LA Waits To Hear If USOC Will Endorse Third Olympic Bid
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — City leaders and many residents are hoping the third time is a charm for Los Angeles as it seeks to beat out Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., for the United States Olympic Committee's endorsement as host for the 2024 Games.
The USOC is meeting in Denver this week, and could announce whose bid it will endorse as early as Thursday morning.
On Wednesday night, KCAL9's Serene Branson visited several venues that could see upgrades if LA wins the right to host the 2024 Games, including Exposition Park and the Coliseum.
An artist's rendering shows how the LA Coliseum and surrounding property would be transformed.
The last time LA hosted the Olympics in 1984 Lionel Richie performed, and the Coliseum was the site of the opening and closing ceremonies.
Among those with happy memories of those Games is Whittier resident Andrew Hurley, who attended the Olympics as a teenager, and would love for them to come back.
"I had a great time, I attended a fencing event, cycling over by Cal State Dominguez Hills," Hurley said. "I would definitely go, and I think it would mean a lot to the city of Los Angles. I'd love to be able to bring my little daughter."
Already being a two-time host may not hurt LA's chances. In fact, organizers have said having existing venues may give LA a golden edge.
Much of the infrastructure is already in place, like the Coliseum built for the 1932 Olympics. But the committee says it would raise millions to revamp it to add three seating levels and luxury boxes.
Meanwhile, newer world class venues, like Staples Center where basketball would be played, make Downtown LA even more attractive.
According to the proposal, there would be a primary cluster downtown with three satellite clusters on the Westside, in Carson (Avalon Boulevard area), and at the LA Harbor.
Los Angeles is already pushing for the win with plans for $40 billion in improvements already underway, compared to Boston's $4.5 billion proposal.