Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Guide for Visiting Fans

Transit is genuinely the best option here, and that's not something you hear often about Los Angeles. The Metro E Line has two stops adjacent to the Coliseum — Expo Park/USC or Expo/Vermont — that are less than a five-minute walk to the entrance gates. The E Line runs from downtown LA all the way to Santa Monica, so wherever you're staying in the city, you can likely get within one transfer of the stadium. Fare is $1.75 per ride.

Flying in through LAX? The distance between LAX and the Coliseum is about 12 miles. Take the E Line westbound from one of the three stations near campus, get off at Expo/Crenshaw, then board the K Line southbound to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, and take the LAX Metro Connector shuttle to the terminals. Budget about an hour each way by transit. By rideshare or car, travel time averages 30–40 minutes — assuming you're not hitting LA traffic, which is a bold assumption on a Saturday afternoon.

Driving in via the 110 freeway is the obvious route, but get off early and don't expect a quick exit. Rideshare drop-off during game day is generally along Figueroa Street or inside Exposition Park; pickup locations are on Vermont Ave. between Exposition Blvd. and 36th Pl/Downey Way, and at Flower St. and Jefferson Blvd.

Metro (best option): Head directly to the Expo Park/USC station — don't linger. Trains run every six minutes after the game , which is unusually frequent and means you don't have to white-knuckle a crush at the platform. Wait times are short if you move immediately after the final whistle; wait 20 minutes and the platform gets genuinely unpleasant. Load your TAP card with a round-trip fare before you go so you're not fumbling at the machine post-game.

Driving: The 110 freeway on-ramps get backed up fast heading both north (downtown) and south. The lots north on USC campus clear faster than Exposition Park. Realistically, plan for 30–45 minutes before you're moving freely on the freeway. Heading east on Jefferson Blvd. to surface streets can sometimes beat the 110 queue if you're going that direction.

Rideshare: Rideshare services are not allowed into Exposition Park until 45–60 minutes after the event due to traffic flow. Instead, walk north to Vermont Ave. — the designated pickup zone is on Vermont Ave. between Exposition Blvd. and 36th Pl/Downey Way. Surge pricing is real and ugly immediately post-game. The one tip that actually works: walk four or five blocks away from the stadium toward Jefferson and Vermont, away from the post-game pedestrian crush, before requesting your ride. You'll get a faster pickup and a lower surge multiplier.

Best single move: Take the Metro. Seriously. Load the TAP card, walk straight to the Expo Park/USC platform the moment the clock hits zero, and you'll be downtown in 15 minutes while the drivers are still sitting in the Exposition Park exit queue.

Parking at the Coliseum is a pre-planned affair, not a wing-it situation. There are a limited number of public parking spaces in Exposition Park, and for USC games and most events, parking is by permit only — there are no cash lots in Exposition Park. For USC football games, the closest lots typically run about $40 per vehicle.

Fans without season passes are encouraged to park on the USC campus north of the Coliseum and walk through Exposition Park. Available campus lots run about $50 on a first-come, first-served basis, and open six hours before kickoff. The Downey Way Structure is the closest campus option at about 0.6 miles from the nearest gate. You can also prepay for parking at the Downey, Royal, Shrine, and Grand Structures through ParkWhiz. A free shuttle runs from the Grand Ave. structure to Pardee Way on game days, starting three hours before kickoff.

Bottom line: book parking in advance online. Don't show up expecting to pay cash in a surface lot and walk 200 feet to the gate — that's not how this one works.

The USC Hotel (on campus at 3540 S. Figueroa) is the most convenient base you'll find — it's literally a walk across campus to the gates. It's the only hotel located directly on the USC campus, offering unparalleled proximity to the stadium. Expect to pay a premium on game weekends, and book early because it fills fast with families and alumni.

Downtown LA, about 2–3 miles north via the 110, is the better option if you want actual nightlife and dining options after the game. The JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton at LA Live are upscale choices that put you steps from bars and restaurants and one E Line stop from the stadium. The JW Marriott is an upscale downtown hotel connected to the LA Live entertainment complex. The Mid-City and West Adams neighborhoods, both accessible via the E Line, offer more affordable Airbnb and boutique hotel options and are worth considering if you want to feel like an actual Angeleno rather than a tourist. Avoid booking way out in Santa Monica or Hollywood if you're driving to the game — the post-game freeway situation will punish you.

The honest truth about the Coliseum neighborhood is that it's not overflowing with sports bars the way a stadium district in, say, Denver or Nashville would be. But there are genuine gems if you know where to look.

The Fields LA is the closest and most obvious pre-game spot. It's an airy food hall located right next to the Coliseum and Banc of California Stadium, with eight stalls to choose from. Burritos La Palma is a standout — a simple birria de res burrito in their signature flour tortillas still excites. Get there early; the communal seating fills up with a mix of soccer fans and Trojan faithful.

McKay's at the USC Hotel is the de facto pre-game restaurant for USC fans, which is worth noting as an away fan because it means the crowd skews very cardinal-and-gold. Open for breakfast through dinner, McKay's offers everything from burgers to flat iron steaks, and there's even a salad called "The Coliseum." If you want to eat well before a game and don't mind being outnumbered, it's a genuinely solid kitchen.

USC Traditions Bar & Grill (inside the Ronald Tutor Campus Center) is the student-friendly dive option. It's a convivial pub open to all — USC student or not — where you'll find chicken wings, lobster rolls, tacos, and big-screen TVs. Show up in your team colors and expect some good-natured grief.

For something a bit more interesting, head to Mercado La Paloma a few blocks west. It's a community food hall with some of the best Yucatecan food in the city — the acclaimed Yucatecan restaurant inside offers regional specialties like cochinita pibil. It's not a sports bar, but it's a far better meal than anything you'll find inside the stadium.

Once you've explored the neighborhood scene, here's what awaits you inside the Coliseum itself.

The in-stadium food program features menus from Executive Chef John Brenning, with options including house-smoked BBQ, traditional Mexican street food, and Hawaiian-style dishes — all celebrating LA's diverse culinary heritage. Expect to pay roughly $14–16 for a beer and $12–18 for a main food item inside. The Coliseum is fully cashless, so only cards and mobile pay are accepted at concession stands — tap-to-pay and your phone are your best friends here.

The Coliseum prohibits bags, backpacks, and other containers from entering the venue with only two exceptions: one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag not exceeding 12" x 6" x 12", or a one-gallon clear plastic storage bag (Ziploc or similar). Guests may also carry a small clutch bag approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap. No fanny packs, no opaque totes, no "but it's practically clear" exceptions. Don't find out at the gate.

The Coliseum is cashless — only credit/debit cards and mobile payments are accepted. That covers concessions, parking, and merchandise. Leave the cash in your hotel room. Ticket sales and will call typically open at least three hours before an event. Gates generally open around 90 minutes before kickoff for football games. Download your mobile tickets to your wallet before arriving — screenshots are not accepted.

For away fans, Gates 1 and 19 are your practical entry points on the north and south sides respectively, with the box office also accessible at Gate 29.

The Coliseum accommodates patrons in wheelchairs or with restricted mobility, featuring multiple areas at street level that do not require ramps or lifts to access. Accessible tunnels lead directly into the seating area and are situated around most of the circumference of the venue. All gates have a designated priority accessible entry lane.

ADA tickets can be obtained at Guest Services booths located inside Section 109 or inside Gate 23. Assistive listening devices for fans with hearing or visual impairments are available for checkout at Customer Service, located in the Coliseum West Administration Building across from Tunnel 11. The Coliseum also provides closed captioning services, delivering text of all public address announcements during the event, accessible from any smartphone browser. Service animals are welcome throughout the venue.

The Coliseum is a bowl stadium — the classic peristyle-end oval — which means sightlines are generally quite good from most sections. The field was lowered 11 feet during renovations, which helps put you closer to the action than the sheer age of the venue might suggest.

There is no formally designated away fan section at the Coliseum in the way you'd find at an NFL venue, so visiting fans tend to scatter or cluster based on ticket availability. Your best bet as an away team supporter is the upper east end (peristyle end, sections 1–26) or the upper north. You'll be among more mixed crowds there, less concentrated USC diehards, and frankly the views are fine. Avoid the lower bowl in sections 101–110 on the south/home sideline — you'll be deep in Trojan territory and may spend more energy managing the atmosphere than watching the game.

Club seats at the 400 level are the most comfortable option, with wider, padded seats and access to climate-controlled lounges where you can relax or enjoy upscale food and drinks. If you want to watch in peace and comfort, the club level is worth the upgrade.

Away fans should prepare for a different experience once they find their designated section in the stadium.

The Coliseum crowd varies enormously by opponent. Notre Dame and UCLA games are raucous and territorial; a mid-tier conference opponent on a warm October afternoon might find you sitting near plenty of casual fans who are more interested in the tailgate they're still recovering from. The student section is genuinely loud during the first half, though it tends to thin out if the game gets away from USC. What no one warns you about: the Olympic cauldron atop the peristyle is lit during the fourth quarter of every USC home game — it's a legitimately cool moment, and you'll involuntarily feel some awe even as a visitor. The sight lines from the upper bowl on the peristyle end are spectacular, and on a clear Southern California evening with the cauldron burning and 70,000 people under an open sky, this is one of the best settings in college football, regardless of who's winning.

What's the best way to get to the Coliseum from downtown LA?

Take the Metro E Line to the Expo Park/USC station — it's a 5-minute walk to the entrance gates. The E Line runs from East LA to Santa Monica, connecting at 7th St./Metro Center in downtown.

What is the bag policy at the LA Memorial Coliseum?

You may bring a clear 12"×6"×12" bag, or a one-gallon clear storage bag (limit one per person), and a small clutch bag no larger than 6.5"×4.5". No backpacks, fanny packs, or non-clear bags of any kind.

Is the Coliseum cashless?

Yes. The Coliseum is cashless — only credit/debit cards and mobile pay are accepted at all concessions, parking, and merchandise locations.

How much does parking cost for a USC game?

Parking rates vary by event; for USC football games, it's typically about $40 per vehicle in Exposition Park. USC campus lots run around $50 on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-book online — don't assume you'll find something day-of.

When do gates open for USC football games?

Ticket sales and will call typically open at least three hours before an event. Stadium gates for football generally open approximately 90 minutes before kickoff, and parking lots open as early as six hours prior.

Where are the best seats for away fans? There's no dedicated away section. Your best bets are the upper peristyle end (east) or upper north sections, where the crowd is more mixed. Avoid the lower south sideline, which is the heart of USC's home territory.

When was the LA Memorial Coliseum built?

Construction took less than two years, with groundbreaking on December 21, 1921, and work completed on May 1, 1923. A $315 million renovation completed in 2019 — funded entirely by USC — added luxury suites, club seats, loge boxes, a rooftop terrace, and new HD video boards while preserving the historic architecture.

How far is LAX from the Coliseum?

The distance between LAX and the Coliseum is about 12 miles. By car it's roughly 25–35 minutes without traffic; by transit via the E Line and K Line connection, budget about 45–60 minutes each way.