Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large open-air stadium in Exposition Park, south of downtown Los Angeles. LA28 lists it as an official venue for the 2028 Olympic Games, in its Exposition Park zone, hosting athletics and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. It is already an Olympic stadium twice over, and 2028 would make it the first venue to host the Games three times. This guide describes the stadium as it operates for ordinary events today. The competition programme, entrances and transport for the Games themselves have not been confirmed here, so treat anything about the Games period as unverified.

Entry is through security screening, and the bag rule is strict: only clear bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear bag, plus a small hand-sized clutch, are allowed; medical and infant-care bags are inspected. Backpacks, purses larger than a clutch, cinch bags, briefcases, coolers, camera and computer bags and luggage of any kind are not. All bags are searched. Gate opening times are set per event and are not the same every time, so take them from your ticket or the event page rather than from this guide. Decide before you leave who carries what, because a bag that fails the check means a trip back out of the queue.

The Metro E Line is the practical way to arrive as a group. Metro's Coliseum page points to the E Line and Expo Park/USC station, about a ten-minute walk through Exposition Park. From downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica the E Line runs direct, so most groups can converge on that one station wherever they are staying. Agree a meeting point at the station platform level or street exit before anyone splits up, because the walk to the stadium gates is shared with a crowd. Expect Games-time transport to be organised differently, with changes to roads, parking and shuttles around the venue. None of that is described here because it has not been verified.

The stadium sits inside Exposition Park, a large public park with several museums, and next to the University of Southern California campus. It is a park-and-campus setting rather than a street of bars and restaurants, so plan food and a place to wait before or after the event yourselves instead of expecting to find something at the gates. The park is easy to describe to anyone who has not been, which makes it a good place to gather a group beforehand.

The general emergency number in the United States is 911. For a group the most common problem is separation rather than safety: a very large crowd, one bag-check line, and several entrances. Agree one meeting point and one meeting time before anyone goes through a gate, and note your section and row when you sit down. Phone signal can be unreliable inside a full stadium, so do not rely on calling or messaging once you are inside. Southern California sun is strong in summer and a large part of the stadium is exposed, so carry water allowed by the security rules and plan for shade.

The stadium's monumental arched entrance and colonnade are the classic view, and are far easier to photograph with a group before the crowd arrives than after. Professional camera equipment is commonly restricted at large venues, and camera bags are explicitly not allowed here, so plan on a phone or a small camera that fits the clear bag.

English is the working language of the stadium and Spanish is very widely spoken across Los Angeles. Summer evenings are warm and dry, with a cooler wind after sunset. Check the current payment arrangements before you travel, because many venues here are card or phone payment only and this guide has not verified that for the Coliseum.

Accessible seating, parking and step-free routes at the Coliseum have not been verified for this guide, and the stadium is a large historic structure with multiple levels. The E Line is operated by Metro, which states that its rail lines are accessible. Contact the venue directly about accessible seating and entrances before you book, and confirm the arrangements rather than relying on this section.