November 28, 2007

The L.A. Coliseum and L.A. politicians

Los Angeles politicians, it seems, love the Los Angeles Coliseum.

First it was Sen. Mark Ridley Thomas, who sent a letter to the Los Angeles Dodgers suggesting that the team commemorate 50 years in L.A. by playing a game in their original digs at the L.A. Coliseum.

On Monday, the Dodgers and World Series Champion Boston Red Sox announced a Coliseum exhibition game on March 28. (The stadium, by the way, is in Ridley-Thomas' district.)

Then today the Los Angeles Times reported that the University of Southern California's football team is in talks with the Rose Bowl, located in nearby Pasadena, to leave the Coliseum.

While the talks may just be a negotiating tactic, the mayor opposes the move.

From the LAT:

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is "absolutely committed to keeping the Trojans in South Los Angeles," according to Matt Szabo, a mayoral press secretary.

"USC football is one of the most important economic engines in South L.A. and the mayor has no interest in seeing those jobs desert the city for Pasadena," Szabo said.

It would also be a serious home-field advantage lost for the USC Trojans, who have lost only one game at the Coliseum in the last six years.

(Below is a photo of Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard after Stanford upset Southern California 24-23 in USC's only home loss since the 2001 season on Oct. 6, 2007)

Photo credit: AP Photo/ Matt Sayles

Posted by Shane Goldmacher on November 28, 2007 10:12 AM