The impending demolition of the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena feels a little bit closer these last few days, as an auction sells off bits and pieces of the Welton Becket-designed structure, which opened in 1959. It closed this spring.
The Exposition Park arena has hosted the Lakers, the Clippers, the Kings, and the 1960 Democratic National Convention. Michael Jackson’s "Bad" tour passed through here, as did Madonna’s "Blond Ambition" tour. Bruce Springsteen loved playing the sports arena, and famously called it "The Dump That Jumps." (He also played the last live show in the arena.)
Demolishing the venue has been discussed for years—in 2010, it was operating at losses between $750,000 and $900,000 a year and needed significant repairs. The future complex will hold a new soccer stadium and a museum.
Pretty much everything in the arena is up for sale. The letters over the doors at the main entrance, locker room furniture, entire rows of stadium seats, a ton of old, red folding chairs that say "Dallas Convention Center"—it’s all got to go. The auction of the sports arena's parts, originally supposed to end yesterday, is scheduled to end at 1 p.m. today. Here are a few of the more notable lots up for sale.
- For sale: Innards of one Sports Arena [LAObserved]
- Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Auction Catalog [Official site]
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