For years, Long Beach could only imagine what a new Veterans Memorial Stadium might look like—now, that vision is finally becoming a reality.
Long Beach City College Dean of Athletics Randy Totorp gave The562 exclusive access to the details and renderings of the college’s $250 million plan to reconstruct the historic stadium that has stood in the city since 1950.
The site plan includes major renovations to the stadium with the addition of surrounding facilities, but the college plans to keep much of the old look alive in the stadium itself. The renderings preserve the familiar look of Vets’ iconic bleachers and press box, with concrete from the demolition also set to be reused in construction of the new stadium.
“I’ve been a part of LBCC for 33 years, and I understand the need to acknowledge and honor something that’s stood there for so long,” Totorp said. “A lot of people think of it for football, but it’s not just about that—it was a community center coming out of World War II. It’s going to be new with so many additions that benefit us from a functional level, but I still wanted that nostalgic view to honor the past.”…