A large stadium project has been given the greenlight to move forward. In a recent meeting, the Los Angeles City Council voted to uphold the approval of Rawlinson Stadium, a future state-of-the-art facility designed to host USC women’s soccer and lacrosse events, Urbanize Los Angeles reported. The move marks a significant development for the university’s athletic programs, overcoming a recent appeal that sought to halt the project’s construction.
Initially announced in June 2023, Rawlinson Stadium is a major expansion project for the Soni McAlister Field at 3000 S. Hoover St. where USC’s women’s soccer and lacrosse teams currently play. With an estimated budget of around $38 million, the three-story stadium is designed to accommodate nearly 2,500 spectators and boasts features such as a press box, box office, concession stands, entry plaza and an LED video screen. The facility’s interior is planned to include dedicated locker rooms for both soccer and lacrosse teams, meeting rooms and sports medicine facilities. Designs for the project come from Crawford.
Soni McAlister Field, in operation since 1998, currently has a capacity for approximately 1,000 spectators.
Originally, construction for Rawlinson Stadium was expected to commence in 2023, with the facility targeted for completion and opening by 2025. However, these plans faced a delay due to an appeal filed by USC Forward, a coalition representing students, community organizations and union members, including SEIU Local 721.
