The school told the California Post in a statement that it would play in the Rose Bowl this season. The school has been exploring the possibility of abandoning the iconic stadium to play its home games at the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
“UCLA will play next football season in the Rose Bowl,” Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, said in a statement provided to the California Post. “We know how much game day means to the Bruins – to our students, alumni and fans who plan their fall together around Saturdays.
“Our priority is providing a strong in-season experience for our student-athletes and our community, and we have great momentum in our football program. During this unprecedented time in collegiate athletics, UCLA will always be guided by what is best for our student-athletes and the Bruin community.”
That exploration led to a lawsuit by the city of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl against the school. UCLA’s stadium lease extends into the 2040s. A hearing date has been set for Friday regarding that lawsuit.
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The lawsuit was filed in October and said the school was “unequivocally expressing its intention to abandon the Rose Bowl Stadium” to move to the NFL stadium. The Rose Bowl has been the home of UCLA for 44 seasons since the school moved from the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Given the length of the remaining lease at the Rose Bowl, UCLA will likely have to pay a hefty sum to move to SoFi Stadium in the near future. And remember, UCLA has an athletic department that hasn’t exactly been flush with cash in recent seasons.
UCLA has seven home games in the Rose Bowl in new coach Bob Chesney’s first season. The Bruins host USC to end the season, and teams like Illinois and Wisconsin also come to the Rose Bowl.