After being admonished last week by the Rose Bowl Operating Company to grow up and negotiate with the University of Southern California, the Coliseum Commission, which oversees the storied stadium where the Men of Troy play football came back with a counter-proposal of half-measures.
According to WeAreSC, the Coliseum Commission is offering a plan which would give USC a shorter-term contract to play at the Coliseum than the University is asking for, with no structural improvements to the Stadium. Their only real concession is to guarantee that no NFL team will be playing in the Coliseum. While they're at it, why not guarantee no NBA, Major League Baseball or Bundesliga team will play there, because those scenarios are just as likely to happen!
Although the Los Angeles Times is reporting that L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger are working to forge a deal, it seems apparent to observers of the negotiation that is Schwarzenegger wanted a deal to happen, he could use his leverage with his three commission appointees to vote with Villaraigosa's two voters and strike a deal. Hopefully the Mayor will get a chance to bend the action-hero Governor's ear and prompt the Governor to terminate these drawn-out talks!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-14-2007 @ 5:53PM
rick said...
all their bowl games would truly be at home now.
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12-14-2007 @ 6:41PM
Richard Weissfeld said...
Another example of government incompetence. Sell the stadium to a bunch of guys (i.e., billionaires) who know how to run a business. Look at Staples Center. Oh, yeah, exclude the Dolans from the bidding. They're just a bunch of drunks with money.
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12-29-2007 @ 12:34PM
Julianne said...
A wonderful series of traditions and customs will be lost if we don't find a way to keep the Trojans at the Coliseum. I cannot imagine the heraldry the marching band and all of its entourage evokes being displayed without Tommy Trojan nearby and Traveler setting the torch ablaze at the fourth quarter. Even more importantly, would be the loss of history tied to the 1923 Olympic games. That's what was so immense and wonderful about going to thr USC gsmes at the Coliseum. You felt a part of history and tradition.
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12-16-2007 @ 9:32PM
Bob said...
Plain and simple. The LA Coliseum Commission is a joke! They lost the LA Rams, LA Raiders, UCLA, and now potentially USC! This Commission can't even do what it takes to bring another NFL franchise to Los Angeles either! USC should leave if the demands to refurbish the Grand Old Lady cannot take place. What gets me is, when will the boneheads of this commission ever figure it out? How many more teams have to leave before they get it?
Hint, the Rose Bowl re-did their entire stadium (press box, lockers, seats, etc). I wonder why?
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12-15-2007 @ 4:54PM
dot-head said...
thank god i dont have to drive to any of theose games
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12-16-2007 @ 2:48PM
Randy Lake said...
The Coliseum is in Watts! Convert it to a rib joint and play football anywhere besides the Rose Bowl which has the worlds worst parking and takes hours to escape.
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12-16-2007 @ 7:02PM
Tony Melendez said...
People with money get sentmental about the Coliseum around here. That stadium is way past it's usefulness,and good luck in trying to find a place to park around there,although my Dad and I found parling at the USC campus parking lot,but that was during an L.A. Express Football Game!
Anyway,the Coliseum would probably be good for Pop Warner league Football games or they should tear that place down and make additional parking for the L.A. County museum,and bid a long over due farewell to a relic.
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12-16-2007 @ 6:24PM
Charles Chaple said...
No wonder the Rams and UCLA left.
No wonder the Raiders went back to Oakland.
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12-16-2007 @ 9:55PM
Mike Kane said...
Everyone in California is incompetent. Just look at Nancy Pelosi as a prime example.
I never understood how the national news can rate the teams in California the way they do. Every team in the Big Ten has a better facility than LA. You people are just amateurs. Go to Green Bay to find the professionals.
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12-17-2007 @ 1:49AM
USC blogger said...
Scott, this is old news....we will really find out what's going on this week. But thanks for starting the blogging controversy.
Mike Kane: Must be a Big 10 alum....remember Mike, the schools of the Big 10 have MORE property to BUILD on than USC, UCLA, or CAL (in northern CA)....just pointing out the facts....OH yeah, and the Big 10 teams can't win in California because of ? Let's hear the excuse. USC anywhere, anytime, especially in November....this is a challenge.
Tony Melendez: Dear fellow Angelino, the people with the money are not sentimental because THEY, along with MOST Angelinos, thought the Coliseum Commission would take care of everything, and they (CC)have...just like Bob said, they have chased away ALL the teams who have played in the Coliseum. ALL because its a "landmark"....IF anything, the Coliseum Commission MISSED its biggest chance with Al Davis and NOW there BEST chance with USC ($100M for improvements over 10 yrs?!?!?!).....Be angry with the Commission, Mayor V, and the Governator for dragging their shoes in the sand.
More to come this week.
FIGHT ON!
p.s. Rose Bowl prediction
USC 37
Illinois 10
Another Big 10 pounding at the expense of Ron Zook.
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1-06-2008 @ 8:52AM
karen said...
I am honestly not sure what the big problem is when it comes to the coliseum. Or should I say to the coliseum commission. They should just let USC buy the Coliseum and be done with it. But no matter what happens the commission must realize that the coliseum will need to be repaired and refurbished one way or the other. So why not make this easy and GIVE USC WHAT THEY WANT. With the amount of people who come to the coliseum every year they sure make enough money to fix it. And the fact the public obviously already feel the coliseum is USC's home then just let it be and accept USC's proposal. If the commission is holding out for some miraculous event (which is what it would take for an NFL team to want to make the coliseum their home) that would be a huge mistake on their part. Please let it be and let the USC Trojans...Spirit of Troy...remain in the place they have known and called home for over 70 years! Have a heart.
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