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Insider’s Guide to The Rose Bowl

Adam M. Young | February 28, 2023

The Rose Bowl, located in Pasadena, California has hosted many historic events since its completion in 1922. It has been the site of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympic Games and numerous Rose Bowl games, including the record-breaking crowd of 106,869 for the 1973 Rose Bowl between the USC Trojans and the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Rose Bowl is currently the site of the College Football Playoff semifinal game between Oklahoma and Georgia.

Other notable events:
Taylor Swift
Ed Sheeran

Facts About the Rose Bowl

Address: 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena, CA 91103
Owner: City of Pasadena
Operated By:Rose Bowl Operating Company
Architecture firm: Myron Hunt
Construction cost: US$272,198 ($3.89 million in 2016)
Seating Capacity: 98,999 (record attendance: 106,869 – ’73 Rose Bowl)
Opened: Oct. 28, 1922
The Home Of: Rose Bowl Game, UCLA Bruins
Public transit: Memorial Park, Del Mar (Via ARTS Bus Line)

Venue Ratings

Trip Advisor: 4.0
Google Rating: 4.4
Yelp: 3.5
Facts & Features:

The Rose Bowl operates at a deficit that is compensated for by the proceeds of the adjacent city-owned golf course, Brookside Golf Course. Because of this, the Rose Bowl does not have the funds for major renovations.
The Rose Bowl has two long-term leases: the Pasadena Tournament of Roses (2019) and the UCLE Bruins (2023).
The Rose Bowl is the 17th-Largest stadium in the world and 11th largest in the United States.

Noteworthy: The Rose Bowl is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Location

The Rose Bowl is in Pasadena, CA, a suburb northeast of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the Brookside Golf and Country Club. Much of the general parking is on the golf course.

Insider Notes

Insider Note on Getting to the Rose Bowl:

Since the Rose Bowl is in Los Angeles County, which is famous for challenging traffic, getting to this venue in a timely fashion is difficult. Because traffic is diverted to smaller single-lane residential roads during an event, even Uber or Lyft can be difficult - especially if you have a driver who is unfamiliar with the traffic pattern of the Rose Bowl during an event.

Our recommendation is to park at the Parsons Building parking lot, approximately 1,4 miles from the stadium ($16) and take the round-trip shuttle ($5). If you are set on parking in the General Lots, Preferred Lots or Pass Lots, please leave yourself plenty of time before your event begins. In most cases, two or three hours is necessary.

Insider Note on Carrying Bags

The Rose Bowl adheres to the “All Clear” bag policy. Take it seriously as it will be enforced. Your bag must be clear vinyl (12” x 12” x 6”). A purse or clutch must be no larger than 4.5” x 6.5.”

The Rose Bowl does offer a bag checking station if you do not want or can’t return to your car. The fee is $10. If you use this service, it will add additional time to claim it after the event.

Insider Note on Seating Capacity

There are two types of seats in the Rose Bowl – seats with backs and metal bench-style bleacher seats. Basically, the sideline seats have a backing and the end zone seats do not. Also, there are no cup holders.

Here is a section guide with seat type:
Sideline Sections with seatbacks Sections 16-21
Corner Section bleacher seating Sections 14 - 15
Corner Section bleacher seating Sections 22 & 23
Endzone bleacher seating Sections 13-10
Visitor's Tunnel is next to Section 23
Sideline Section with seatbacks Sections 7-2
Corner Section bleacher seating Sections 8 & 9
Corner Section bleacher seating Sections 1 & 28
Endzone bleacher seating Sections 27-23
Bruins (home team) Tunnel is next to Section 28

Insider Note On The Best Seats For Watching an Event

We do not recommend sitting below row 10 for the Rose Bowl. The best seats for viewing events at the Rose Bowl are located in sections 3-6 and 17-20, in between rows 20-40.

Driving Directions to The Superdome

FROM THE WEST VIA THE 134 FREEWAY (SAN FERNANDO VALLEY)
Exit Linda Vista/San Rafael
Right on San Rafael Avenue
Left on Colorado Boulevard
Stay right under bridge onto Linda Vista Avenue
Right onto Salvia Canyon
Proceed to parking lots as directed

FROM THE SOUTH VIA THE 110 FREEWAY (DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES)
Take the 110 North and merge onto the 5 North
Merge onto the 2 North, then the 210 East
Exit Berkshire, Arroyo/Windsor or Lincoln Avenue/Washington Boulevard
Proceed to parking lots as directed

FROM THE NORTH VIA THE 210 FREEWAY (NORTH SAN FERNANDO AND SANTA CLARITA)
Take the 210 East
Exit Berkshire, Arroyo/Windsor or Lincoln Avenue/Washington Boulevard
Proceed to parking lots as directed

FROM THE EAST VIA THE 210 FREEWAY (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY/INLAND EMPIRE)
Take the 210 West
Stay right towards San Fernando
Exit Seco/Mountain, Lincoln Avenue or Arroyo/Windsor
Proceed to parking lots as directed

Parking at the Rose Bowl

The parking sold below is available on a first come, first park basis and not valid for limos, buses or any vehicle with a TCP number. In the event of inclement weather, parking may not be guaranteed.

Venue Parking Map

Closest Hotels to the Rose Bowl

Residence Inn Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town
21 West Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91103
1.3 miles from Rose Bowl

Courtyard Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town
180 N Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103-3614
1.4 miles from Rose Bowl

The Westin Pasadena
191 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101-1707
1.8 miles from Rose Bowl

Sheraton Pasadena
303 Cordova St, Pasadena, CA 91101-2426
1.9 miles from Rose Bowl

GreenTree Pasadena Inn
901 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70112-1017
2.0 miles from Rose Bowl

Hilton Pasadena
168 S Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101-2430
2.0 miles from Rose Bowl

DusitD2 Hotel Constance Pasadena
928 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106-1722
2.4 miles from Rose Bowl

Vagabond Inn Executive Pasadena
1203 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106-1843
2.7 miles from Rose Bowl

Howard Johnson Pasadena
1599 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106
3.1 miles from Rose Bowl

Pasadena Rose Inn
2097 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107-3507
3.7 miles from Rose Bowl

Note: No hotels rated below 3 stars are included above.

See available tickets to upcoming events at the Rose Bowl.

Rose Bowl - College Football Playoff Quarterfinal: Oregon Ducks vs. TBD