USC addressed sparse crowds at its home opener, acknowledging factors that impacted an announced attendance of 51,144 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Temperatures reached 94 degrees with high humidity during the 42-26 victory over San Jose State, prompting an official statement from the university regarding future turnout.
College football season got underway with unusual optics in Southern California. Images from the Trojans’ Week 0 home opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum circulated widely on social media, showing vast swaths of empty red seats during Lincoln Riley and company’s relatively comfortable 42-26 win over an outmatched Spartans squad.
The announced figure of 51,144 supporters marked the lowest attendance recorded during Lincoln Riley‘s tenure as head coach, and it looked like a lot fewer fans than that. On Saturday, it looked like the crowd for a spring game, or for a sport other than football. The sparse crowd drew immediate notice given the historic status of the venue, which is an iconic venue that has hosted multiple Super Bowls and has been the home stadium of the Raiders, the Rams, and (in 1960) the Chargers.
University Response and Fan Experience at the Coliseum
The backlash got so loud that USC had to release a statement to USA Today about the crowds, addressing the turnout and the circumstances surrounding the game day experience.
“We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance,” USC said in a statement, via USA Today. “We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season.”
USC, via USA Today
Environmental conditions played a major role in why so many fans opted to either forgo the game entirely or leave early when USC had things under control. It was hot—very hot—as the temperature was 94 degrees, with a “real feel” temperature of 104, and The Coliseum has little or no shade. In the defense of those who opted to stay home, a longtime season-ticket holder detailed the brutal conditions for fans at the game, via Ira Gorawara of The Athletic.
“The seats were like hot plates,” he said. “It was truly a sauna. … I remember previous openers where it was hot, but never this humid.”
Ira Gorawara, via The Athletic
It was a poor attendance showing, but it also looked even worse than it was.
Upcoming Schedule and Stakes for the Trojans
Despite the opening-week attendance dip, USC’s home games this season include dates with Oregon, Washington and Ohio State, all of whom are ranked in the preseason AP Poll Top 25. So USC fans will have plenty to look forward to this season. If they don’t turn out, however, it could become a big talking point and a factor in why Los Angeles isn’t a scary place to play for some of the best teams in the Big Ten.
It likely was an aberration, and the first opportunity for redemption comes on Friday night, when Fresno State comes to town.
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