Is Coliseum Track in Jeopardy? : Raiders, USC Say They Would Like to See Stadium Upgraded, but That Might Mean the $1.6-Million Surface Will Have to Go

The Coliseum was the focal point of the Olympic Games last summer. Crowds averaging 65,000 for the morning session and 90,000 in the evening enthusiastically supported the track and field portion of the Olympics.

A new synthetic Rekortan track and an infield competing area were installed for the Olympics at a cost of $1.6 million.

The track has added a new dimension to the Coliseum, but there is a possibility that it may not be a permanent fixture.

It’s widely reported that the Raiders want to lower the field to make room for more seats between the goal lines. Such a plan would mean destruction of the track.

It’s also believed that the Raiders and USC are exploring the possibility of moving the permanent seats in the peristyle, or east, end of the Coliseum closer to the playing field.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Deane Dana, president of the Coliseum Commission, wants the track to remain in place and would oppose any plan to remove it.

“I think with our present commission members that it would take a lot of convincing and selling for us to tear the track out,” Dana said.

Raider and USC officials said that they are studying options concerning improvements to the stadium, but wouldn’t specifically say that lowering the field, at the expense of the track, was a definite objective.

“We’re both (Raiders and USC) interested in considering improvements to the stadium that would be to the benefit of the fans,” said Al LoCasale, executive assistant of the Raiders. “But we don’t want to go anywhere beyond generalities.”

USC Athletic Director Mike McGee was also cautious in discussing plans for the Coliseum.

“We have had some conversations that included Al Davis (Raiders’ managing general partner) and the Coliseum architect (Robert Bennett) that would best be described as beginning to look at what the options are for renovation and improvement of the Coliseum,” McGee said.

“To characterize it as going in any particular direction would be premature. I think the overall theme is what can we do to upgrade the Coliseum.”

So USC and the Raiders are playing their cards close to the vest. Neither LoCasale or McGee would confirm that there is a definite objective of lowering the field, but neither would specifically deny that such a plan is included among options under consideration.

Dana said that the Coliseum Commission is interested in a broad-based sports concept while considering the needs of its major tenants, the Raiders and USC.

“But, as far as the track goes, I don’t think there is any sentiment on the commission to do anything with it,” he said. “It has been said they (USC and Raiders) could get another 12,000 to 15,000 good seats in if they did such a thing (lower the field). But we got a feeling through the Olympics that there is a lot more emphasis on track and field events, and we’re very anxious for an all-sporting event concept at the Coliseum and we want to try to advance it.

“I think the sentiment is strongly in favor of a broad mixture at the Coliseum and Sports Arena, and not putting all the emphasis on the Raiders, although we recognize they’re a major tenant and very important.”

The Coliseum Commission has approved the Raiders’ plans to build luxury boxes on the rim of the Coliseum, a construction that includes modernization of the press box. The Raiders’ ongoing legal battles with the NFL have put that project on hold, though.

There is a segment of the sports community that wants to retain the Coliseum track and is hoping that once the luxury boxes are built and revenue accrued, the Raiders will lose interest in lowering the Coliseum field.

But another question remains: Will future track meets at the Coliseum generate enough interest and be financially rewarding enough to justify the track’s existence?

H.D. Thoreau, co-commissioner of track and field for the Olympics, is promoting an international meet June 8 at the Coliseum.

He also has long-range plans to bring the world track championships to the Coliseum, perhaps in 1989 if the current format for the event is changed from a four-year to a two-year cycle.

Ernie Bullard, USC’s track coach, plans to have his team compete in the Coliseum four times next year. Among those meets will be a dual with UCLA and the Pacific 10 championships.

There is also a possibility that the state high school meet and the NCAA meet will be held at the Coliseum.

It remains to be seen whether Olympic fervor will be part of future track meets at the Coliseum. Even a crowd of 20,000 seems small in the 92,500-seat stadium.

Dana was asked if he would alter his position on retaining the Coliseum track if meets attracted small crowds, such as the 5,637 drawn by the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League.

“I don’t think so but I can’t speak for the other members,” he said. “You have to remember that success financially and public enthusiasm-wise can’t be vested in one thing. Like, there has been some indication that USC would like to take over the whole Sports Arena. Economically, that isn’t feasible.

“We have to have a broad spectrum, everything from the circus to the basketball Clippers. One event builds on another event. The same sort of thing goes for the Coliseum. We have to be sure it’s attracting a broad spectrum. That’s why we’re economically ahead there.”

For the moment, at least, track seems to be fitting into the broad spectrum.