ARENA TO SEE INAUGURAL DAY; POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE ON TAP AT STAPLES CENTER.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer A new era for downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or - one officials hope will usher in Verb 1. usher in - be a precursor of; "The fall of the Berlin Wall ushered in the post-Cold War period" inaugurate, introduce commence, lead off, start, begin - set in motion, cause to start; "The U.S. a renaissance for the area - takes place today with the opening of the Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. arena. The gleaming $350 million, 20,000-seat facility gets its first public appearance with a day of welcome to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. with a variety of free events and tours throughout the day. It begins with a VIP reception and ribbon cutting with Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. and other officials as well as a blessing from Cardinal Roger Mahony His Eminence Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony (born February 27, 1936) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1991. . Sports fans hope he offers a special blessing for the Kings, Lakers and Clippers, who are calling the arena home. And, while the officials congratulate one another on the accomplishment in building the sports monument within 18 months, others nearby will be closely watching how people are able to get in and out of the area at 11th and Figueroa streets and what it does to the adjacent residential neighborhood. ``We are confident everything will work,'' said Allyn Rifkin, a principal transportation engineer with the city of Los Angeles
``We think we have taken into consideration everything that can be done and are prepared to make changes on a moment's notice.'' The first real test will come this week, beginning Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. , with the first of a four-day series of concerts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. While Sunday traffic is expected to be light, the weekday concerts will run headlong into the daytime commuter traffic Noun 1. commuter traffic - traffic created by people going to or returning from work traffic - the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time in and through downtown Los Angeles. Staples Center paid for some $25 million in traffic mitigation measures, including changes to the Olympic Boulevard off-ramp of the 110 Freeway, installing message boards around the area and paying for parking lots in the vicinity. In addition, a special transportation center is being opened two blocks from the arena and, using cameras that have been installed at nearby signals, allows engineers to adjust traffic lights instantaneously to speed or slow traffic. The greatest problem in the first few weeks is expected to be the unfamiliarity that most people have with the downtown area, Staples Center spokesman Mike Roth said. ``Our best hope is that people will come down early and experience downtown,'' Roth said. ``Not just on the first event, but all the events. This will be a new situation for many who have never been downtown, and we hope many people will come to realize the best way to downtown is not necessarily on the Harbor Freeway.'' All ticket holders are provided with maps showing alternative routes and many have also purchased prepaid parking that places them close to the arena. ``What's good about having the parking spread out is that it will be much easier for people to get out after an event,'' Roth said. As for the worst-case scenario of potential gridlock Gridlock A government, business or institution's inability to function at a normal level due either to complex or conflicting procedures within the administrative framework or to impending change in the business. , Roth said: ``We don't even think about that.'' And while some lots are four blocks away, Rifkin said, it is not much different than the situation at the Forum. ``A lot of people walk farther than that in Inglewood because they are parking at Hollywood Park,'' Rifkin said, adding he has gone to other cities with new stadiums on his own and is confident of the parking and transportation plans for Staples Center. And, Roth said, there are other advantages that many people will not be aware of until they come to the arena. ``At the Forum, there were only three entrances,'' Roth said. ``Here we have seven. It will be a lot easier for people.'' Bus shuttle service also will be available throughout the downtown area, including restaurants that want to cash in on the Staples Center opening and its numerous events. ``We think this will offer a unique L.A. experience,'' Roth said. ``People will develop their own shortcuts See Win Shortcuts. and find their own favorite parking spaces.'' CAPTION(S): Map Map: STAPLES CENTER PARKING Approximately 8900 spaces owned or operated by Staples Center within four blocks of the arena Gregg Miller/Staff Artist |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion