USC News: LA City Commission Gives School Green Light To Construct Fresh Stadium

Your USC Women of Troy's soccer and lacrosse programs are about to get some spiffy new digs.

Jose Herrera of City News Service (via KFI AM 640) reports that construction for a replacement of the school's Soni McAlister Field has been granted the green light by the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, by a 5-0 vote.

The current Soni McAlister Field, located at the intersection of 30th Street and Hoover Street, fields the women's soccer and lacrosse teams and seats 1,000 patrons.

"I think LA is in great need of additional recreational facilities from schools and just across the board," raved Commissioner Jacob Noonan ahead of the vote. "I think the project lays out a very thoughtful approach to doing this, (and) there's been strong community engagement."

Pegged to cost USC $38 million, this new locale, to be named the Rawlinson Stadium, will represent quite the upgrade from Soni McAlister Field. Herrera writes that USC intends to construct a new, 27,714-square foot, three-story stadium, which will now seat 2,458 patrons.

USC initially created McAlister Field in 1998. Attendant Trojans athletes and personnel voiced their enthusiasm for the project while at the Los Angeles City Planning Commission meeting Thursday.

"Both the women's soccer and women's lacrosse teams compete at the highest levels, and this facility will provide a world class experience for (athletes) and the spectators that come to support them," women's lacrosse head coach Lindsey Munday reflected. "The stadium also shows the commitment from USC athletics to women's sports and the female student athletes that sit here before you, although I do feel like these girls truly deserve this stadium and this opportunity."

The L.A. City Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee now mst consider the proposal.

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