By: Iris Xu

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has stood as a cultural centerpiece for a century, hosting a diverse range of events that go far beyond sports. From rock concerts to auto races, community festivals to motocross championships, the Coliseum has hosted it all. But for Scott Lupold, the grounds manager at the stadium, each non-sporting event brings sleepless nights and worries about maintaining the pristine field.

Built in 1923, the Coliseum was designed to be a versatile venue capable of accommodating a variety of activities. According to Frank Guridy, a professor at Columbia University, the stadium’s single-tiered structure was perfectly suited for hosting different events. Over the past 100 years, the Coliseum has undergone numerous transformations, adapting to a surprising variety of surfaces like dirt, asphalt, ice, and even snow.

In 1936, the Coliseum attempted to host a figure-skating performance by Sonja Henie. Engineers installed coils and used ice-making machines to create an 80-foot-long rink on top of the field. However, the LA summer heat proved too much for the refrigeration system, and the event had to be canceled. Similarly, a ski jumping competition planned for 1938 was initially delayed due to heavy rains. The designers had built a wooden ramp starting above the highest row of seats, and snowmaking machines laid a thin top-coating of snow. Despite the weather-related challenges, the event took place two nights later, with the famous Ruud brothers of Norway, taking home the top two scores.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Coliseum’s history is filled with an array of captivating events, that have spanned beyond sports. Hollywood set designers constructed a South Pacific Island on the stadium floor for a World War II rally, and Roy Rogers hosted annual rodeos with film stars such as Hoot Gibson and Wild Bill Elliott. The Los Angeles Dodgers, a baseball team, also made the Coliseum their temporary home in the late 1950s, utilizing a short-left field and an outfield fence erected across the grass. Additionally, the Coliseum hosted the Superbowl of Motocross in the 1970s, requiring massive amounts of dirt to create jumps, turns, and a 150-foot free-fall jump.

Protecting the playing surface of the Coliseum has been a constant challenge. Organizers initially tried various base layers like wood shavings, plywood, and carpeting to shield the grass, but these attempts were largely unsuccessful. Plumbers’ costs for fixing the plugged drains and ripped plastic covers were a significant concern. However, as the Coliseum’s management became more proactive in booking events and the art of groundskeeping advanced, a new approach emerged. Rather than attempting to heal the grass after each event, the entire field is replaced with fresh sod, allowing for faster recovery and readiness for play.

This new strategy opened doors for even more diverse set of events. In 2022, the Coliseum hosted NASCAR’s season-opening Clash exhibition race, which required covering the stadium floor with asphalt for a quarter-mile oval track. The task of pulling this massive feat fell on Lupold, who acknowledged the impact of heavy vehicles on the turf. Concerts, too, have presented unique challenges as massive stages were constructed and dismantled, requiring trucks to drive on and off the field. Lupold meticulously plans ahead, ensuring that multiple fields are grown in nearby sod farms, ready to be rolled out when needed.

The process of replacing the old sod with a new one comes at a significant cost, often amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The expense is passed on to the designers, especially during short turnaround times that necessitate the use of thicker and heavier sod. Despite the challenges, Lupold and his team have honed their skills, successfully starting these rapid transitions. However, he remains cautious and never considers the work routine. It is his dedication and meticulousness that ensure that the Coliseum’s field remains in top condition.

In the end, Lupold’s worries and sleepless nights pay off when events unfold without incident. The field remains intact, players don’t slip, and the Coliseum continues to shine as a remarkable venue. The century-old stadium’s ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of a diverse range of events is a testament to its enduring legacy and iconic status in Los Angeles.