At this year, the nation’s most famous college football stadium – The Rose Bowl 2019 – has been the home of UCLA football since 1982. One of the finest football stadiums in America, the Rose Bowl was built specifically for football, but was used for the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games and has also been the site for five Super Bowls, the 1994 World Cup and the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
Facts About the Rose Bowl Stadium
Stadium: Rose Bowl Stadium Field: Natural grass
1001 Rose Bowl Drive Rim circumference: 2,430 feet
Pasadena, California 91103 Playing Field: 79,156 Sq. Ft.
Phone: (626) 577-3100 Capacity: 92,542
History
1888 The Pasadena Valley Hunt Club is founded for “ladies and gentlemen” who wish to spend their leisure time outdoors.
1890 First Tournament of Roses Parade and games. The members of the Valley Hunt Club voted to stage, on January 1, a parade of flower-decorated horse and buggies and public games to be held east of Los Robles between Colorado and Santa Fe. Following the Parade, young men competed in foot races, tugs of war, and jousts and tourney of rings - a game in which mounted horsemen, carrying 12-foot lances, tried to spear three rings hung about thirty feet apart while riding at top speed. The tourney of rings, coupled with the floral displays, prompted the first president to say, “Now we have the name we want -The Tournament of Roses.”
1890 Attendance at first event – 2,000 people.
1895 Tournament of Roses Association forms to organize the rapidly growing festival.
1900 Tournament Park became the new sight of Tournament Day and was home to the first Tournament East-West Football Game.
1902 First Rose Bowl Game played at Tournament Park. University of Michigan defeats Stanford University, 49-0.
1904 First chariot races staged at Tournament Park. The races took the place of football until 1915. Attendance – 2,500.
1913 Ostrich races dominate New Year’s Day games, and the first and only elephant-camel races held.
1916 Football and the “Rose Bowl Game” is reinstated at Tournament Park. Washington State 14, Brown 0.
1917 Oregon defeats Pennsylvania, 14-0, in the first Rose Bowl win for the West. Attendance swells to 25,000 in temporary grand stand seating.
1918 Mare island (USMC), 19 Camp Lewis (US Army) 7.
1919 Great Lakes (US Navy), 17 Mare Island (USMC) 0.
1920 City officials declared the football facilities at Tournament Park unsafe for the growing New Year’s Day crowds. Ten-year $100 box seats were sold to raise funds for construction of a new facility.
1920 Harvard 7, Oregon 6.
1921 California 28, Ohio State 0.
1922 Construction of the horseshoe shaped stadium is completed with a seating capacity of 57,000. Designed by Myron Hunt, the stadium cost $272,198.
1922 The Tournament of Roses Association built the Bowl in the Arroyo, a ravine of parkland and natural vegetation on the west side of Pasadena.
1923 The stadium is named “The Rose Bowl” and is dedicated hosting its first college football game. Start of play was delayed more than an hour when Penn’s team was stuck in traffic. USC defeats Penn State, 14-2.
1924 The Midwick polo team captured the United States Polo Association junior and open championships.
1924 Washington 14, Navy 14.
1925 Legendary Four Horsemen from Notre Dame play in the Rose Bowl Game against Ernie Nevers of Stanford. Notre Dame won 27-10.
1926 First local radio broadcast of the Rose Bowl Game, announced by Pasadena sportswriter and ex-Olympic track star Charlie Paddock.
1926 Notre Dame 27, Stanford 10.
1927 Stanford 7, Alabama 7.
1928 Rose Bowl Stadium enlarged by 19,000 seats, increasing seating capacity to 76,000.
1928 Stanford 7, Pittsburgh 6.
1929 Georgia Tech 8, California 7.
1930 USC 47, Pittsburgh 14.
1931 Wooden sections of the Rose Bowl are removed and replaced with reinforced concrete. The addition of 10,000 seats increased total capacity to 83,000.
1931 Alabama 24, Washington State 0.
1932 First short-wave radio broadcast of the Rose Parade. The broadcast is heard around the world.
1932 USC 21, Tulane 12.
1932 The Summer Olympics take place in Los Angeles with the cycling events held at the Rose Bowl.
1933 USC 35, Pittsburgh 0.
1934 Columbia 7, Stanford 0.
1935 Alabama 29, Stanford 13.
1936 Stanford 7, SMU 0.
1937 Seating is increased to 87,677.
1938 California 13, Alabama 0.
1939 The Rose Parade celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Youngest Grand Marshal, Shirley Temple, presides over the parade.
1939 USC 7, Duke 3.
1939 Richard and Pat Nixon enjoy first date at Duke vs. USC Rose Bowl Game. USC beats Duke, 7-3.
1941 Underdog Stanford surprised Nebraska by unveiling new wide-open offense, coined “T-formation” to win 21-13.
1942 World War II forces cancellation of Parade. Rose Bowl Game moved to Duke Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Oregon State 20, Duke 16.
1943 Rose Bowl Game returned to Pasadena. Georgia 9, UCLA 0.
1944 USC 25, Washington 0.
1945 USC 25, Tennessee 0.
1946 World War II is over and the Rose Bowl Game agreement signed between Pacific Coast and Big Ten conferences.
1947 First local telecast of the Rose Parade on KTLA-TV.
1947 First local Rose Bowl telecast. Michigan 49, USC 0.
1949 Stadium is enlarged to seat 94,410 – $335,000 improvement.
1949 Northwestern 20, California 14.
1950 Fourth expansion increased capacity to 100,983. The Rose Bowl Game becomes the first bowl game to have 100,000 spectators in attendance.
1951 Michigan 14, California 6.
1952 Illinois 40, Stanford 7.
1953 USC 7, Wisconsin 0.
1954 Michigan State 28, UCLA 20.
1955 Ohio State 28, USC 7.
1956 Michigan State 17, UCLA 14.
1957 Iowa 35, Oregon 19.
1959 Iowa 38, California 12.
1960 Pacific Coast and Big Ten conferences agreement modified.
1960 Washington 44, Wisconsin 8.
1961 The Rose Bowl’s original press box is built.
1961 Washington 17, Minnesota 7.
1962 Rose Bowl Game becomes first college football game to broadcast nationally in color.
1963 Wisconsin quarterback Ron Vander Kelen established Rose Bowl single-game records for pass attempts (48), pass completions (33), and total yards passing (401).
1964 Illinois 17, Washington 7.
1965 Michigan 34, Oregon State 12.
1966 UCLA 14, Michigan State 12.
1967 Purdue 14, USC 13.
1968 First “live” satellite beaming of Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game to other parts of the world.
1968 USC 14, Indiana 3.
1969 The Rose Bowl Game serves as the kickoff to the 100th anniversary of intercollegiate football.
1969 Ohio State 27, USC 16.
1969 Wooden benches are replaced with aluminum seating.
1970 USC 10, Michigan 3.
1971 Stanford 27, Ohio State 17.
1972 Fifth Expansion – Capacity 104,594.
1972 Stanford 13, Michigan 12.
1973 USC 42, Ohio State 17.
1974 Ohio State 42, USC 21.
1975 USC 18, Ohio State 17.
1976 UCLA 23, Ohio State 10.
1977 USC 14, Michigan 6.
1977 January 9 SuperBowl XI Attendance: 103,438
First Super Bowl to be played in Pasadena. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 32-14, featuring the receiving heroics of Fred Biletnikoff who was named Most Valuable Player. His receptions (four for 79 yards) set up three scores and complemented running back Clarence Davis who gained 137 yards in 16 carries.
1978 Washington 27, Michigan 20.
1979 USC 17, Michigan 10.
1980 Heisman Trophy winner Charles White sets Rose Bowl game record for most yards gained (247 yards).
1980 January 20 Super Bowl XIV Attendance: 103,985 (all-time Super Bowl attendance record).
Pittsburgh Steelers overcame a fourth-quarter deficit behind quarter-back Terry Bradshaw to win their fourth Super Bowl, this time over the Los Angeles Rams, 31-19. Bradshaw’s 72-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth was a highlight of his 14-for-21, 309-yard performance which earned him Most Valuable Player honors.
1981 Michigan’s Don Bracken sets Rose Bowl game record for longest punt (73 yards). Michigan 23, Washington 6.
1982 Washington’s Jacque Robinson becomes the first freshman to win Player of the Game honors.
1982 Rose Bowl becomes the gridiron for the University of California at Los Angeles. Washington 28, Iowa 0.
1982 An eight-year project to add earthquake reinforcements to the stadium structure begins. Locker rooms are again remodeled, a new sound system is installed, and parking areas are also improved.
1983 UCLA 24, Michigan 14.
1983 January 30 Super Bowl XVII Attendance: 103,667
The Washington Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins, 27-17, behind John Riggin’s 43-yard touchdown burst in the fourth quarter. Riggins earned Most Valuable Player honors for his 166 rushing in 38 carries.
1984 UCLA 45, Illinois 9.
1984 The XXIII Olympiad, the first profitable Olympic Games. Soccer competition at the Rose Bowl draws 101,799 fans; France defeated Brazil, 2-0, for the Gold.
1985 Ohio State’s Rich Spangler makes the longest field goal in Rose Bowl game history (52 yards).
1985 USC 20, Ohio State 17.
1986 UCLA 45, Iowa 28.
1986 The City of Pasadena celebrates its 100th birthday.
1987 Arizona State 22, Michigan 15.
1987 January 25 Super Bowl XXI Attendance: 101,063
Quarterback Phil Simms earned Most Valuable Player honors for his 22-for-25 passing performance, 368 yards and three touchdowns in leading the New York Giants to a 39-20 win over the Denver Broncos.
1988 First “live” network broadcast of the Rose Bowl Game in Spanish.
1988 Michigan State 20, USC 17.
1989 Tournament of Roses Centennial.
1989 In honor the 75th Anniversary of the Rose Bowl, the Chrysler Corporation Court of Champions, a monument to Rose Bowl players and coaches, is created: Howard Jones, Woody Hayes, Jim Plunkett and Bump Elliott are the first inductees into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
1990 USC defeats Michigan, 17-10, in Bo Schembechler’s final game as head coach of the Wolverines.
1990 Archie Griffin, Charles White, Robert O. “Horse” Reynolds, Neil Snow and William Wallace are inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
1990 Rex Kern, John McKay, Ernie Nevers, Roy Riegels, Bob Schloredt, John Sciarra, Russell Stein, Charley Trippi, Ron Vander Kelen and George Wilson become the third class inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
1991 Tournament of Roses Association accepts the city’s request to renovate the press box, tripling capacity to more than 1,000.
1991 Washington 46, Iowa 34.
1992 University of Washington reigns as Rose Bowl Champion defeating University of Michigan 34-14.
1992 Construction completed on $11.5 million three-level structure at the Rose Bowl providing state-of-the-art facilities for both news media and spectators in the Executive and Club Suites. The seating capacity was increased form 330 to 1,200.
1992 Contract with ABC Network extended to the year 2001.
1993 79th Rose Bowl Game. University of Michigan Wolverines upset the University of Washington Huskies 39 to 31. The Rose Bowl is designated as an engineering landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. After many renovations, The Rose Bowl seating capacity is 104,594 people.
1993 January 31 Super Bowl XXVII Attendance: 101,000
133 million Americans viewed Super Bowl XXVII on television, the largest viewing audience ever for any show. The Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 52-17.
1993 $2 million renovation of the Rose Bowl is a gift from World Cup USA 1994 Inc. to the City of Pasadena. The field is widened to 224 feet and 345 feet long. Permanent ramps are installed for the disabled. Capacity – 100,184.
1994 Rose Bowl Game celebrates 80 years with the theme “Entertainment of Parade.” University of Wisconsin 21, UCLA 16. This was the first time the “Badgers” played in the Rose Bowl in 30 years and the seventh year for UCLA.
1994 The largest single sports event in the world, the World Cup Soccer Championship, set records in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. Eight matches were played on June 18, 19, 22, 26 July 3, 13, 16 and the championship game on July 17. Final score – Brazil 3, Italy 2. This was Brazil’s fourth win.
1994 Gate receipts for the World Cup final totaled $43.5 million, which organizers said was the largest of any sports event ever staged. Total attendance at the Rose Bowl was 715,826. Average attendance per game was 89,478. The total attendance for all matches was 3,578,508, breaking the record of 2.5 million set four years ago in Italy.
1995 The 81st Rose Bowl Game – Monday, January 2. Penn State scores 38 and University of Oregon 20. The theme was “SPORTS” – Quest for Excellence."
1996 January 1 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pac-10, Big Ten and Tournament of Roses Rose Bowl Game. The theme is “Kids’ Laughter & Dreams.”
1996 University of Southern California wins over Northwestern University 41-32. The last time Northwestern played in the Rose Bowl was in 1949. Attendance for the 1996 game – 100,102.
1996 Los Angeles Galaxy, one of 10 teams that make up Major League Soccer, selects the Rose Bowl at its new home stadium.
1996 The Rose Bowl undergoes a $21.5 million renovation including a new sound system, scoreboards, video board, elevator with field access and restrooms.
1996 Rose Bowl joins the Bowl alliance, a move that will bring the top college football teams to Pasadena every four years. Under the agreement, the Rose Bowl will host the Pac-10 and Big Ten champions, while gaining the national title game in 2002 and every four years thereafter.
1997 Life’s Shining Moments” is the theme for the 108th Rose Parade and the 83rd Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 1997. Ohio State Buckeyes score 20 over the Arizona Sundevils score of 17, “Best last two minutes in Rose Bowl history.”
Disabled access increased. Seating capacity reduced to 98,636.
1998 84th Rose Bowl Game, themed “Echoes of the Century” Michigan Wolverines defeat Washington State Cougars by a score of 21 to 16. Michigan clinches national championship. Last title game to be decided in the Rose Bowl until 2002.
1999 The Rose bowl Game gains an official sponsor and becomes the Rose Bowl Game, presented by AT&T.
1999 The Bowl Championship Series celebrates its inaugural Season. The Wisconsin Badgers defeat the UCLA Bruins, 39-31 in the 85th Rose Bowl Game, appropriately themed “Echoes of the Century.”
1999 Rose Bowl is site of historic Women’s World Cup Soccer Championship Game. Team USA defeats China, 5-4 in penalty kicks.
2000 The 111th Rose Parade and 86th Rose Bowl Game usher in the millennium with “Celebration 2000: Visions of the Future.”
2000 The Wisconsin Badgers defeat the Stanford Cardinal, 17-9 in the 86th Rose Bowl Game 2000. This is the Badgers third trip to the Rose Bowl in five years. They’re the only team in history to win back-to-back Rose Bowls.
2001 The 112th Rose Parade and 87th Rose Bowl Game begin the New Year with “Fabric of America.”
2001 The Washington Huskies defeat the Purdue Boilermakers, 34-24 in the 87th Rose Bowl Game.
2002 For the first time in history, the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game are held on different days when the Rose Bowl hosts college football’s National Championship Game on January 3, 2002. Pasadena begins the New Year on January 1, 2002 with the 113th Rose Parade themed “Good Times.”
2002 The 88th Rose Bowl Game plays host to the National Championship Game, vying the top two ranked college football teams for the national title. The Miami Hurricanes defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 37-14 on January 3, 2002.
2003 The theme for the 114th Tournament of Roses and 89th Rose Bowl Game is "Children’s Dreams, Wishes and Imagination. The Rose Bowl Game features a match up between the Pac-10 co-champion Washington State Cougars and the Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners defeat the Cougars 34 – 14 in their first Rose Bowl appearance.
2004 The 115th Tournament of Rose Parade, featuring Grand Marshal John Williams and the sounds of “Music Music Music,” usher in 2004. A historic fly-over by three military fighters, all in formation, sends shivers up the spines of all parade-goers and television viewers.
2004 In a welcome return to tradition, the 90th Rose Bowl Game features a match up between the Pac-10 and Big Ten champions. More than 92,000 pack the Rose Bowl Stadium to watch as the #1 ranked (AP poll) University of Southern California Trojans defeat the #4 ranked University of Michigan Wolverines 28 – 14. Once again the country has co-champions, as USC is named the AP National Champion and LSU is named the BCS National Champion.
2005 The 116th Tournament of Roses Parade reminds the country to “Celebrate Family” on January 1, 2005. Grand Marshal Mickey Mouse and the cast of Disney characters kick off the Parade with a musical extravaganza.
2005 The 91st Rose Bowl Game features a match up between the Big Ten Champion Michigan Wolverines and the Big 12 Champion Texas University Longhorns. More than 92,000 fans pack the stadium to watch the Longhorns in their first Rose Bowl Game appearance. The momentum leads them to victory as the University of Texas Longhorns defeat the University of Michigan Wolverines 38 – 37 in the best college bowl game of the season.
2006 History is made as Libby Evans Wright becomes the first female president of the Tournament of Roses.
2006 Because January 1 falls on a Sunday, in keeping with tradition, the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade is held on Monday, January 2. Leann Rimes kicks off the parade, themed “It’s Magical,” with a musical showstopper. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor serves as Grand Marshal.
2006 It rains on the parade for the first time since 1955.
2006 The 92nd Rose Bowl Game hosts the National Championship Game on January 4, 2006, as college football’s two top ranked teams vie for the national title. In a highly charged game, the #2 ranked Texas Longhorns defeat the #1 ranked
USC Trojans 41-38, ending the Trojans’ reign as National Champions. The television broadcast attracts 35.6 million viewers, making it the most watched U.S. television program of the 2005-2006 season to date.
2007 The 118th Rose Parade celebrates “Our Good Nature” with 45 floats, 21 marching bands and 23 equestrian units. In a salute to the Star Wars phenomenon, Grand Marshal George Lucas is escorted down Colorado Blvd. by 200 storm troopers.
2007 The 93rd Rose Bowl Games returns to its roots when the Pac-10 champion USC Trojans and the Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines face off in one of the most anticipated bowl games of the season. The Trojans dominate the game with a decisive 32 – 18 victory.
2008 In the spirit of the theme, “Passport to the World’s Celebrations,” the 119th Rose Parade is led by Grand Marshal Emeril Laggasse. The festivities kick off with an explosive opening show featuring dancers and flags from around the world and culminates for the first time, with a flyover by Navy F18 hornets.
2008 The 94th Rose Bowl Game hosts the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the University of Southern California Trojans in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10 match-up. The Trojans are victorious with a final score of 49 – 17.
2009 The 120th Rose Parade, themed “Hats Off to Entertainment,” lives up to its name by entertaining millions of viewers in Pasadena and around the world. The New Year’s Day festivities are led by Grand Marshal Cloris Leachman, an Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress. The opening show truly dazzles with amazing dancers, great musicians, and a tip of the hat from Honda’s 50-foot-tall robot, Asimo.
2009 The 95th Rose Bowl Game features the USC Trojans, participating in their fourth consecutive Rose Bowl Game, in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10 match-up against the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions. The Trojans win 38 – 24.
2010 Rose Bowl Game and Citi BCS National Championship Game 2010 marks a historic year for the Tournament of Roses, as the organization hosts two post-season football games. The 96th Rose Bowl Game features the number 8-ranked Ohio State University Buckeyes defeating the number 7-ranked University of Oregon Ducks 26 – 17 in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10 match-up.
2010 The Citi BCS National Championship Game is held on Thursday, January 7, 2010. Fans are treated to an exciting match-up between the top two collegiate teams in the nation, the number 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the number 2-ranked Texas Longhorns. The Crimson Tide captures the national championship title after defeating the Longhorns 37 – 21.
2011 In tune with its theme “Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories,” the 122nd Rose Parade presented by Honda features an opening spectacular led by cooking icon and Grand Marshal Paula Deen.
2011 The Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs, a non-BCS school with a 12 – 0 record, becomes the first Mountain West Conference representative to appear in the Rose Bowl Game when they compete against the Big Ten champion Wisconsin Badgers. TCU beats Wisconsin, 21 – 19, to become the first non-BCS team to win the Rose Bowl Game in nearly 80 years.
2011 The Rose Bowl Stadium begins a $152 million renovation. It is the largest investment in the history of the iconic structure, which was built in 1922. The improvements are slated for completion before the 100th Rose Bowl Game and the next BCS National Championship Game in January 2014.
2012 In keeping with the Tournament of Roses’ “never on Sunday” tradition, the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game are held on Monday, January 2. The theme for the 123rd Rose Parade presented by Honda is “Just Imagine.” Iraqi War hero and “Dancing with the Stars” champion J.R. Martinez leads the parade as Grand Marshal.
2012 The 98th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO offers a match-up between the number 10-ranked University of Wisconsin Badgers, champions of the Big Ten Conference, and the number 5-ranked University of Oregon Ducks, champions of the Pac-12 Conference. The Ducks defeat the Badgers 45 – 38 in the highest-scoring Rose Bowl Game ever played.