As it moves into theBob Chesney era, UCLA football is preserving some familiarity: The Bruins will stay at theRose Bowlfor the 2026 season.
The decision is sure to please scores of fans who wistfully attended the team’s final home game last fall, worried it could be an unceremonious sendoff at the century-old stadium as the school contemplated a possiblemove to SoFi Stadium.
Now those fans can make their tailgating plans for the Bruins’ home opener against San Diego State on Sept. 12 and the rest of the team’s first season under its new coach.
“UCLA will play the upcoming football season at the Rose Bowl,” Mary Osako, UCLA’s vice chancellor of strategic communications, said in a statement provided to the California Post. “We know how much game day means to Bruins — to our students, alumni and fans who plan their autumn around Saturdays together.
“Our priority is delivering a strong season experience for our student-athletes and our community, and we have great momentum in our football program. During this unprecedented time in college athletics, UCLA will always be guided by what’s best for our student-athletes and the Bruin community.”
Staying at least one more season at the Rose Bowl is believed to be a university-wide decision made in lockstep between top campus administrators and the athletic department as the school navigates a college football landscape that seems to change by the day.
The school remains embroiled in a breach-of-contract lawsuit brought by the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl as part of those entities’ attempts to keep UCLA as a tenant at its longtime football home.
The plaintiffs have contended that UCLA’s abandonment of a lease that runs through the 2043 season would constitute “irreparable harm” for which no amount of money could compensate the Rose Bowl and the surrounding community.
Both sides are scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday for a status conference. The Rose Bowl recently scored a significant victory in the proceedings when UCLA’s bid to move the case to arbitration was denied.
Eventually moving to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood would certainly come with benefits. Among other things, it would cut the team’s 26-mile commute to the Rose Bowl in half while also providing a more modern venue that’s currently home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
