Councilmember: College Football Playoff Change Threatens Rose Bowl’s Historic Status, Revenue

The Rose Bowl Game’s relegation to a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game could jeopardize television revenue that supports both the historic stadium and Pasadena’s iconic New Year’s Day parade, District 2 Councilmember Rick Cole said over the weekend.

“On January 1st, Pasadena’s traditional Rose Bowl Game unfolded once more, drawing thousands of fans to the historic Rose Bowl. But, this year, it wasn’t the ‘granddaddy of them all,’ just a quarterfinal game in the new 12-team college football playoff scheme,” Cole said in a January 4 video shot in front of the stadium.

Cole said the venue’s diminished status raises concerns about the Stadium’s future.

“If the granddaddy of them all isn’t the granddaddy of them all, it may not bring in the same level of funds that support not only the Rose Bowl, but also our parade.”

According to the Councilmember, the stadium only recently emerged from financial difficulties.

“During Covid when the Rose Bowl moved to Texas and there wasn’t an opportunity to have events here, the City had to bail out the Rose Bowl to the tune of 21 and a half million dollars worth of federal COVID relief money,” Cole said in the video.

While the venue has returned to profitability by diversifying its events calendar with more concerts and activities, this solution presents challenges for nearby residents.

“That’s always touchy because there are residential neighborhoods to the east and to the west, and there are concerns about adding more activities, more crowds,” Cole said.

According to Cole, the century-old stadium now faces a $200 million deferred maintenance backlog and controversy over plans to add family golf facilities to a course on the other side of the venue.

“So 2025 is going to be an interesting year where we’re going to be talking about the $200 million bill for deferred maintenance for this great a hundred-year-old stadium, but also the prospects going forward to continue to be able to have a Rose Bowl that is an iconic and vibrant contributor to our community,” Cole said.