Upgrades announced for football fans at Coliseum

A number of significant improvements and new features to enhance the fan experience at USC football home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum are planned for the upcoming season, USC Athletic Director Pat Haden announced.

I believe Trojan fans will really feel part of the game in ways that are unique to USC and unlike anywhere else in college football.

Pat Haden

“We are excited to introduce a number of things that will better our fans’ experience when they come to the Coliseum to watch a USC football game,” Haden said. “Our goal is for that experience to begin the moment someone buys a game ticket through the time they return home after the game. We have worked diligently to introduce these new aspects of the fan experience, and I believe Trojan fans will really feel part of the game in ways that are unique to USC and unlike anywhere else in college football.”

Coliseum Clubs

Two Coliseum Clubs featuring live televised sports and upscale food and beverages will be located along the outside fence line on the south side and northwest corner of the Coliseum near Gates 6 and 19, respectively. The clubs will be open free to the public pregame until 30 minutes before kickoff. Then, from kickoff until an hour after the game (including halftime), the clubs will be open exclusively to Trojan Athletic Fund members.

Among the new, upgraded concession food items available inside the Coliseum will be smoked ribs, sliced steak sandwiches, artisan sausage, signature pizza, fried chicken and funnel cakes, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free items. The points of sale at all concession stands have been increased, the number of registers at the Coliseum’s ground-level concession stands has been doubled, and the concession stand queues have been redesigned to expedite customer checkout.

Live interviews with new USC football coach Steve Sarkisian at the opening kickoff, at halftime and at game’s end will be featured on the Coliseum videoboard. The popular TunnelVision online pregame show on USCTrojans.com, which originates from the base of the Coliseum tunnel, will begin an hour prior to kickoff and will be shown live on the Coliseum videoboard. Other behind-the-scenes videos, with additional camera angles and on-field microphones, will be shown throughout the game on the videoboard.

Mobile delivery of tickets

Mobile ticketing will be available at all Coliseum entry gates. Fans who request mobile delivery when purchasing tickets will have their tickets, which are optimized for display on smartphones, emailed to them promptly.

The parking plan in the Coliseum lots has been refined through improved coordination with state and local traffic agencies, leading to consistent automobile ingress and egress paths and improved entry and exit times. In addition, a taxi stand will be located on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Restrooms on the ground level of the Coliseum have been upgraded with new fixtures, lighting and paint. USC also has continued its relationship with ABM Management, a provider of maintenance services committed to keeping the stadium clean.

Refinements to the Coliseum’s distributed antenna system have been made to help boost wireless coverage within the stadium. There also will be two new LED signage boards on the north sideline walls near the 10-yard lines, while the other sideline walls will have a cleaner, simplified look

Landscaping and signage

Improvements have also been made with the stadium landscaping as well as in the locker rooms and press box. There will be new and better directional signage around the stadium. The Coliseum ushers and Ambassadors will undergo additional customer service training.

The existing Audi Suites in the interior of the peristyle will now have a shared upstairs level featuring live televised sports.

USC, in partnership with global hospitality/client services leader Legends, previously announced several premium enhancements at the Coliseum, including 10 on-field suites (Field Suites) and two members-only clubs on the field (Field Club) and outside the peristyle (Peristyle Club). To reserve a Field Suite or obtain membership in the Field Club or Peristyle Club, contact the USC Premium Department at premium@usc.edu .

Last year, USC entered into a lease agreement with the Coliseum Commission that entrusts the university with managing the Coliseum and requires USC to commit at least $70 million toward stadium renovations. Planning is underway for a remodeled Coliseum.

The 2014 USC football team returns 18 starters on offense and defense from a squad that went 10-4 last season. The Trojans will open their 2014 campaign at home against Fresno State on Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m.

For information on USC football tickets, call (213) 740-GOSC or visit GetTrojanTix.com.