Businesses Near LA Memorial Coliseum Brace For Return Of Rams To LA
EXPOSITION PARK (CBSLA.com) — As fans celebrate the return of the Rams to Southern California, local businesses near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum are bracing for the impact.
That's because, while the team waits for a new stadium to be built in Inglewood, they'll call the Coliseum home for the next couple of years.
They officially return this fall.
"65 to 80,000 people a game," said Danny Hizami, who owns Figueroa Philly Cheese Steak located across the street from the stadium.
Hizami says the news has him both excited and a little worried.
"I'm really nervous about how many people I'm going to need, how many steaks I'm going to have to order," he said. "But to have a line to the door, any day, I will take it."
While some feel having an NFL team will score business, others feel it'll hurt the bottom line.
"I think that's bad, that's a lot of traffic," said Jose Esquivel of Tom's Jr. Burgers, which is also across the street from the sports arena.
The manager says they've been here for the last 26 years when the Raiders were still in L.A. and when the Lakers played at the sports arena.
And, he says, increased traffic always drives away customers.
"Before we got the USC games. It's a lot of traffic. We have some customers who say, 'You know what? I'm sorry, I cancel the order because of the traffic,' " Esquivel said.
On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke about the Rams playing at the Coliseum and acknowledged how busy it will get in Exposition Park.
"For something for 3 years to be able to celebrate while we get the Inglewood stadium done. I think will be a great thing," he said.