Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Coliseum
Victor, what's with the Trojans moving from the Coliseum to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and sharing that venue with your rival UCLA?
Is building your own stadium on campus not an option?
Actually, I just checked the SC campus on Google earth and the Coliseum appears to be part of campus or right next to your campus.
Why don't you just buy it? Or take it over, invade it, do something? Aren't SC alumni a very influential, super rich, powerful group?
Couldn't you guys just pass a law or do something to take over that venue?
Who are these old men in some strange commission to make decisions that have such an impact on a proud and powerful university? Isn't the coliseum essentially for the use and benefit of USC? Does anybody else (other than rock groups and an occasional Olympiad) ever play there?
I'm sorry to be so ignorant, but I thought you guys owned the place, if not legally, at least had an equitable interest in the place.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this monumental news!
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4 comments:
Joaq,
Great take. The article on SC potentially leaving the Coliseum for the Rose Bowl was on the front page of the L.A. Times this morning. Major story.
The City of Los Angeles, by and through the Coliseum, owns and operates the venerable, old facility. This Commission, and its members, know nothing about running a facility such as this. They have run out of town the following: Basketball: Lakers, Clippers (from the Sports Arena, which is in the same complex as the Coliseum and they run it, too); Hockey: L.A. Kings, from the same Sports Arena; Professional football: L.A. Rams and L.A. (formerly Oakland and now presently Oakland) Raiders; College football: UCLA Bruins.
Need I say more. These people are goofballs. They were supposed to put in luxury boxes, among other things, for everybody. When that fell through, Al Davis, Managing General Partner for the Raiders, broke the lease and headed back to Oakland, where the Oakland City people gave him a stack of $$ to come back to the "other" City by the Bay. He was told, and it was put in writing, that they would build him luxury boxes. Again, when they renigged, he bolted.
SC has said they would buy the Coliseum and run it. "No" came the answer. SC has said they would enter into a long term lease, with the option to buy. "No", again.
You are right: It is across the street from the campus, in Exposition Park. The improvements in the Coliseum were done for the Olympics. All corporate $$. The City of L.A. just stood by, got a brand new (refurbished) stadium, did not spend a dime, and continues to reap rental fees from SC and others.
Go figure.
SC has all the pull and $$ in the world, but in the face of government bureaucrats who know nothing and do nothing, nothing ever happens.
over and out.
Victor
Thanks, Vic. Maybe I'm from the South where good 'ol boys eat government bureaucrats for lunch (Remember FSU telling the NCAA pc committe to stick it where the sun don't shine if they think FSU is going to change its Indian mascot). Maybe the mindset is a little different down here but it would seem to me that an organized group of SC alumni could really cut through all this crap and just force the city to sell the Coliseum.
Joaq,
True, true, and true. The only problem is that the City never does anything right and, so long as they own the Coliseum, it will be mired in the problems that continue to plague it to this day.
Nothing ever gets done by government. SC has 2 proposals before the City and the City has said "no" to both. They just do not want to sell it, at any price. Imagine that: SC will pay top $$ and spend more $$ to make it a true, modern show-piece. The City says "No".
There were more articles today. Some think it is just posturing on the part of SC in order to get more favorable lease terms. I think we are getting ready to leave. Our lease expires after the game Saturday. Both sides with their respective heels dug in...sounds like we need a Mediator. Know any good ones?
Victor
Joaq,
Additional note: Re: Government bureaucrats. A better analogy would be the City of Miami and the venerable Orange Bowl. The University of Miami had a great tradition there. They still hold the record for # of consecutive home wins at the Orange Bowl. Meanwhile, the Bowl was allowed to rot into decay. Now, no more Dolphins. No more Orange Bowl game as it is now played at another venue.
A City bears the responsibility of maintaining its facilities while it collects rental fees from a team(s). They should not be able hold teams/schools hostage and force them to play in a rundown facility.
SC, Miami, UCLA and others have to leave to better facilities if and when the Cities involved will not be good landlords and upkeep their stadiums.
What is funny is that nobody talks about what is really at stake: Revenue sharing with the income from future luxury boxes and premier seating.
Imagine this: The City of Los Angeles spends $100M to renovate and construct 100's of luxury boxes lining the rim of the Coliseum (or, better yet, halfway up the stadium). Once sold (and sell they will) for $100's of $1,000s, who gets the money, SC or L.A.? Or, if there is to be a split, in what proportion will the revenue be split. It becomes an accounting/profit sharing exercise for the big $$$$. Get the pic?
These behind the scenes negotiations are just the tip of the iceberg. Premium seating, senate seats, PSL's (Personal Seat Licenses) are the rage in professional sports. They are headed into the college ranks, believe me. This is the test case, if it has not been broached at other universities.
L.A., just like Miami, wants their piece of the action. SC and L.A. are simply arguing about revenue sharing.
As an aside, did you see the most recent "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" on HBO? It has a segment on the $165M T. Boone Pickens gave to his alma mater, Oklahoma State. The sum has grown to more than $300M, as his investment group is managing the charitable fund for the university. You should see the renovations to the stadium and athletic facilities. Amazing.
At any rate, it is not to say that a major benefactor can save SC, as the City has dug in their heels, but, they need to negotiate involving real $$ and the luxury box issue. Otherwise, we are headed to the Rose Bowl (the game and the soon-to-be home field).
Give me your thoughts.
Victor
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