenants of the Coliseum were the Olympians.
The Coliseum was one of the many venues that was used during the Los Angeles 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Field hockey, gymnastics, track and field and more were all held at this site. The opening and closing ceremonies were also put on at this location. Hosting these two different Olympic Games makes the Coliseum the only stadium in the world to host two games.
“The Coliseum is different from so many other places because of the history that is involved with the stadium and the city of Los Angeles as a whole,” said Jeff Palmer, Oregon long snapper. “So many historical sporting events have taken place there throughout the years, so the history is impossible to ignore. “
On July 27, 1984, the day before the opening ceremony for the 1984 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum was declared a National Historic Landmark. The Coliseum is history; it has been around for a very long time and has shown the evolution of Los Angeles. Its location in the heart of L.A. makes it one of the most iconic places in California.
Not only has the Coliseum been the host of two Olympic Games, but it is the only Olympic stadium to host both a Super Bowl and a World Series. Los Angeles may not have an NFL team at this point, but the Coliseum has a rich professional football history. The Los Angeles Rams played their home games at the Coliseum for nearly 50 years, from 1946 to 1979. And before there was Dodger Stadium with its large “think blue” sign, the Brooklyn Dodgers played at the Coliseum. The Los Angeles Dodgers began their time in L.A. at the Coliseum in 1958 and played there until the current Dodger Stadium was completed in 1962.
“The biggest difference is that the stadium was used for the Olympics and NFL thus it is massive and holds 90,000, which you can’t find that anywhere else in the Pac 10,” said Ross Cumming, USC linebacker.
The Men of Troy
The Coliseum has been used to host the Olympics, multiple concerts, MLB games and NFL games over the years. The longest standing tradition however is its contract with USC, giving rise to the mighty Trojan football tradition of playing in the home of champions.
The history and appearance of the Coliseum lends itself to being an intimidating place to play. The idea of the Men of Troy coming to beat you in a game of football, one of the most strenuous and forceful games in college, is terrifying all on its own. The Coliseum adds to that sense of terror that is needed to beat one’s opponent.
“It’s so historic it’s unlike any other stadium in college football. There’s nothing like the Coliseum,” said Chris Pousson, USC long snapper.
Although both USC and UCLA have played in the Coliseum, USC has managed to rule the Coliseum and make it their own. USC has been the primary tenant of the Coliseum for 87 years. The Trojans played their first football game at the Coliseum on October 6, 1923 where they were victorious over Pomona College. Since then, USC has had a tradition of winning at home and strong fan base.
“There is something to be said about the Trojan family there are a lot of lifetime fans. We do have a lot of school spirit,” said Pousson.
USC is one of the strongest teams in the Pac 10, even when they are not winning; teams always want to beat the Trojans. No matter how good the team is every year, competition is high when anyone enters the Coliseum. Because of the intense atmosphere that surrounds the stadium and its design, the Coliseum has become one of the hardest places to play in college football.
“The worst part of playing in the Coliseum is probably the proximity of the locker rooms in the tunnel. We have to walk past the USC locker room to get to the field, and I remember there was always someone standing by the locker room talking smack during pregame and halftime,” said Palmer.
Once one enters the Coliseum they are struck with an overwhelming sense of history and greatness. The Coliseum makes game day come to life from the moment fans and players walk up to the stadium. No one forgets the first time they see a game at the Coliseum because it is an event like no other. The crowd, the monuments, the championships and the massive structure that make up the Coliseum enhance everyone’s football experience.
“My first thought upon entering the coliseum was during a fall 2008 team scrimmage and I recall feeling the grass and how perfect it was. At that moment Coach Carroll came over and said, ‘isn't this place amazing?’ said Cumming. “The first time I played in a game came two months later and I recall looking up and seeing all the fans and I couldn’t believe I was finally playing for the Trojans.”
Trojan football is one of the many things that the University of Southern California prides itself on. The tradition behind football makes the fall semester a student favorite. Saturdays mean it is game day and with game day comes crazy rituals and must-do traditions. Everyone has a tradition that they follow and the Coliseum keeps the traditions alive.
Simply Unmatched
“We have a legacy of not only winning but competing. We always have great players coming out of USC,” said Mika Lewis, USC marketing intern. “It’s almost a professional level compared to other college teams. The fans have a lot to do with it; the campus comes alive on game day from young kids to old alumni.”
The Coliseum stands alone, it does not need anything to be redone or changed in order to make it better. No other stadium can compete with the mystic that surrounds this stadium. The history of greatness that engulfs the Coliseum will live on for many years to come. The Olympics, the Stones, the Dodgers, the Rams, the SC Trojans … Unmatched star power gives the Coliseum an unbeatable legacy.
Sources:
Ross Cumming
University of Southern California- Linebacker
Mika Lewis
USC Athletic Marketing Intern
(408) 839-6552
Jeff Palmer
University of Oregon- Long snapper
(949) 338-6814
Chris Pousson
University of Southern California- Long snapper
(619) 261-1461
University of Southern California
Standard Examiner
“Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is America’s Most Historic Sporting Venue”
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