Overview
- Fans tailgating before UCLA’s game against Washington described mixed feelings, with many cherishing Rose Bowl traditions and others open to SoFi’s proximity to campus.
- UCLA is considering moving home games to SoFi Stadium as soon as 2026, and the school has not announced a final decision.
- Recent commentary highlights steep declines in reported Rose Bowl crowds, and a prior Los Angeles Times report alleged years of inflated announced attendance compared with scanned tickets.
- Letters to the editor underscored trade-offs between SoFi’s modern amenities and the Rose Bowl’s tailgating culture, and warned that exiting a long-term lease could saddle UCLA with significant legal and payout costs.
- The relocation debate unfolds alongside an active lawsuit by Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company over UCLA’s lease obligations, with a judge having denied an emergency restraining order and the case now in discovery.