Rose Bowl Starts 100th Year With Rose Bowl Game on Saturday

The Rose Bowl Stadium will start its 100th year at the 108th Rose Bowl Game on New Year’s Day this Saturday.

The Rose Bowl was built between February and October, 1922. The first game played in the stadium was a regular season match between Cal and USC on October 28, 1922, during which the Bears beat the Trojans 12-0.

The first official Rose Bowl Game in the stadium was played on January 1, 1923. USC beat Penn State, 14-3 before a sellout crowd.

“There is no better location to begin this milestone than on the football field where it all started nearly 100 years ago on a chilly, January day in Pasadena,” Rose Bowl Communications Director Meredith Thomas said in a statement Thursday.

Renowned architect Myron Hunt designed the Rose Bowl Stadium in the shape of a horseshoe, with a seating capacity of 57,000. The modest $270,000 project would lay the foundation for what was to come over the next 100 years. 

Over time the stadium was expanded into the iconic bowl shape we know today. By 1949, the stadium was enlarged to accompany over 100,000 guests and by 1961 the press box was built. 

In the years following the Rose Bowl saw a myriad of capital improvements but continued to honor the past by bringing it into the present. The stadium is decorated with commemorative plaques that feature Rose Bowl Game® matchups through the years and its tunnels are dedicated to those who have impacted the development and future of the venue.

This January 1, the historic venue will once again showcase its beauty and tradition to the world and will be honored throughout the game. 

Prior to kick-off, the Tournament of Roses will honor the history of the Stadium with a video about its rich tradition. 

Between the third and fourth quarters, a 100-second firework display will appear over the Terry Donahue Pavilion. The Centennial logos will appear on the 25-yard-line and be featured on the commemorative ticket and program.

“We have been working towards our Centennial Celebration for years, and to think we are at such a historic milestone, that many never reach, is incredible,” said CEO / General Manager Darryl Dunn. “We wouldn’t be here without the support of the Tournament of Roses, UCLA, our partners, clients and the local Pasadena community so we look forward to celebrating this milestone together.”  

The Centennial Celebration is a story of perseverance by highlighting the importance of continuing to conserve America’s Stadium as a National Historic Landmark, according to Thomas.

She said that working in tandem with the Rose Bowl Institute and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, the nonprofit arms of the venue, the history of the stadium will be preserved and taught to newer generations through the development of educational programs. 

Keeping traditions alive is imperative in ensuring that the Rose Bowl sees the next 100 years of history and continues to be, America’s Stadium, Thomas said.