Rams kick off pre-season games against Cowboys at Coliseum

On Saturday, August 12, the Los Angeles Rams will play their first pre-season home game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against the Dallas Cowboys. The game will start at 6 p.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive early. The gates open at 4 p.m., but gates 1 and 28 will be open at 3 p.m. for fans that want to visit the Rams Party Zone and the Corona Beach House.

If you’re looking for shade before and during the game:

• Fans seeking shade during the game should visit either the Peristyle entrance on the East side of the stadium where the Corona Beach House and Rams Party Zone are open to all fans or the food court area on the West side of the stadium where there are tables and umbrellas set-up.  The Corona Beach House at Gate 1 has televisions and concessions as well.  Fans also may visit the South Customer Service Office on the East side.

Because of the limited parking fans are encouraged to take the Metro and the Metrolink to games, but parking is available on a first come, first served basis. From the Rams release:

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

Parking in USC Campus and Exposition Park lots are by permit only and there is no public parking in Exposition Park for Rams games. Additional overflow parking is available on USC Campus and the USC Parking Center. USC Gameday Traffic Flow will be in effect for guests driving to the Coliseum.

Please note, drivers may only make right turns onto streets around the Coliseum and USC to enter parking lots.

Parking lots open five hours prior to kickoff and close 90 minutes after the end of game. Vehicles must exit the stadium parking lots by 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

Limited cash parking lots will be available on a first-come first-served basis for $50 at the following locations:

• Downey Street Structure (formerly PSA) – Gate 6 located at Vermont at W. 36th Pl. or Gate 1 at Exposition Blvd. and Watt Way.
• Jefferson Blvd. Structure (formerly PSB) – Gate 8 located at Jefferson Blvd. (East of Vermont Ave.)
• Royal Street Structure (formerly PSD) – Gate 4 located at Jefferson Blvd. and Royal St.
• Grand Ave. Structure (formerly UPX) – Located on 35th St. between Hope St. and Grand Ave.
• Shrine Parking Garage – May be accessed from two entrances:
  • 645 W. Jefferson Blvd. from Figueroa Blvd. (Westbound only)
  • 680 W. 32nd St. (Eastbound only)

Parking in Exposition Park lots are by permit only.

For maps and transportation information, visit http://www.therams.com/events/parking.html.

In addition, the following street closures will be in effect:

• Starting at 4:00 PM, two hours ahead of kickoff, Exposition Blvd Eastbound will be closed from Vermont to Figueroa. This will remain closed until one hour and 45 minutes after the end of game.
• Starting at 5:00 PM, one hour ahead of kickoff, Exposition Blvd Westbound will be closed from Figueroa to Bill Robertson Lane.  This will remain closed until one hour and 45 minutes after the end of game.
• At Halftime of the game, a soft closure will take place at Normandie (local access only) for eastbound traffic on Exposition Blvd.  This will remain closed until one hour and 45 minutes after the end of game.
• At Halftime of the game, a hard closure will take place at Wisconsin for eastbound traffic on Exposition Blvd.  This will remain closed until one hour and 45 minutes after the end of game.

Fans driving to the game can use Waze for real-time traffic conditions and directions, and official parking lots. Download the free Waze app at www.waze.com/get.

Due to limited parking, fans are encouraged to take public transportation.  For people who “Go Metro on Game Day,” the Coliseum is easily accessible from the following Metro stations: Expo Park/USC, Expo/Vermont, and 37th St/USC.  More information can be found at  https://www.metro.net/riding/gameday/.

TAILGATING

There is no tailgating on the USC Campus or USC Campus Parking Facilities during Los Angeles Rams games.

Tailgating is allowed in designated Exposition Park lots (Lot 2, Lot 4, Lot 5, Lot 6, South Lawn and State Dr.) Tailgating is not permitted in Lot 3, the Visitor Parking Structure, South Park Dr., Martin Luther King Blvd., or Expo Center Dr.

In designated lots, tailgating is allowed only in individual parking spaces, in front or behind each vehicle only. Tailgating equipment must not block pedestrian or vehicle access.  The use of multiple spaces without a vehicle is prohibited.  A small canopy (not larger than 8’x8′) may be erected in front of or behind each vehicle only.

Full tailgating policies can be found here http://www.therams.com/events/parking.html.

The Rams Fan Fest is located on Christmas Tree Lane in Expo Park on the East side of the Coliseum and opens five hours prior to kickoff.

The Corona Beach House at Gate 1 opens three hours prior to kickoff and offers premium beverage options and the chance to watch NFL RedZone, showing every touchdown from every game on Sunday mornings and afternoons.  The Rams Party Zone at Gate 28 opens three hours prior to kickoff and offers food and beverages for purchase.  Fans must enter through Gates 1 or 28.

The Rams Party Zone at Gate 28 opens three hours prior to kickoff and features food and beverage for sale well as shaded areas.  Fans must enter through Gates 1 or 28 to access the Rams Party Zone prior to general doors opening.

In addition:

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Bags, Backpacks or Purses which do not meet Bag Policy guidelines. Hard or Soft Coolers, Baskets, Packages or Containers;
• Alcoholic Beverages, Bottles or Cans. (Factory sealed bottles of water, 17 oz. or less, are allowed; limit 2 per person);
• Illegal Drugs and Weapons including Firearms, Knives, Explosives, Fireworks, Lighters and Laser Pointers;
• Professional Cameras (lenses longer than 3”) and Camera Equipment, Selfie-Sticks, Tripods and Video or Audio Recording Equipment;
• Banners, Sticks, Poles, Inflatables, Frisbees, Balls, and Unsliced Fruits or Vegetables;
• Umbrellas, Balloons, Strollers, Skateboards and Folding or Beach Chairs;
• Pets (Service Animals are allowed);
• The Coliseum is a smoke-free environment. Smoking is prohibited in any area of the Coliseum.

SMOKING

Smoking, smokeless tobacco and smoking implements (including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, lighters, vaporizers and e-cigarettes) are prohibited in all areas of the Coliseum. The use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited for all events (LAMC 41.50.1). Violators may be subject to eviction and/or citation.  (There are no designated smoking areas inside the Coliseum.)

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New personnel: The Rams traded cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second round draft pick in the 2018 draft to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for wide receiver Sammy Watkins and the Bills’ 2018 sixth-round draft pick. In a press release Rams GM Les Snead said, “We want to thank E.J. for all he has contributed to our organization since we drafted him in 2014. E.J. has been a dedicated professional during his time with us and we wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors.”

Of Sammy Watkins, Snead said, “Sammy has proven he can be a productive player and an explosive receiver in this league, we look forward to having him in a Rams uniform.”

The Bills selected Watkins, out of Clemson, No. 4 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has started all 37 games played in his first three NFL seasons, including all 16 as a rookie in 2014. Watkins’ best statistical season came in 2015 when he recorded 1,047 yards on 60 receptions, averaging 17.5 yards per reception, the fifth-best total in the league that season and scored nine touchdowns.

Watkins’ career numbers: 153 receptions for 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averages 16.1 yards per reception in his first three seasons. Watkins is from Fort Meyers, FL.

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has been suspended for six games in the regular season, but the suspension doesn’t start until September 2 so he should be with the team on Saturday.

Below is Claudia Gestro’s report from the joint practice between the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams.

Photos by Claudia Gestro