Game-Day Gridlock Expected For Exposition Park Area

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Exposition Park area could become a parking lot Thursday afternoon, with the USC-Washington football game scheduled for kickoff at 6 p.m. at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Coliseum lots will be open and available for game parking starting at 2 p.m. In attempt to reduce congestion, USC officials are encouraging fans to use Metro Rail.

Expo Line trains will run every eight minutes starting at approximately 4 p.m. and through the game in order to accommodate crowds, according to Anna Chen, a Metro public information officer.

On-campus parking and tailgating will not be allowed.

Parking will remain the same for Coliseum pass holders of those lots, and will also be available at the USC Parking Center and USC Parking Structures 1 and 2. Motorists can also park for $15 at the Los Angeles Convention Center's Venice Lot on Figueroa Street between Venice Boulevard and 15th Drive.

Free shuttle service will be available from the lot to the Coliseum, with the pickup and dropoff points at 15th Drive, north of the parking structure, and the corner of Figueroa Street and State Drive.

The prohibition of on-campus tailgating includes campus buildings, parks, the Row and plazas. The on-campus parking and tailgating ban was imposed because classes remain in session, a university official said.

Tailgating alternatives for the general public include a catered party at the Galen Center, priced at $27.50; the Club 33 Tailgate in the Peristyle Plaza from 3-5:30 p.m. ($75); and the Ralphs Ultimate Tailgate Experience on Christmas Tree Lane ($35, $30 for those who have downloaded the Ralphs mobile app, free with receipts showing spending of $25 on participating products.)

Trojan Athletic Fund members can dine at the Coliseum Clubs, near Gates 6, 11, 19, 33 and the West End Food Court inside the Coliseum, beginning at 4 p.m.

This is the third time USC has played a non-Thanksgiving or non-bowl Thursday game at the Coliseum. The others were in 2013 and 2014, which like today, were the result of the Pacific-12 Conference's television commitments.

Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian will be coaching against the team he coached from 2009-13 for the first time.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)