Rose Bowl to Host Three Major Soccer Matches in 2025 Amid Neighborhood Concerns

The historic Rose Bowl stadium is set to host three high-profile soccer matches in June 2025 afer City Council approved the request Monday, a decision that refocused attention on the venue’s impact on local residents. These FIFA-sanctioned matches are expected to attract between 50,000 and 60,000 spectators each, according to Rose Bowl officials.

The addition of these matches will bring the total number of so-called displacement events at the Rose Bowl to 21 for the year 2025. A displacement event is defined as any gathering with an anticipated attendance of 20,000 or more people.

The Arroyo Seco Public Lands Ordinance, which governs the use of the Rose Bowl, typically limits displacement events to 15 per year. Additional events require approval from the City Council, which must consider several key factors before granting permission.

“The Rose Bowl has had a tremendous history of hosting soccer at our venue,” a staff report in Monday’s agenda stated. The report highlighted the stadium’s prestigious past, noting its role in hosting finals for both men’s and women’s World Cups, as well as Olympic finals in 1984.

The venue has also been home to matches featuring national teams from the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. From 1996 to 2002, it served as the home field for the Los Angeles Galaxy, a Major League Soccer team. In recent years, the Rose Bowl has hosted European club teams, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Manchester United.

However, the increased number of large-scale events has not been without controversy. Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods have long voiced complaints about the noise generated by these displacement events. 

The current roster of events for 2025 includes six UCLA football games, the Rose Bowl Game, ten music festivals, and one soccer match with Soccer United Marketing.

City officials are aware of these concerns and have pledged to take steps to mitigate the impact on local communities. 

The Pasadena Police Department and the Parks and Natural Resources Division will coordinate efforts to minimize disruptions to other activities in the Arroyo Seco area. Additional efforts will be made to reduce the impact on surrounding neighborhoods, with careful planning to ensure minimal disruption.

Rose Bowl Operating Company officials see significant benefits in hosting these matches. They project that the events will generate more than $300,000 for the RBOC and bring additional economic benefits to Pasadena through increased sales and hotel taxes.

The Rose Bowl Operating Company also believes these high-profile matches will enhance the stadium’s reputation as a world-class facility. This aligns with the venue’s recent history of hosting prestigious international soccer events.