Rose Bowl Could Host Three Soccer Matches in 2025 Despite Displacement Concerns – Pasadena Now
The Rose Bowl Operating Company is recommending that the Pasadena City Council approve the hosting of three soccer matches in June.
If approved, the soccer matches will become the 19th, 20th, and 21st displacement events for the Rose Bowl in 2025. The first 18 displacement events include six UCLA football games, the Rose Bowl Game, 10 music festivals, and one soccer match with Soccer United Marketing.
A displacement event is considered any event with an expected attendance of 20,000 people or more. Neighbors living nearby have long complained about the noise caused by large displacement events.
The City will coordinate with the Parks and Natural Resources Division and the Pasadena Police Department to minimize disruptions to other Arroyo Seco activities. Additional efforts will be made to reduce the impact on surrounding neighborhoods, with careful planning to ensure minimal disruption.
The matches are identified as displacement events 23 through 25. The matches, sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), are expected to draw between 50,000 and 60,000 attendees each.
"The Rose Bowl has had a tremendous history of hosting soccer at our venue, including the finals of both the men's and women's World Cups as well as the Finals of the Olympics in 1984, and COPA America in June of 2016," according to a staff report in Monday's agenda. "Our historic landmark has also hosted national teams of United States, Brazil, and Mexico. In addition, the stadium hosted the Los Angeles Galaxy as a tenant from 1996-2002. In recent years, the Rose Bowl has hosted European club teams, specifically Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Manchester United."
To accommodate these events, the City Council must address several key findings as stipulated by the Arroyo Seco Public Lands Ordinance, which regulates the balance between Rose Bowl usage and its impact on surrounding residential areas. The ordinance allows up to 15 displacement events per year unless additional events are approved by the Council.
According to the Rose Bowl Operating Company, the matches will enhance the Rose Bowl's stature, bringing significant publicity and bolstering the venue's reputation as a world-class facility. They will generate more than $300,000 for the Rose Bowl Operating Company, which will lead to additional positive economic impacts for Pasadena through sales and bed taxes.
"The City Council's approval would enable the Rose Bowl to continue its legacy of hosting major soccer events while addressing potential concerns related to displacement and community impact," according to the staff report.
