 Interactive map of Fiesta Park | |
| Address | 12th andGrand |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles,California |
| Coordinates | 34°02′24″N118°15′51″W / 34.040056°N 118.264279°W /34.040056; -118.264279 |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Opened | 1894 |
| Closed | 1916 |
| Tenants | |
| USC Trojans football (NCAA) (1897–98, 1904–06, 1916) St. Vincent's College football (NCAA) | |
Fiesta Park was a grandstand and sports and entertainment venue inSouth Park,Los Angeles,California. From 1894 to 1916, it served as venue for various exhibitions and festivals, as well as a field forUSC Trojans football games.
Fiesta Park was located in a block bordered byGrand Avenue, 12th Street, Hope Street, andPico Boulevard. This lot had originally belonged to Victor Ponet, a banker and undertaker who also foundedEvergreen Cemetery.[1] From 1894 to 1916, it served as a venue for LaFiesta de Los Angeles, a springtime parade and festival celebrating Los Angeles' multicultural heritage.[1] In 1901, then-PresidentWilliam McKinley was an honored guest at the Fiesta during a trip to the West Coast.[1]
Around the turn of the century, the grounds were used for a variety of sports and entertainment events, ranging from football and baseball games to pony races to a production of "Faust".[2] A number of minor league baseball teams played at Fiesta Park, including the Los Angeles Trilbeys and Los Angeles Echoes.[3] The grounds served as the home field for the Los Angeles Rangers soccer club, a side composed primarily of expatriate Englishmen. In 1910, Fiesta Park was covered with a canvas big top and pressed into service as the venue for theLos Angeles Auto Show.[4] This event coincided with a move by many of the California schools from football to rugby, so following the 1910 Auto Show, Fiesta Park was used primarily for tented exhibitions, though bleachers were restored in time for the 1916 football season. FollowingWorld War I, the festival was discontinued and the grandstands were transported toBovard Field.[5]
TheUSC Trojans (then called the Fighting Methodists) played several football games in the 1890s and all of their1916 home football schedule at Fiesta Park.[5] Fiesta Park also served as a home field forSt. Vincent's College (nowLoyola Marymount University)'s football team.[5]Occidental College also played some home games in the stadium, as did numerous high school teams, particularlyLos Angeles High School (then located Downtown onFort Moore Hill) andPolytechnic High School. In the first decade of the 20th century, USC played LA High annually, with the game usually being played at Fiesta Park.