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The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena opened in July 1959 in Exposition Park, adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Built for $6 million, the 16,000-seat multi-purpose indoor arena quickly became a major venue for sports and entertainment in Los Angeles.
The Arena is home, sometimes home, or the first home to: USC Trojans basketball (NCAA) (1959-2006), UCLA Bruins basketball (NCAA) (1959-1965, 2011-2012), Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) (1960-1967), Los Angeles Kings (NHL) (1967), Los Angeles Blades (WHL) (1961-1967), Los Angeles Stars (ABA) (1968-1970), Los Angeles Aztecs (NASL) (1980-1981), Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) (1972-1974), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) (1984-1999), WrestleMania 2 (WWE) (1986), Los Angeles Cobras (AFL) (1988), WrestleMania VII (WWE) (1991), Los Angeles Ice Dogs (IHL) (1995-1996), as well as many other events such as the 1960 Democratic National Convention, the 1968 and 1972 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, the 1992 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four, the 1963 NBA All-Star Game, and the boxing competitions during the 1984 Summer Olympics, epic concerts, rodeos, ice shows and the Academy Awards.Located next door the the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Sports Arena is a mid-century modern palace to the sports world and an architectural delight to the varying landscape of Los Angeles.
Over its 57-year history, the Sports Arena served as a cultural hub for Los Angeles. The aging facility closed in 2016 and was demolished in 2016-2019. The Banc of California Stadium (now BMO Stadium), home of LAFC soccer, was built on the site.
Offered is the original Dedication program that is in NR MT-MT condition. Loaded with pictures, articles, etc. Comes with 5 letters to former Major League Baseball player (and PCL legend), Jigger Statz and 7 pages of Press release/information type pages that were given to Statz as he was invited as one of the guests of honor.
It appears that other notable attendees/guests of honor included: Tom Harmon, Tom Hanlon, Sam Balter, Jack Hpuu, Frank Lubin, John Wooden, George Yardley, Patrick McCormick, Erny Pinckert, Ernie Smith, Tom Fears, Babe Herman, Johnny Lindell, Leslie Mann, Tuck Stainback, Chick Hearn, Jack Dempsey, Max Baer, Joe Louis, Henry Armstrong, Willie Naulls, Sam Crawford, babe Dahlgren, Chief Myers, Leo Durocher, Ralph Kiner, Kenny Washington, Glenn Davis, Johnny Weismuller, and the list goes on and on.
We’ve never seen another one like this! Derives from the collection of Jigger Statz.
Item: 14167
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