The Rose Bowl Stadium opened in October 1922 and is recognized as both a National Historic Landmark and a California Historic Civil Engineering landmark. Architect Myron Hunt designed the stadium. Hunt also designed the Henry Huntington house and the Ambassador Hotel.
The Rose Bowl Stadium has gone through several expansions over the years. It was originally built in a horseshoe shape. The stadium became a complete bowl in 1928 after construction of the southern stands was finished.
The Rose Bowl Stadium can hold 92,542 people for the Rose Bowl Game and 91,136 for UCLA Bruins football games. It ranks as the 11th largest stadium in the United States and the largest stadium in California.
- Located: Arroyo Seco (Brookside Park)
- Address: 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103
- Phone: (626) 577-3100
- Capacity: 92,542 (Rose Bowl Game) / 91,136 (UCLA games)
- Team: UCLA Bruins football (since 1982)
- Construction Started: 1921
- Opened: October 1922
- Owner: City of Pasadena
- Operated By: Rose Bowl Operating Company
Rose Bowl Stadium Renovations
The Rose Bowl Stadium is undergoing an $80 million renovation called the Lasting Legacy Campaign. The upgrades are scheduled to be completed by and beyond the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Phase I (2024-2026) – $30-35 million: Marquee sign refurbishment (completed), new sound system (completed), east side safe standing section (completed 2023), gas and water infrastructure upgrades, stadium cellular service enhancements, and South End Zone Field Club with 900 seats (completion Fall 2026).
Phase II (2027-2029) – $45-50 million: One of the nation’s largest videoboards and bowl seating improvements. Final capacity will be 70,000-72,000 after all renovations are complete.
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl Game is an annual college football postseason game. It was first played on January 1, 1902 as the “Tournament East-West Football Game.” Michigan beat Stanford 49-0 in that first game.
The Rose Bowl Game has featured 20 Heisman Trophy winners. A statue of two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin was dedicated at the stadium in 2024. The stadium also created a Legends Walk to highlight all Heisman Trophy winners who have played in the Rose Bowl Game.
Since 2015, the Rose Bowl Game has been part of the College Football Playoff system. With the expansion to 12 teams in the 2024-25 season, it now serves as either a quarterfinal or semifinal game each year on a rotating basis. When the Rose Bowl hosts a quarterfinal, the Big Ten champion is assigned to the bowl if seeded in the top four.
The 2025 Rose Bowl on January 1, 2025 was a CFP Quarterfinal. Ohio State beat Oregon 41-21. Freshman Jeremiah Smith caught 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 2024 Rose Bowl saw Michigan beat Alabama 27-20 in overtime.
Rose Bowl Stadium Upcoming Events
January 1, 2026: Rose Bowl Game – College Football Playoff Quarterfinal (Indiana vs Alabama) 2025: FIFA Club World Cup matches 2028: Summer Olympics soccer matches (stadium’s third Olympics)
You can check the Rose Bowl Stadium Events Calendar here.
The stadium hosts the annual Rose Bowl Flea Market on the second Sunday of each month in the parking lots. The stadium is limited by law to 15 events per year with more than 20,000 in attendance.
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins football team has played home games at the Rose Bowl Stadium since 1982. They moved from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where they played since 1928.
Major Development: UCLA is reportedly finalizing a deal to move its home football games to SoFi Stadium starting in the 2026 season. Multiple sources within the UCLA athletic department described the move as a “near-done deal” in November 2025. The motivation is almost entirely financial. UCLA believes the revenue from premium seating and luxury suites at SoFi Stadium makes the move worthwhile.
The City of Pasadena and Rose Bowl Operating Company sued UCLA in October 2025 to block the move. A judge denied their temporary restraining order request on November 12, 2025. UCLA’s lease with the Rose Bowl runs through 2044. The plaintiffs claim approximately $184 million remains on city-obligated bonds tied to the stadium.
The Bruins have played in 12 Rose Bowl Games at the stadium. The 1976 Rose Bowl had a record attendance of 105,464. This remains the largest crowd to ever watch a UCLA football game at the stadium. Recent attendance has dropped to around 35,000 per game. Tarps were installed in 2021 to cover large sections of empty seats.
The UCLA-USC rivalry game is held at the Rose Bowl in alternating years. Both teams used to wear home uniforms and share the stadium until 1984.
Soccer at Rose Bowl Stadium
The Rose Bowl Stadium is a major soccer venue. It has hosted three historic championship matches:
- 1994 FIFA Men’s World Cup Final: Brazil defeated Italy on penalties. The match was watched by over 700 million people worldwide.
- 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final: USA defeated China on penalties. This was the most attended women’s soccer match in history at the time.
- 1984 Olympic Soccer Gold Medal Match: France defeated Brazil 2-0 with 101,799 in attendance. This broke the Olympic Games’ previous soccer attendance record.
The Rose Bowl is the only stadium in the world to host all three of these major international soccer championship finals.
The U.S. men’s soccer team has played 17 matches at the stadium. The U.S. women’s team has played 5 matches there. In 2023, a match between Los Angeles Galaxy and LAFC set a stadium soccer attendance record with 82,110 fans.
The Rose Bowl hosted matches for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA did not select the Rose Bowl for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They chose SoFi Stadium instead. The Rose Bowl will host soccer matches including the men’s and women’s finals for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Super Bowl at Rose Bowl Stadium
The Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted five Super Bowl games. This is the third most of any venue in the United States.
- Super Bowl XI (1977): Oakland Raiders beat Minnesota Vikings 32-14
- Super Bowl XIV (1980): Pittsburgh Steelers beat Los Angeles Rams 31-19 with 103,985 fans. This remains the NFL postseason attendance record.
- Super Bowl XVII (1983): Washington beat Miami Dolphins 27-17
- Super Bowl XXI (1987): New York Giants beat Denver Broncos 39-20 with 101,063 fans
- Super Bowl XXVII (1993): Dallas Cowboys beat Buffalo Bills 52-17
Six of the seven largest Super Bowl attendances in history took place in Los Angeles County. Five of them happened at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.
Olympics at Rose Bowl Stadium
The Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted Olympic events twice and will host a third time in 2028.
1932 Summer Olympics: Track cycling events
1984 Summer Olympics: Soccer gold medal match. France beat Brazil 2-0 with 101,799 in attendance. This broke the Olympic Games’ previous soccer attendance record.
2028 Summer Olympics: The stadium will host soccer matches including the men’s and women’s gold medal finals. This will be the Rose Bowl’s third Olympics.
Concerts at Rose Bowl Stadium
The Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted major music acts over the years. Notable concerts include Depeche Mode (1998), Metallica and Guns N’ Roses (1992), The Rolling Stones (1994, 2019), U2 (2010), Eminem and Rihanna’s Monster Tour, Beyoncé and Jay-Z tours (2014 and 2018), and BTS (2019).
One Direction became the first act to sell out three consecutive nights at the stadium in 2014.
Recent and upcoming concerts include The Weeknd (January 25, 2025), Cruel World music festival (May 17, 2025), RÜFÜS DU SOL (August 16, 2025), and Oasis Live ’25 World Tour (September 6-7, 2025).
Statue of Jackie Robinson
A statue of Jackie Robinson was unveiled at the Rose Bowl Stadium in November 2017. The statue shows Robinson in his UCLA football uniform.
Jackie Robinson played quarterback and safety for UCLA in 1937 and 1938. He had a 104-yard kickoff return which remains the longest in Rose Bowl Stadium history.
Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rose Bowl Stadium Tours
The Rose Bowl Stadium offers guided tours to the public. Visitors can see behind-the-scenes areas including the original 1922 locker room, the Terry Donahue Pavilion, and the Working Press Box.
Tour Prices:
- Adults: $27.50
- Children (5-12) and Seniors (65+): $22
- Students and Military with ID: $22
Tours provide both an outdoor experience and a historical learning opportunity. VIP, Educational, and Private Group Tours may be available. Contact the stadium for current availability.
For more information, visit the official Rose Bowl Stadium website at rosebowlstadium.com or call (626) 577-3100.
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