USC seeking control of Coliseum
An agreement could be finalized that will enable USC to take over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena on Monday with a 98-year lease that has already been negotiated, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The lease is expected to begin when the school and the nearby California Science Center finalize a management agreement of state-owned parking lots during Coliseum and Sports Arena events.
The Trojans have played at the coliseum since it opened in 1923.
USC agreed to operate the coliseum and arena for five months, after the Science Center board postponed voting on a parking deal.
The Coliseum Commission voted last week to approve the temporary arrangement. If the Science Center board does not approve a parking lot deal by Dec. 16, the 98-year agreement that gives USC control of the venues could collapse.
USC wants to control the parking as a condition in operating the coliseum and arena. Opponents say it would adversely affect parking for visitors to the Science Center and California African American Museum, and the museums' revenue could fall.
USC could claim museum parking for nine or 10 major events annually under the new deal, depending on the number of home football games in a season.
