Now that the Los Angeles Rams have concluded their season, USC has begun construction on renovations to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Coliseum is currently shared by the NFL’s Rams and USC, the latter of which has been planning a major $270 million renovation to the facility that will unfold over the coming years. The Rams played their final game of the season–a playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons–on Saturday, allowing USC to begin construction on Monday.
Renovations to the Coliseum will take place over the next couple of years, and are expected to modernize the facility and ultimately reduce its seating capacity in the process. Some of the results will be noticeable when the Rams return for preseason action in August, but most of the upgrades are slated to be finished for the 2019 season. More from The Los Angeles Daily News:
Capacity will ultimately shrink from about 94,000 to 77,500 and include the addition of luxury boxes and club suites.
Construction will start with the building of a so-called scholarship tower on the south side that will hold the luxury boxes and club suites. It will halt in August prior to the Rams’ first preseason game, then resume once their 2018 season ends.
Capacity will be about 80,000 in 2018 while the renovation is underway, prompting USC to twice reseat season-ticket holders for this fall and in 2019.
The Coliseum is expected to be home to both the Rams and USC through the 2019 season, with the Rams moving to a new stadium in Inglewood in 2020. However, the Coliseum will continue to be home to USC and factors in prominently among the slate of venues that will be used during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
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