The Olympic Games will return to the Rose Bowl stadium for a third time during the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
The Los Angeles Daily Times said the city of Pasadena has agreed a deal with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games for the Rose Bowl to host Olympic soccer, including the semi-final and final matches for both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
The 89,702-capacity Rose Bowl Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium located in Pasadena, California. Opened in October 1922, the stadium is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and a California Historic Civil Engineering landmark.
The stadium is home to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins football team.
Michael Ross, CEO of Pasadena Center Operating Company said, “This is our moment to show the world why Pasadena is not only a premier destination to explore during the games but a top choice for travelers well into the future.
“The economic impact from hosting the Games at the Rose Bowl Stadium will be substantial to the City, the Rose Bowl, and the local and regional community.”
All venues and sport assignments are subject to final approval from the International Olympic Committee Executive Board.
According to the city, with the agreement there is a tiered framework that will take shape over the course of three additional agreements to be negotiated between now and October 2027.
Pasadena first hosted Olympic competition in 1932, when the Rose Bowl held track cycling. In 1984, the stadium hosted Olympic soccer including the gold medal match between France and Brazil which drew more than 101,000 spectators.
LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover said that the Rose Bowl will be only the second venue in the world to support its third Olympic games.
Rose Bowl Stadium CEO Jens Weiden said, “The Rose Bowl Stadium is America’s Stadium and one of the most iconic venues in the world.
“Our incredibly rich history is filled with major global sporting and music events, and our setting is undeniably one of the best in the world.
“The 2028 Olympic Games will uplift the entire Southern California community, and we are honored to play a part in hosting Olympic soccer when once again, Pasadena will welcome the world to our city.”
The Rose Bowl is currently undergoing a series of enhancements.
Among the capital projects to be carried out are a brand-new field-level club to be built in the Rose Bowl’s south end zone; east side safe standing sections and a sound system replacement.
There will also be improvements to the venue’s bowl seating, while one of the nation’s largest videoboards will be installed.
A full refurbishment of the stadium’s Rose Bowl marquee sign and infrastructure improvements to the gas and water systems are also included.
These projects will transform the fan and community experience, ensuring the continued trajectory of the venue’s hosting abilities for world-class sports and entertainment events, and further driving economic growth and development in the surrounding region.
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