USC vs. Arizona Coliseum Info: Where to Park, Tailgate and Shuttle

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time ever, the Trojans are hosting a Thursday night game, which brings forth a whole lot of logistical mumbo-jumbo, due to classes being in session all day on campus. Lots on campus are closed to fans, and tailgating is limited to the Coliseum lots and Exposition Park only, while those lots will open at 2:00 p.m.. For full information directly from USC on tonight’s game, you can click here, or check out our summary below with all of the information needed.

Tailgating: While on-campus tailgating is prohibited today and tonight, tailgating in Exposition Park is permissible all day. However, the lots will not open until 2:00 p.m., therefore all tailgating before hand will require attendees to park elsewhere.

Public Transportation: The Coliseum is serviced by a multitude of mass transit systems, all of which are being stressed by USC tonight. By rail, the Metro Expo Line runs from Culver City to Downtown, through Exposition Park. The Metro bus line dubbed “The Silver Line” runs from the Artesia Transit Center in Gardena to the El Monte Busway and Transit Center in El Monte. Both the Expo and Silver Lines will be running on regular Thursday schedules, as Metro will not stack additional gameday service. For maps and schedules of the Expo Line click here, and for the Silver Line, click here.

Parking Pass Holders: If you have a parking pass for the season to park on-campus, you won’t be able to park on-campus tonight. That said, your pass will be honored at the following lots: USC Parking Center (Grand/Jefferson), USC Parking Structure 1 (SE corner of Figueroa/Exposition, USC Parking Structure 2 (NW corner of Exposition/Flower) and the lot at The Shrine Auditorium. For a map, click here.

Downtown Shuttle: In cooperation with LA Live, there will be a complimentary shuttle from downtown to the Coliseum. While the shuttle is free, to park at LA Live, there is a $20 fee to gameday attendees who would like to park in Figueroa Lots 6 and 7, which are across the street from Staples Center, between 11th and 12th street. Other independent lots will be open late into the night, as John Fogerty will be in concert at the Nokia Theatre at LA Live.

Off-site parking: St. Vincent Elementary School on Figueroa just north of Adams will be open starting at 4:00 p.m. to gameday attendees, with a donation of $20. Street parking east of the Coliseum and Harbor Freeway will be first-come first serve as always. The DMV on 37th and Hope will be open, therefore both of the DMV lots will be off-limits for gameday parking.

Park & Ride Shuttles: The Trojan Express shuttles will be in operation for a fee of $20, with tickets available for purchase here. The shuttles will be running from the following cities: Anaheim, Pasadena, Ontario, Ventura and Gardena.

USC Trojan Marching Band Pregame Concert: Due to the construction at Heritage Hall, the Spirit of Troy will not play on the steps of Heritage Hall this season. Instead, they will perform at Cromwell Field, USC’s track stadium. Fans are permitted to view the concert from the stands as Dr. Arthur C. Bartner leads the band through their halftime routine. This week, they’ll be starting later due to the Thursday night kickoff.

Official USC Gameday App: Download it here for iOS and here for Android. (H/T The Ripsit Blog).

Gameday Schedule of Events:

2:00 pm: Coliseum parking lots open5:30 pm: Trojan Walk through the Peristyle of the Coliseum6:00 pm: Spirit of Troy lines up on Cromwell Field7:30 pm: Kickoff, USC vs. ArizonaImmediately after the game: I-110 southbound Express Lanes are toll-free from the 28th Street entrance on Flower to Manchester.