Rose Bowl Matchup to be Solidified on Saturday

The Rose Bowl Game matchup will be decided on Saturday night when the Tennessee Vols square off against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

This year’s Rose Bowl Game will be a College Football Playoff quarterfinal and is sure to draw major attention thanks to the changes in the playoff format.

But locally there could be a problem. The matchup will be announced just about 10 days before the game, which could impact travel prices, resulting in smaller crowd sizes and reduced financial impact in Pasadena and nearby areas during a critical time.

“The City and our partners have been in communication since the restructuring of the college football playoffs first came up many years ago regarding how the current changes and potential changes in the future will impact both the city, our collective hosting organizations, and the region,” said Finance Director Matthew Hawkesworth. “We are all focused on the continued success of the parade, the game, and all the other events that support these two iconic events. Yes, it’s true that one team playing in the game will be determined this Saturday; the other team, Oregon, has known on the same timeline as previous years.

“We were concerned just a few years ago regarding how or if people would return to major venues and events coming out of COVID, and we have thrived. Of course we are concerned about the economic impact, and will be paying close attention this year and next under the new playoff system, but we must remind ourselves that these changes also provide an opportunity of something greater than before.”

The announcement for the 2024 Rose Bowl Game matchup was made on Dec. 3, nearly three weeks earlier than this year’s announcement.

The 2022 matchup was announced on Dec. 4, 2021.

The later announcement means that although fans of No. 1 Oregon have already booked their tickets to Pasadena, backers of Tennessee and Ohio State are still in limbo until Saturday when the matchup is decided.

Typically, backers of each team get in town shortly after Christmas, which means Ohio State and Tennessee supporters will be headed to town less than a week after the matchup is announced.

Although airplane prices are always higher during the holidays, tickets cost even more closer to Christmas Day as flight options become even more limited.

“I’d imagine it would have been cheaper to book it earlier when availability was a lot better,” said one travel agent.

Still, there are some indicators that the new schedule may not impact things.

The fans of each team travel well, which means higher flight costs may not hamper the game.

The Vols have not appeared in the Granddaddy of Them All since 1945, which could also heighten excitement among Tennessee fans.

“Vols fans will travel anyway,” Brian Glass told Knox News in Tennessee. “I think it’s gonna be an overwhelming response if the Vols head to the Rose Bowl.”

Glass sells hospitality packages that include game tickets, hotel reservations and transportation to and from the game.

Glass said it will be a mad dash to sell the packages if the Volunteers earn a trip to Pasadena.

Ohio State has appeared in 16 Rose Bowl Games, the most behind USC and Michigan.

According to a joint report produced by the City, the Pasadena Center Operating Company, the Rose Bowl Stadium and Visit Pasadena, the 2024 Tournament of Roses and Rose Bowl Game pumped $245 million of economic impact into the greater Los Angeles area.

The Tournament of Roses did not respond to an email seeking comment on this story.

The later announcement is due to the expansion of the College Football Playoffs.

The Tournament of Roses and the College Football Playoff came to terms in 2022 on a deal to make the Rose Bowl Game part of the College Football Playoff expansion from four games to 12 games.

Some local residents expressed concerns that the game, which is the oldest bowl game in college football, could be moved from its traditional start time and date at 2 p.m. on Jan. 1.

Tournament officials have asked the College Football Playoff to preserve those traditions.

So far there has been no update on that request.