COLISEUM REPORT: BIGGER IS BETTER IMPACT STUDY SHOWS CAPACITY ABOUT 78,000.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

The proposal for a downsized, renovated Coliseum that will be presented to NFL owners next year won't be so cozy after all.

The design specifications now call for the rebuilt facility to include as many as 78,000 seats, about 10,000 more than were called for in the original plans. The specs are the most significant change in the project's environmental impact report, which Coliseum Commissioners were told Wednesday would be certified by the time they meet next month.

The Coliseum's draft EIR drew scant attention during the 45-day public- response period that ended less than two weeks ago. Only eight agencies filed responses, and they were either positive or neutral.

``We haven't encountered any opposition,'' said Chris Joseph, the consultant who compiled the report.

With the EIR seemingly cleared, the commission began turning its attention toward its next hurdle: a lease agreement it can present to the NFL, a team owner or a developer before the next NFL owners' meetings in March.

The commission met for an hour in closed session to discuss its strategy on what is expected to be a sensitive issue. Coliseum officials believe the NFL still has concerns about the commission's willingness to not interfere with the building's tenant.

The Coliseum Commission, which is composed of three city, three county and three state officials, has been blamed for chasing the Rams and Raiders from the Coliseum, and once joined the Raiders in an antitrust suit against the NFL.

``The one item they ask us most about is what is the relationship is going to be with the Coliseum Commission,'' said Councilman Bernard Parks, who attended last week's owners' meeting in Chicago. ``They use terms like three-headed monster.''

Coliseum Commission chairman Don Knabe said: ``There's other issues: rent, signage. But the single most important issue is governance. We have a long way to go, but we're committed to working with the NFL.''

The increased capacity of the renovated Coliseum came after meetings with Hammes Co., a Wisconsin construction consulting firm retained by the NFL. Whereas most new stadiums have a capacity in the 60,000-range - a model the Coliseum was using - Hammes' research determined the Coliseum could handle more and still sell out its games consistently, thus avoiding television blackouts.

This was good news to USC. The university had raised concerns about the Coliseum going from its current 92,000 seats to 68,000, fearing lost revenue from its games against UCLA and Notre Dame, traditional sellouts. Also, the Trojans drew 82,000 last weekend against Washington State.

Meanwhile, the Rose Bowl, though well behind the Coliseum in finalizing its plans, has continued to move forward.

Pasadena's city council Monday authorized the city to begin work on its EIR, which officials don't expect to be certified until next fall.

Billy Witz, [phone]

billy.witz(at)dailynews.com