Rose Bowl, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Pasadena, California, United States. It is used mostly for American football matches, hosting the home games of UCLA Bruins Football, its primary tenant.
Opened on 8 October 1922, it replaced the Tournament Park, which had a considerably smaller capacity. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 92,542, making it the 15th largest stadium in the world, the 11th largest stadium in the United States, and the 10th largest NCAA stadium. The stadium was designed by architect Myron Hunt and had a construction cost of $272,198.
A National Historic Landmark and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in United States, Rose Bowl has hosted several noteworthy events such as five NFL Super Bowl Games, gold medal matches for two Summer Olympics, two FIFA World Cup Finals, multiple Concerts, and annually hosts the 'Rose Bowl Game', a college football bowl game. It was named the number one stadium in college football by ESPN The Magazine in 2019. By its 100th birthday in 2022, Rose Bowl had welcomed millions of spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for future sporting and entertainment events.
While the previous stadium of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was also officially named 'Memorial Coliseum', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Rose Bowl. Rose Bowl is the name of the stadium located in Pasadena, on the border between Los Angeles County and the city of Pasadena, which itself derives its name from the annual Rose Bowl Game and the Tournament of Roses Parade, events traditionally associated with the New Year's Day. This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of California used to simply call it the Rose Bowl. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Rose Bowl', which is usually recognized worldwide as 'Rose Bowl Stadium'. This recognition, however, could be argued to be accurate, since Rose Bowl refers not to 'a bowl of roses' but to the original purpose of the stadium: hosting the Rose Bowl Game, a college football playoff game held annually on New Year's Day.
The Rose Bowl stadium was built from 1921 to 1922. The stadium was designed by architect Myron Hunt, known for his design of the Huntington Library in California. The Rose Bowl was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1987 for its architectural significance. The stadium has hosted five Super Bowl games, the 1984 Olympic Soccer matches, the 1994 Men's World Cup, the 1999 Women's World Cup, and numerous concerts.
Over the years, the Rose Bowl has undergone several renovations to maintain its status as a state-of-the-art stadium. The most significant renovation occurred in 2011, which included the addition of luxury suites, a new press box, new video boards, and improved seating. Despite these changes, the Rose Bowl has maintained its iconic horseshoe design, which provides spectators with unobstructed views of the game. The stadium's seating capacity is over 90,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in the world.
Today, the Rose Bowl continues to be a symbol of tradition and prestige in the world of college football. It is not just a stadium, but a landmark that holds a special place in the hearts of football fans across the nation. The Rose Bowl is more than just a venue for football games; it is a testament to the enduring spirit of American sportsmanship and a reminder of the rich history of college football in the United States.
An ample area, with excellent accessibility and sufficient space for future expansion, was identified in the Pasadena region of California. Being located in a city known for its annual Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game, the new stadium was aptly named 'Rose Bowl'.
From the outset, the objective was to own both the stadium and the surrounding terrains, though initially, a lease was made on the municipal terrains, with a final buy-out occurring only years later. The plans for the sports complex had been sketched as early as the late 1920s by architect Myron Hunt, a renowned figure in the field.
Driven by the city's officials, the citizens coped with an increased fee for supporting the building costs for the new stadium, offered large donations, and some even volunteered their time and labor on the building yard during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'brick campaign', whereby large quantities of bricks were offered to the city.
The construction officially started on 27 February 1922. Less than three years after, and at a cost of $272,198, on 1 January 1923 (a national holiday), a 57,000-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals Penn State and the University of Southern California.
'Rose Bowl (1922)': The Rose Bowl is a historic sports stadium located in Pasadena, California, primarily used for American football matches. The home games of UCLA Bruins Football are hosted here. www.rosebowlgame.com
'Rose Bowl (The Granddaddy of Them All) – until 2003': The Rose Bowl was opened in 1922, replacing the smaller capacity Tournament Park. It is the 15th largest stadium in the world and the 11th largest in the United States. www.stadiumdb.com
'The Rose never wilts', Preface, Prime Books, 2003: The Rose Bowl is a National Historic Landmark and has hosted several significant events. It was named the number one stadium in college football by ESPN The Magazine in 2019. primebooks.net
'The Rose Bowl 100 glorious years - Volume 1', Edition and Contents, S.A., 2003: The Rose Bowl was designed by architect Myron Hunt and has undergone several renovations to maintain its status as a state-of-the-art stadium. editionandcontents.com
'The Rose Bowl 100 glorious years - Volume 1', pp.84, Edition and Contents, S.A., 2003: The Rose Bowl is more than just a venue for football games; it is a testament to the enduring spirit of American sportsmanship and a reminder of the rich history of college football in the United States. editionandcontents.com
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