Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Name	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Caption	Exterior of the arena in Exposition Park
Location	Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California
Opened	1959
Closed	2016
Demolished	2016–2017
Capacity	~15,000
Architect	Welton Becket and Associates
Owner	City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was an indoor arena located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California. Opened in 1959, it hosted a wide range of National Basketball Association exhibitions, National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments, Olympic Games events, professional boxing, and touring concerts by major artists. Situated adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and near the University of Southern California, the venue was a focal point for Southern California sports and entertainment for more than five decades.

History

The arena was conceived in the 1950s during a post‑World War II expansion that included the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and civic projects promoted by the City of Los Angeles administration and veteran organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Designed by Welton Becket and his firm, the project reflected mid‑century municipal investment alongside landmarks like the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The facility opened amid publicity involving local officials, civic leaders, and sports promoters including figures associated with the NBA and NCAA. Over decades the arena hosted tenants and events tied to franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers (pre‑Forum), the Los Angeles Clippers (pre‑Staples Center), and college programs like the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins.

Design and Architecture

The arena's modernist design by Welton Becket and Associates employed the era's architectural vocabulary shared with projects like the Cinerama Dome and other Los Angeles landmarks. Structural systems echoed those used in mid‑20th century arenas, with a bowl configuration, cantilevered seating, and exposed concrete similar to contemporaneous venues like the Memorial Auditorium (Columbus, Ohio) and the Madison Square Garden era precedents. Materials and finishes drew comparisons to municipal complexes in Los Angeles County and civic venues associated with the Public Works Administration era, while interior circulation reflected standards later codified in building codes influenced by events at venues such as Iroquois Theater—leading to upgraded egress and safety systems over time. The arena’s adjacency to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum formed a paired civic ensemble at Exposition Park often cited by urban planners, historians, and preservationists.

Events and Tenants

The arena functioned as a multipurpose home for professional and collegiate tenants including stints by Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Aztecs, and indoor soccer franchises tied to the North American Soccer League. It hosted post‑season tournaments organized by the NCAA and conference championships for the Pac-12 Conference, plus boxing cards promoted by figures connected to Don King and Bob Arum. Concert promoters such as Bill Graham and companies associated with acts like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, The Beatles‑era solo touring artists, Madonna, and U2 used the arena for major performances, while television broadcasts by networks including ABC (American Broadcasting Company), CBS, and NBC originated sports and entertainment specials there. Cheering crowds gathered for civic ceremonies that involved institutions like the University of Southern California and municipal events coordinated with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Notable Sporting Moments and Concerts

On the sporting side, the arena hosted memorable playoff games, boxing matches featuring champions associated with the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council, and amateur competitions tied to the United States Olympic Committee during preparation cycles for the 1960 Summer Olympics and later trials. High‑profile basketball games featured coaching legends and players linked to John Wooden, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and others whose careers intertwined with the arena’s timeline. Concerts produced landmark performances by artists represented by managers and labels such as Columbia Records, Warner Bros. Records, and promoters tied to the Fillmore scene; tours by The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, and pop icons like Michael Jackson and Madonna contributed to the arena’s cultural résumé.

Demolition and Redevelopment

The City of Los Angeles announced plans to replace the arena in the 2010s amid redevelopment discussions involving the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission. Debates engaged preservationists from organizations like the Los Angeles Conservancy and urban planners affiliated with institutions such as the USC School of Architecture. Demolition began after the arena closed in 2016, with contracting firms and municipal agencies overseeing removal and site remediation. The site became part of a redevelopment program connected to construction of the adjacent Banc of California Stadium and broader master‑planning initiatives in Exposition Park, which included transportation upgrades linked to the Los Angeles Metro Rail expansion and streetscape projects funded through local and private partnerships.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

The arena’s legacy persists in the histories of franchised teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, in collegiate athletics at USC and UCLA, and in the careers of performers who staged significant concerts there. Preservation debates and redevelopment efforts involved stakeholders from City of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, and advocacy groups such as the Los Angeles Conservancy, shaping policy discussions on adaptive reuse and municipal planning. Archival materials related to the arena are held by repositories including the Los Angeles Public Library, the USC Libraries, and local historical societies, where researchers study its role in mid‑century urban development, entertainment industry circuits, and Southern California cultural memory.

Category:Sports venues in Los Angeles Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Los Angeles