Rose Bowl Stadium: Capacity, Size, Events, Tickets and Legacy

The Rose Bowl is an athletic stadium located in Pasadena, California. The stadium opened in 1922 and is one of the largest stadiums in the world. It is part of Los Angeles’s appeal as the entertainment capital of the world. The stadium earned a place on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the U.S. National Historic Landmark thanks to its incredible 100-year cultural significance.

The stadium is best known as a college football venue. The stadium derived its name from hosting the annual Rose Bowl Game. The Rose Bowl game is hosted on January 1st every year and is nicknamed “The Granddaddy of them all”. Thanks to its versatility, it can also host numerous other sports. Soccer/Association Football is one of the other key events that are hosted at this venue. The stadium has a rich history in soccer, having hosted crucial World Cup games.

Its massive capacity of 89,702 makes it an appealing venue for hosting high-profile games. The stadium was home to the United States National Team, which recorded many memorable wins here. The stadium is in the news again thanks to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. However, it was snubbed by FIFA for the 2026 Soccer World Cup taking place in the USA. Let us learn more about the famed Rose Bowl Stadium, its history, capacity, ticket prices, and upcoming events in the stadium.

Overview of Rose Bowl Stadium

Rose Bowl Stadium was built in 1922 to host American College Football games. The Bowl Game, now known as the Rose Bowl, was played at Tournament Park. The stadium was adjacent to the campus of the California Institute of Technology. Since the game was drawing huge crowds, a new stadium was needed. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association sought a permanent structure. Thus, the foundation for Rose Bowl Stadium was laid.

Location of Rose Bowl Stadium

The stadium was built in Pasadena, keeping the committee’s suggestions in mind. It was built on the Arroyo Seco stream. The stadium is 10 miles north-northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Rose Bowl Stadium

Construction and Opening of Rose Bowl Stadium

As the Tournament Park was unable to hold huge crowds, a new stadium was needed. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association has taken on the responsibility of a new stadium. They roped in Myron Hunt in 1921 to design the stadium. Keeping the Yale Bowl of New Haven in mind, Hunt decided to shape his newest project. A Horseshoe shape was adopted initially for the construction of the stadium.
The construction began on February 27, 1922, and lasted eight months. The horseshoe structure lasted for seven years before expansions took place. The construction of the southern stand in 1928 enclosed the stadium into a complete bowl. The stadium was initially called “Tournament of Roses Stadium” or “Tournament of Roses Bowl”. However, after it was opened to the public, the 1923 Rose Bowl game took place there for the first time. Hence, the name Rose Bowl was attributed to the stadium itself.
It has been an annual host of the Rose Bowl game since then. The stadium’s huge capacity and modern features back then made a host of teams jump with joy to play there. It was competing with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to host high-profile matches.

Renovations of Rose Bowl Stadium

The stadium was renovated multiple times in its century-long history. Firstly, a south stand was added to make it a bowl instead of a horseshoe. This increased the capacity massively. However, the stadium used to have wooden benches till 1969. The newest upgrade saw the stadium get aluminium benches along with a new grandstand and lounge seats. During the same period, a new press box was added along with an elevator.
Before the 1984 Summer Olympics, a revamp saw 50,000 seats get new red seatbacks. The press box was also updated, keeping the Olympics in mind. The next major set of renovations took place in 2011. There were plans to update the façade of the stadium along with the seating and lighting. An initial budget of $150 million was proposed. However, the cost skyrocketed and needed crowdfunding campaign called “The Brick Campaign” was launched. Thanks to the campaign, the stadium now hosts new restrooms, an iconic field hedge, new entry-gate structures, ribbon boards and a large Pasadena Tournament of Roses logo.

The stadium has a famous Court of Champions at the south end. It has a Hall of Fame, which has plaques and statues of all the iconic players and figures in the history of the stadium. In 2017, the stadium got a 1922-themed locker room museum.

Rose Bowl Stadium Capacity and Field Size

What is the Rose Bowl Capacity? The stadium’s capacity was being changed according to the events that took place there. The record attendance was 106,869 registered during the 1973 Rose Bowl. It was the largest venue for soccer till the Michigan Stadium overtook it in the 1980s. After multiple changes, the stadium’s current capacity stands at 89,702.

The standard field size of the Rose Bowl is 109.75 metres in length and 48.75 metres in width. It is altered with a greater width for football games.

Key Football Events at Rose Bowl Stadium

Domestic Tournaments

The stadium was first home to the Los Angeles Wolves in the North American Soccer League in 1968. It was also used by the local team LA Galaxy, in the MLS from 1996 to 2002 and again in 2023. MLS Cup finals were also hosted here in 1998 and 2002.

International Tournaments and Matches

The tournament made its name for hosting international football matches. The biggest event in its history was the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where it hosted a few games, including the finals. It also hosted the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals along with the Olympic Gold Medal Match in 1984. It is the only venue to host all three major soccer championship matches. It also hosted the track and field events at the 1932 Olympics.

The stadium hosted a few games of the Copa America Centenario edition in 2016. The USMNT played 17 games at the venue, making it one of the most-used stadiums. The 2002 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups also took place here. Recently, the stadium has hosted multiple high-profile pre-season friendlies.

It is part of the lineup for the prestigious 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Its spot in the lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was snatched away by the nearby SoFi Stadium. However, it will be a venue again for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Tickets and Pricing

How to Buy Rose Bowl Stadium Tickets

Where and how can someone find Rose Bowl Tickets? The tickets for events at the Rose Bowl Stadium can be purchased on the official site.

Overview of Prices

The stadium is divided into 28 zones for ticket sales. Each zone has a specific fare system. For the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, the cheapest tickets in the house start from $80 and rise to $450 for general fans. The lounge experiences and premium tickets start from over $500 and range to $2000. They can be found on this site.

Visiting Rose Bowl Stadium

How to reach the Rose Bowl Stadium

The Rose Bowl stadium can be very difficult to access due to the traffic caused by the single-lane residential street across. The last-mile connectivity on game days due to parking difficulties can easily cost fans some 2-3 hours. In 2016, the stadium contracted ParkJockey to streamline parking and transit to the stadium.

They have come up with innovative planning to ease the burden. Parking is now allowed on the Brookside Gold Course. Signages and lighting, along with a shuttle service, are provided for fans reaching the stadium by their transport. It is also accessible by Metro Line A from downtown Los Angeles. It is the best way to reach the stadium.

Guided Tours: Exploring Rose Bowl Stadium

The stadium offers tours to visit the iconic stadium. A tour gives enthusiastic fans access to the 1922 Locker Room, a close-up look at the pitch, and a chance to walk through the landmark. The tickets for these tours can be found here.

Nearby Attractions for Football Fans

Los Angeles downtown is a must-visit for anyone planning their visit to the Rose Bowl stadium. The iconic city is home to all the leaders in the world's entertainment industry. The county of Pasadena also has a lawn bowling club, an ice skating centre, and famous cinema theatres that can entertain the fans.

Hotels Near Rose Bowl Stadium

The fans visiting the Rose Bowl Stadium will have no shortage of options to pick their stay from. From cheap options like homestays to luxurious ones like 5-star hotels, plenty of choices are available. Here are a few of them:

• The Westin Pasadena (4-star)

• Hilton Pasadena (3-star)

• Courtyard Los Angeles Pasadena (3-star)

• Podhsare Los Feliz (Hostel)

• The Rosemary (Hostel)

Rose Bowl Stadium Events Beyond Football

Other Events

The Rose Bowl Game is the most famous event taking place at the stadium. It is the highest-attended college football bowl game ever. Except for the 1942 and 2021 editions, every single edition of the game was held here.

Starting from 1998, the Rose Bowl became a part of the Bowl Championship Series. Hence, a few Rose Bowl games eventually became the BCS games. However, they are played separately to determine the BCS champion. The stadium also hosted the Super Bowl five times. The first of them was in January 1977, and the last one was in 1993. The Rose Bowl also annually hosts the “Americafest” Independence Day celebration on the 4^th of July. The fireworks show is considered one of the top fireworks shows in the nation. It also hosts a flea market every second Sunday of the month.

The stadium also has great importance in the musical world. Pop legend Michael Jackson performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 1993. Famous bands and artists like Pink Floyd, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, Rihanna, BTS, Coldplay, One Direction, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and the Rolling Stones all performed here, drawing crowds greater than 90,000 every time.

Conclusion

Scope of the Rose Bowl Stadium in future

Rose Bowl Stadium is an iconic structure in American sports. Its rich history of over 100 years saw it host incredible games and produce legends forever. The soccer events at the venue were immortalised thanks to them being the World Cup finals. The stadium is getting another set of minor upgrades in time for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. However, its hopes of hosting a second World Cup were dashed when it was snubbed recently. It doesn’t take its shine away as it will host its third Olympic Games in 2028.