Pasadena Sues UCLA Over Football Game Relocation to SoFi Stadium

LOS ANGELES, California — The city of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company have filed a lawsuit against UCLA, alleging the university plans to move its home football games to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The 200-page suit, filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims UCLA is betraying the longstanding trust between the university and the community.

According to the lawsuit, UCLA has expressed its intent to ‘abandon the Rose Bowl Stadium,’ which has been its home field since 1982. Pasadena officials are concerned that the move would violate a lease agreement that guarantees UCLA’s presence at the Rose Bowl through 2044.

In a statement, the city expressed disappointment with UCLA’s actions, stating, ‘The City expects UCLA will honor the terms of the [lease] agreement and will do everything in its power to protect and defend the City’s contractual rights.’ The lawsuit highlights the significance of this partnership, stating, ‘Some commitments are too fundamental to be traded away.’

The Rose Bowl has a seating capacity of over 89,000, yet UCLA’s average attendance this season has struggled, drawing around 35,000 fans to home games. SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020, is about 12 miles from UCLA’s campus and has a capacity of approximately 70,240.

The city’s complaint emphasizes that taxpayers have invested more than $150 million in renovations and additional improvements financed by bonds. It warns that UCLA’s relocation could result in over a billion dollars in damages to both the city and the local economy.

UCLA’s vice chancellor for strategic communications, Mary Osako, stated, ‘While we continue to evaluate the long-term arrangement for UCLA football home games, no decision has been made.’ The university’s exploration of potential relocation has raised tensions with the city, highlighting financial and reputational stakes.

As the lawsuit progresses, both parties hope for a resolution that maintains their historic partnership. The Rose Bowl, known for hosting the annual Rose Bowl Game since 1922, aims to preserve its relationship with UCLA amid these evolving dynamics.