L.A. Sports Arena 1969 - '79

1960 photo: Herald-Examiner Collection 

LAPL

Opened July 1959

3939 S. Figueroa Blvd.

Located  in Exposition Park adjacent to the L.A. Coliseum.

16,000 seats

Joint state, city, county owned.  Sister facility of L. A. Coliseum.

It was designed by architect Welton Becket and  built to accommodate 16,000. Becket also designed Capitol Records in Hollywood and the Santa Monica Civic Center. 

Vice President Nixon officiated the grand opening ceremonies which included setting a plaque memorializing American servicemen who died in WW2 and Korea at a fountain in front of the arena.

The Sports Arena was a major step toward making L.A. a major league sports community. 

1960 photo: Herald-Examiner Collection 

LAPL 

The Sports Arena hosted the Democratic National Convention gathering in 1960. It was the site of John F. Kennedy's acceptance speech. 

It was home to the L. A. Lakers basketball 1960 - 1967, USC Trojan basketball 1959 - 2006, and UCLA Bruin Basketball 1960 - 1965.   

The Sports Arena has been used for boxing matches, ice hockey,  Ringling Brothers Circus. 

L.A. Thunderbirds Roller Games, Times Indoor Games, Ice Follies, Ice Capades, home shows, garden shows, exhibition, conventions, rodeos, British Tournament and Tattoo and  Disney on Parade.

1960 photo: Herald-Examiner Collection 

LAPL

The L. A. Sports Arena occasionally hosted rock concerts. A sampling of these concerts from 1966 to 1981 include:

1966

Herman's Hermits, The Animals JULY 3

Night of Stars w/ Joey Bishop, Danny Kaye, Trini Lopez, Dean Martin, 

Nelson Riddle, Danny Thomas, Nancy Wilson Frank Sinatra and Osmond Brothers OCTOBER 20

1968

Steppenwolf, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Three Dog Night SEPTEMBER 1

The Dells, Bill Medley NOVEMBER 30

Senator Robert Kennedy w/ Sonny & Cher, Jerry Lewis, Henry Mancini, Andy Williams, The Byrds MAY 24 (Kennedy was assassinated June 6 1968)

Bob Hope minority scholarship show w/ Glen Campbell, Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, Juliet Prowse and Les Brown and his band NOVEMBER 25

1970

Isaac Hays NOVEMBER 28

1971

Wilson Pickett, Billy Preston, Bobby Womack MARCH 27

1973

James Brown APRIL 15

Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, O'Jay's, Spinners, Stylistics  NOVEMBER 24

1975 

Pink Floyd APRIL 23, 24, 25,  26 & 27 

511 were arrested during this concert produced by Jim Rissmiller and Steve Wolf.  Arrest charges included;  marijuana violations, carrying concealed weapons, ticket scalping, assault and disturbing the peace. The Arena manager accused Police Chief Ed Davis of harassing rock fans. Chief Davis declared the manager was a crybaby. 

Aggressive police tactics led rock act to avoid playing at the Sports Arena and L. A. Coliseum. Bands played instead at venues outside the Los Angeles Police Department jurisdiction such as; the Inglewood Forum, the Santa Monica civic Auditorium, Anaheim Stadium and the Long Beach Arena. 

1980

Pink Floyd FEBRUARY 7, 8 & 9

The Who JUNE 23, 24, 26, 27, 28

Van Halen SEPTEMBER 19 & 20

Bruce Springsteen OCTOBER 30, 31, NOVEMBER 1 & 3

1981

Bruce Springsteen AUGUST 20, 21, 23, 24 27, 28

Elvis Costello DECEMBER 29

-----------------------