MAYOR ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2007

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA URGES COLISEUM COMMISSION TO APPROVE LONG TERM
AGREEMENT WITH USC

Villaraigosa outlines seven principles as basis for agreement to make the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum the permanent home of the Trojans

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued the following letter to the members of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission today as it met to discuss the fate of USC Athletics at the L.A. Coliseum. In the letter, Mayor VIllaraigosa outlines seven principles as basis for agreement to make the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum the permanent home of the Trojans:

December 5, 2007

Coliseum Commissioners
3911 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90037

Dear Coliseum Commissioners:

For eighty-five years, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been synonymous with Trojan Athletics. With this great university calling this great public building home, the public interest has been served in countless ways.

I believe that the future of the Los Angeles Coliseum is inconceivable without USC and I, therefore, urge the Coliseum Commission to immediately negotiate a long-term agreement with the University of Southern California based on the following rules of the game:

First, USC makes a long-term commitment to the Coliseum that will bring jobs and produce economic vitality in South Los Angeles long into the future.

Second, the Coliseum Commission and USC commit to a major renovation to bring the facility up to modern standards.

Third, the renovation efforts will give priority to necessary improvements in amenities serving the larger public, such as restrooms and concession areas.

Fourth, USC agrees to make a significant financial commitment to the restoration project.

Fifth, the Coliseum Commission and USC acknowledge that the Coliseum is a public treasure which belongs to all members of our community, and that opportunities for community access, use and enjoyment of the Coliseum in a variety of athletic, education and cultural events
will be enhanced and improved.

Sixth, the Coliseum will be treated at all times as an historical landmark, and its architectural character shall be protected and preserved.

And seventh, any agreement will recognize a superseding interest in bringing the Olympic Games to the Coliseum.

I am committed to working together as teammates to get this agreement over the goal line.

Sincerely,

ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
Mayor