Professional skateboarder Tom Asta skates Galen Center for SLS. (Photo credit: Pierson Clare, USC Athletics)
On October 2nd 2016, USC’s Galen Center is set to make good on their third year of hosting Street League Skateboarding by doing what might seem impossible on paper: creating a concrete street course in 4-5 days, holding the culmination of the SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship, then, after all is said and done, returning the floor of the arena to its normal, pristine flatness within 24-hours.
According to Carl Reed, assistant athletic director and general manager for the Galen Center, he sees the gargantuan feat not as intimidating, but as an opportunity to demonstrate what the venue can do.
“It just shows how our building is versatile,” said Reed, “and could be used for a lot of different types of events, not just athletic events, not just concerts or movie shoots. It can be used for unique sporting events and just unique events as a whole. I think that helps us in terms of gaining more interest for the building and the building to be used by outside events.”
Street League Skateboarding is grateful for the opportunity as well. Vice President of Marketing Molly Magnifico called the Galen Center “the perfect venue for the atmosphere we want to create for SLS.” With a design that is conducive to the tricky balance between arena settings and intimacy, Magnifico saw much to like about bringing SLS to “the birthplace of skateboarding” in Los Angeles. Reed added that the 270-degree nature of the event’s course (“there’s not a bad seat in the house,” he said) and the way in which professionals interact with fans by signing autographs and taking pictures unlike other athletes make for a mutually appreciative environment.
Street League extended the same gratitude to the venue’s personnel as well.
“The staff at USC has embraced our very unique set-up,” said Magnifico, “and have been quick to problem-solve for our needs to build a skate plaza inside that is big enough for the SLS Pros to push the limits on, and also outside to accommodate our partner activations in the festival village area.”
With all of the elements set to repeat the same smooth execution of more competitive skateboarding at Galen Center, both the venue and SLS are excited to see it come to fruition at the end of the year.
As the event has sold out very quickly in the past, Magnifico urged people to buy tickets ahead of time, assuring fans that, “There is truly nothing else like it in skateboarding.”
Interviewed for this story: Carl Reed (213) 740-1381; Molly Magnifico (818) 672-5955