LOS ANGELES (AP) United Airlines offered Friday to withdraw from a $69 million deal to put its name on Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum following criticism that it would disrespect the stadium's history of honoring troops who fought and died in World War I.

The airline made the offer to the University of Southern California, which announced the agreement for the naming rights last year as part of its $270 million renovation of the nearly century-old landmark. The planned name, United Airlines Memorial Coliseum, drew blowback from some veterans and a key official this week.

United Airlines California President Janet Lamkin said in a letter to USC official Todd Dickey that the company made "a significant commitment to financing this project" in exchange for the naming rights and was careful to keep the words "Memorial Coliseum" to honor the memory of veterans.