The Rose Bowl and the city of Pasadena have filed a lawsuit against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), alleging that the institution is attempting to move its football games to the newer SoFi Stadium. The lawsuit, which was announced in a recent report, claims that UCLA is seeking to relocate its games to the new stadium, which is said to be closer to the campus. The city and the Rose Bowl are seeking to prevent the move, arguing that it would undermine their long-standing partnership and the tradition of the Rose Bowl games.
The Rose Bowl, a storied event that has been held annually since 1923, has been a central part of Pasadena’s identity. The city has long supported the games and has invested heavily in the infrastructure of the Rose Bowl site. The lawsuit alleges that UCLA is trying to bypass the city’s investment and influence by moving to the SoFi Stadium, which is located on the campus of the university. The city and the Rose Bowl are seeking to block the move and protect the historical and economic significance of the traditional venue.
UCLA has not yet commented on the lawsuit, but the university has been under pressure to move its games to the SoFi Stadium for several years. The stadium, which opened in 2020, is a state-of-the-art facility that can accommodate larger crowds and offers more modern amenities. The city of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl have argued that the move would be detrimental to the local economy and would jeopardize the legacy of the games. The lawsuit has sparked a debate over the future of the Rose Bowl and the role of local governments in preserving historic events.