Rose Bowl
Stadium Guide
Seating, premium access, parking, hotels, and event planning for Rose Bowl Stadium — home of UCLA football and the Rose Bowl Game, plus a major LA 2028 Summer Games soccer venue in Pasadena. Guidance from an Austin-based ticket and travel provider.
At a Glance
The essentials before you book anything — capacity, seating, premium tiers, transportation, and where to stay for UCLA football, the Rose Bowl Game, or an LA 2028 soccer session in Pasadena.
The Experience
Opened in 1922 and nicknamed “The Granddaddy of Them All,” the Rose Bowl is a National Historic Landmark set in the Arroyo Seco with the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop — a low, sweeping bowl that ranks among the most atmospheric venues in college football.
The Stadium
- A gently sloping open-air bowl seating roughly 92,500 — large but intimate, with very few genuinely bad seats anywhere in the venue
- The sidelines have individual seat backs and more legroom, while the end zones are bench seating
- Unusual row lettering — rows start at K nearest the field and run back to A, then continue 1 through 77, so low letters are the flat front rows
- The West-side Premium Pavilion (Levels D, E, and F) houses Club Seats, Loge Boxes, and enclosed suites with mountain and field views
- The San Gabriel Mountains and Arroyo Seco backdrop make the west-facing upper rows some of the most scenic seats in the sport
- No roof — fully open-air; Southern California sun and afternoon shade are the main comfort factors to plan around
Arrive Ready
- 90 minutes early for UCLA games and longer for the Rose Bowl Game — the Arroyo parking and single-approach roads are the main bottleneck
- Parking is famously difficult and lots fill early; a parking pass or VIP/premium access is genuinely worth it here
- Open-air with no shade structure over the bowl — the west side falls into shade first in the late afternoon, the east side stays sunnier
- For the best football sightlines, target the sidelines around midfield in the mid-tier rows rather than the flat front rows
UCLA & the Rose Bowl Game
Home to UCLA Bruins football and to the Rose Bowl Game — one of the oldest and most prestigious bowls in the sport, and a rotating host of College Football Playoff matchups in the New Year’s Six.
UCLA Bruins Football
- The Rose Bowl has been UCLA’s home field since 1982 — a full home schedule from late August through November
- UCLA now competes in the Big Ten, bringing marquee visiting programs and traditional rivals through Pasadena
- The UCLA home bench sits along the west sideline; the visiting bench is on the east side
- Student, band, and alumni blocks are allocated for college games, concentrated in the end zones and lower sideline
Rose Bowl Game & CFP
- The Rose Bowl Game is played on or around New Year’s Day — among the oldest bowl games in college football
- As a New Year’s Six site, the Rose Bowl rotates in as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal and semifinal host
- Demand for the Rose Bowl Game and any CFP fixture far exceeds UCLA regular-season games — plan early
- The Tournament of Roses pageantry, including the parade, makes it a full multi-day event in Pasadena
Sidelines, Mid-Tier Rows
The prime viewing areas for football are the sideline seats around midfield, in the mid-tier rows. The gentle slope of the bowl means this band gives the best elevation to watch plays develop. The flat front rows nearest the field can have blocked sightlines, so aim higher within a sideline area.
West Side for Late-Day Shade
For afternoon kickoffs, the west sideline falls into shade first as the day goes on, while the east side stays in the sun longer. The Premium Pavilion’s covered Club Seats stay shaded throughout. Sunscreen and a hat are worth packing for any daytime game regardless of side.
The Region
Old Town Pasadena’s restaurants and bars are minutes from the stadium, and the wider Los Angeles area is a short drive south. A Rose Bowl trip pairs naturally with a few days exploring LA — plan at least two days around any game, and more around the Rose Bowl Game and Tournament of Roses.
Tell us your target event — a UCLA fixture, the Rose Bowl Game, or an LA 2028 soccer session — and we’ll confirm current options and build the Pasadena trip around your group.
Request Current Pricing →Seating Map
For football, the sidelines are the premium choice and the end zones are the value option, while the West-side Premium Pavilion holds the Club, Loge, and Suite products. Here’s how the bowl breaks down.
Suites & Premium Areas
The West-side Premium Pavilion — a 55,000+ sq ft addition across Levels D, E, and F — holds the Rose Bowl’s Club Seats, Loge Boxes, and enclosed E and F Level Suites, all with private entrances, lounges, and the best shade and amenities in the stadium.
For the Rose Bowl Game and CFP fixtures, premium inventory moves first. Tell us your group size and target game and we’ll source across every tier.
The Club Seats are the best-value premium entry — all-inclusive food and lounge access with covered, shaded seating. The enclosed E and F Level Suites are the choice for private groups, and Loge Boxes sit in between for a semi-private box on the home sideline. For the Rose Bowl Game and CFP fixtures, move on premium early.
Inside the Stadium
What to know before kickoff — the sun, the setting, and the field orientation that shape a day at the Rose Bowl.
Parking, Rideshare & Entry
The Rose Bowl sits in the Arroyo Seco with limited approach roads, so parking and exit are the main planning factor. A parking pass or premium VIP access is strongly worth it, and rideshare needs a pre-set pickup point.
Getting Here
- Old Town Pasadena ~5–10 min by car or rideshare
- Glendale ~15–20 min
- Downtown Los Angeles ~25–35 min off-peak
- Hollywood Burbank (BUR) ~20 min · LAX ~45 min off-peak
Rose Bowl Stadium
1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena, CA 91103
Gates run A through G plus Gate N. Arrive 90 minutes early for UCLA games and earlier for the Rose Bowl Game to absorb the parking and walk-in time. Xenia packages include all transport planning — airport transfers, gameday vehicles, and parking.
Hotels & Neighborhoods
Pasadena is the natural base — Old Town is minutes from the stadium with the best dining and walkability. Glendale and Downtown LA are strong alternatives depending on whether you want proximity or big-city access.
Old Town Pasadena
Walkable restaurants, bars, and boutique and full-service hotels just minutes from the Rose Bowl. The most convenient and characterful base for a gameday — our standard placement for Pasadena trips.
South Pasadena / San Marino
Leafy, upscale, and quiet, anchored by the landmark Langham Huntington resort. Best for groups wanting a calmer, higher-end stay a short drive from the stadium.
Glendale
A solid mid-point between Pasadena and the wider LA basin, ~15–20 min from the Rose Bowl, with good hotel supply and dining when Pasadena is booked out for a big game.
Downtown Los Angeles
The full LA experience — most hotel inventory, dining, and nightlife, ~25–35 min from the stadium off-peak. Best for groups pairing the game with several days in the city.
Luxury
- The Langham Huntington, Pasadena — historic resort flagship
- The Westin Bonaventure — Downtown LA landmark
- InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown — tallest in the West
- Hotel Figueroa — Downtown LA boutique
4-Star
- Sheraton Pasadena — central Old Town area
- The Westin Pasadena — near the Convention Center
- Hyatt Place Pasadena — Old Town walkable
- Hilton Pasadena — downtown Pasadena
Upper-Midrange
- Old Town Pasadena boutiques — most walkable
- Glendale select-service — best value near the stadium
- Courtyard / Residence Inn Pasadena — reliable for groups
- Matched to date, inventory, and group size
Pasadena hotels fill fastest for the Rose Bowl Game and Tournament of Roses week. LA 2028 soccer dates at the stadium will also create significant local demand, so groups targeting those sessions should plan hotel placement early.
Old Town Pasadena is the dining and nightlife heart, minutes from the stadium. The Huntington library and gardens and the Norton Simon Museum are world-class cultural stops. The wider Los Angeles area — Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Downtown — is a short drive south and easily worth extra days around any Rose Bowl trip.
LA 2028 Soccer at Rose Bowl Stadium
Under LA28’s current competition schedule, Rose Bowl Stadium is set to host five high-demand soccer matches in July 2028: one women’s quarterfinal, one men’s semifinal, one women’s semifinal, and both gold medal matches.
Five Rose Bowl Sessions
The current LA28 schedule places five soccer matches at the Rose Bowl. Earlier group-stage and knockout matches are spread across additional U.S. host cities, so the Pasadena portion is concentrated on the tournament’s later stages.
Men’s & Women’s Finals
The men’s gold medal match is scheduled for July 28, followed by the women’s gold medal match on July 29. Those two sessions are expected to be among the highest-demand soccer dates of the Games.
A Coast-to-Coast Tournament
New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San José, and San Diego also host soccer matches. Groups can build a trip around Pasadena only or combine Rose Bowl sessions with matches elsewhere in the tournament.
Our dedicated LA 2028 soccer guide covers the broader tournament, current venue plan, and trip-planning options.
View LA 2028 Soccer →Common Questions
First-time visitor answers for Rose Bowl Stadium — from football seating and parking to the venue’s LA 2028 soccer role.
The sideline seats around midfield, in the mid-tier rows, give the best combination of comfort and football sightlines — the bowl’s gentle slope means this band has ideal elevation to follow the play. Avoid the flat front rows nearest the field, which can have blocked views. If you want covered, shaded seats with lounge access, the Club Seats on the West-side Pavilion are the premium choice.
The Rose Bowl’s lettering is unusual: rows begin at K closest to the field and run backward to A, then continue numerically from 1 up to 77. So the lettered rows are the flat front section near the field, and the numbered rows climb the bowl behind them. For football, you generally want to be in the numbered rows rather than the flat lettered rows.
Parking is the Rose Bowl’s well-known weak point — lots in the Arroyo (including the golf course) fill early and the limited approach roads make exit slow. Pre-purchase a parking pass, arrive at least 90 minutes early, and treat the convenience as worth paying for. VIP parking is included with Club, Loge, and Suite premium packages, which is one of the biggest practical reasons groups choose premium here. If you rideshare, set your pickup point before you go in.
All three are in the West-side Premium Pavilion. Club Seats are outdoor cushioned seats with extra legroom plus access to a large climate-controlled club lounge and all-inclusive food — the best-value premium entry. Loge Boxes are small semi-private boxes at the top of the home sideline with personal TVs and a private lounge. E and F Level Suites are fully enclosed private rooms on the upper decks with climate control, HD TVs, a refrigerator, a suite attendant, and VIP parking — the choice for private groups. All include a private entrance and VIP parking.
Yes — the Rose Bowl Game and any College Football Playoff fixture at the stadium draw far higher demand than UCLA regular-season games, with premium inventory committed earliest and secondary prices climbing as the date nears. If a New Year’s game is your target, reach out as early as possible. UCLA regular-season games are much more attainable and are a great way to experience the stadium for the first time.
LA28’s current schedule has five soccer matches at Rose Bowl Stadium: a women’s quarterfinal on July 21, a men’s semifinal on July 24, a women’s semifinal on July 25, the men’s gold medal match on July 28, and the women’s gold medal match on July 29. Kickoff times and other competition details remain subject to change as planning continues.
Let Us Handle the Details
Tickets, premium access, hotels, and transport for UCLA football, the Rose Bowl Game, LA 2028 soccer sessions, and other major Rose Bowl events — built around your group and the full Pasadena and Los Angeles experience.
Xenia Events LLC is an independent ticket and travel provider and is not affiliated with Rose Bowl Stadium, UCLA, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the College Football Playoff, LA28, or any official organizing body. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and venue policies, schedules, and event details may change.