USC In Talks To Buy Coliseum Land From California

LOS ANGELES, (AP) -- The University of Southern California is in talks with the state to buy property encompassing Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the adjacent Sports Arena and some parking lots.

University real estate chief Kristina Raspe said Wednesday that formal talks began last week about buying state-owned land in Exposition Park across from the school.

The Coliseum has hosted two Olympics and is the home field of the USC Trojan football team.

The sports venues are operated by a city-county-state joint powers commision which leases them from the state. A deal would technically make USC the landlord but wouldn't affect the commission's control until its lease expires in 2054.

USC says it would preserve the historic 1920s-era Coliseum.