United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum allows bags 12" x 6" x 12" (clear bags); approximately 4.5" x 6.5" (clutches) or smaller. Backpacks are not allowed. Clear bags are required.
What Is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Bag Policy?
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum enforces a strict clear bag policy for all events, including USC Trojans football games: every bag brought into the venue must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and must not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″ in size.
The policy applies to all guests at every gate and covers all USC home football games played at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. No exceptions are made for opaque bags of any size or style. The official policy is published at lacoliseum.com/beclear and is mirrored on the USC Athletics prohibited items page at usctrojans.com/prohibiteditems.
The Coliseum’s clear bag rules affect the type and size of bags permitted into the stadium, not the everyday personal items such as keys, makeup, phones, and wallets that guests would normally carry. Those items may be kept in pockets and do not require a bag at all. For the fastest possible entry, stadium officials specifically encourage fans to arrive without any bag if they can manage it.
Approved Bags at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Three categories of bags are permitted inside the Coliseum. First, one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag that does not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Second, as an alternative to the clear tote, a one-gallon clear plastic storage bag such as a Ziploc bag or similar brand. Third, in addition to whichever clear bag option a guest chooses, they may also carry one small clutch bag or purse approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap, measuring no larger than roughly 4.5″ x 6.5″.
Guests are limited to one clear bag and one small clutch at the same time. A standard one-gallon Ziploc bag is a fully acceptable and low-cost substitute for a purpose-built clear stadium tote. Bags made of tinted or colored plastic, even if see-through to some degree, do not comply with the policy and will be turned away at the security perimeter.
An exception is made for medically necessary items, bags for special needs, and infant care (diaper bags). These bags are permitted but are subject to proper inspection by security staff before entry is granted. Guests bringing medical or infant care bags should plan for extra time at the security checkpoint and present items openly to speed up the process.
Prohibited Bags and Items
The following bag types are explicitly prohibited and will not be allowed past the security perimeter: backpacks of any size, purses larger than a clutch bag, fanny packs, cinch bags, briefcases, computer bags, camera bags, luggage of any kind, mesh bags, tinted plastic bags, and any bag larger than the 12″ x 6″ x 12″ maximum. Oversized seat cushions that contain pockets or metal structures are also classified as prohibited bags.
Beyond bags, a broad list of items is banned from the Coliseum. Hard and soft coolers, baskets, packages, and other containers are not allowed. Outside alcoholic beverages, bottles, and cans are prohibited; the exception is factory-sealed water bottles of 17 oz. or less (limit two per person) and non-metallic refillable containers that must be completely empty upon entry. Umbrellas are not permitted inside the Coliseum because they obstruct the views of other guests and present a risk of injury.
Additional prohibited items include: professional cameras with lenses longer than 3″, selfie sticks, tripods, video or audio recording equipment, banners, sticks, poles, inflatables, frisbees, balls, unsliced fruits or vegetables, balloons, strollers, skateboards, folding or beach chairs, and noise-making devices such as whistles, horns, and musical instruments. Weapons, firearms, knives, illegal drugs, fireworks, lighters, and laser pointers are strictly forbidden and will result in denial of entry or ejection. Pets are not allowed; service animals are permitted.
Bag Check and Storage Options
There is no official bag check or storage service operated by the Coliseum or USC Athletics inside the stadium. Guests who arrive with non-compliant bags will be turned away at the security perimeter and must return their items to their vehicle before re-entering the entry queue.
Walker’s Lockers operates a third-party mobile bag check service outside the Coliseum specifically for USC football games. The service is located outside Gate 28, look for the blue, black, and white Walker’s Lockers banners. It opens two hours before kickoff and closes one hour after the game ends. Walker’s Lockers accepts bags and items of nearly all shapes and sizes, including items that do not comply with the stadium’s bag policy. The service carries liability and bailee’s insurance.
For fans who prefer to store bags before arriving at the stadium, third-party luggage storage services such as Stasher and Bounce operate storage points throughout the surrounding Los Angeles area. Booking in advance is recommended, particularly for high-demand games. The simplest approach remains leaving non-compliant items secured in your vehicle before walking to the gates.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Security Screening
All persons and their belongings are subject to metal detector screening and bag inspection before entering the Coliseum. A secondary perimeter is established around the stadium where security personnel check for prohibited items and non-compliant bags before guests ever reach the main entry gates. This means fans carrying a prohibited bag will be identified and turned away before reaching the gate itself.
All Coliseum gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. The official recommendation from both the Coliseum and USC Athletics is to arrive at the gates no later than 60 minutes before kickoff to avoid delays. USC game-day data shows that nearly nine in ten fans clear security and enter the Coliseum in 15 minutes or less when they arrive during the recommended window, before the heaviest pre-kickoff rush builds up.
To move through the metal detector line as quickly as possible, have your clear bag open and items visible before reaching the screener. Empty your pockets of metal items, remove lanyards and large belt buckles, and keep your mobile ticket ready in your phone’s digital wallet, screenshots are not accepted. The Coliseum is fully cashless, so bring a credit or debit card or use a mobile payment method for concessions and merchandise.
Tips for Game Day at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Pack your clear bag before you leave home and keep it as light as possible. The fewer items you carry through the metal detector, the faster you will clear security. Keys, a phone, a credit or debit card, and a valid ID will cover nearly everything you need inside the stadium, and all of those can go directly in your pockets, no bag required.
Leave your umbrella in the car. Umbrellas are explicitly prohibited inside the Coliseum because they block sightlines for surrounding fans. If rain or strong sun is forecast, wear a hooded rain jacket or a wide-brimmed hat instead. Jackets and blankets are permitted as carry-in items and will be subject to a brief search at entry. Much of the Coliseum seating sits in direct sunlight during afternoon games, so wear sun-protective clothing and bring lotion-based sunscreen in a clearly marked plastic tube inside your clear bag, aerosol cans are not allowed.
Seat cushions without pockets or metal structures are permitted; oversized cushions that contain pockets or any metal components are not. If you plan to bring a seat cushion, choose a simple flat foam pad with no attached storage. For cameras, a standard point-and-shoot or a DSLR with a fixed lens shorter than 3″ is allowed; detachable lenses, video cameras, and tripods are not. Download your mobile ticket to your phone’s wallet app before leaving home and confirm it loads correctly, the Coliseum does not accept printed tickets or screenshots under any circumstances.
Heading to a show? See our Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (United Airlines Field) parking guide for everything else you need to know before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the bag size limit at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum?
The maximum permitted bag size is 12″ x 6″ x 12″ for a clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag. A one-gallon clear plastic storage bag such as a Ziploc is also accepted as an alternative. In addition to one of those options, guests may carry a small hand-size clutch of approximately 4.5″ x 6.5″.
Are backpacks allowed at USC football games at the Coliseum?
No. Backpacks of any size or style are prohibited at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for all events, including USC Trojans football games. Any guest arriving with a backpack will be directed back to their vehicle before they can enter.
Can I bring a diaper bag to the Coliseum for a USC game?
Yes. An exception is made for bags containing infant care items. Diaper bags are permitted but must pass a proper inspection by security staff at the gate. Plan for additional screening time if you are bringing a diaper bag.
Can I bring a water bottle into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum?
Yes, with specific conditions. Factory-sealed plastic water bottles of 17 oz. or less are allowed, with a limit of two per person. Non-metallic refillable containers are also permitted but must be completely empty when you pass through security. Glass bottles and cans are not allowed.
Are cameras allowed inside the Coliseum at USC football games?
Still cameras are permitted as long as they do not have detachable lenses and the lens does not exceed 3″. Video cameras, cameras with detachable lenses longer than 3″, selfie sticks, and tripods are all prohibited. Professional or commercial camera equipment is not allowed without a prior licensing agreement.
Can I bring an umbrella to a USC game at the Coliseum?
No. Umbrellas are prohibited inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum because they obstruct the views of surrounding fans and present a risk of injury. Leave your umbrella in the car and opt for a hooded rain jacket or hat instead.
Are seat cushions allowed at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum?
Standard flat seat cushions without pockets or metal structures are permitted. Seat cushions that include pockets or any metal components are classified as prohibited bags and will not be allowed inside. Choose a simple foam pad with no attached storage to be safe.
Is there a bag check or storage service at the Coliseum?
The Coliseum does not operate an official on-site bag check. Walker’s Lockers provides a third-party mobile bag check outside Gate 28 during USC football games, opening two hours before kickoff and closing one hour after the game ends. Third-party storage services such as Stasher and Bounce also have locations in the surrounding area.
