Pasadena, Rose Bowl accuse UCLA of attempting to move football games to SoFi Stadium

The City of Pasadena and Rose Bowl Operating Company filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing UCLA of attempting to move its home games to SoFi Stadium.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained Thursday by Bruin Blitz, claims that UCLA’s outside legal counsel told the city and Rose Bowl on Oct. 18 that “UCLA leadership, lawmakers in Sacramento, and other decision-makers had vetted and approved the decision.”

In a statement Thursday to Bruin Blitz, the school did not address the lawsuit first reported Wednesday by the Los Angeles Times nor deny the accusation.

“While we continue to evaluate the long-term arrangement for UCLA football home games, no decision has been made,” Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, said in the statement.

UCLA’s lease with the Rose Bowl runs through 2044. The Bruins have played their home games in the 103-year-old stadium since 1982. The current agreement was signed in 2010 and amended four years later.

The lawsuit claims that the city and Rose Bowl were “surprised to hear…from multiple credible sources” that UCLA officials and SoFi Stadium were nearing a potential partnership in March.

“Upon information and belief, UCLA and SoFi’s representatives engaged in multiple meetings regarding a move to Inglewood,” the lawsuit said, “including down to the detail of seating charts, revenue splitting, and discussions about utilizing UCLA’s move as part of a larger development project.”

A letter dated March 11 was sent to UCLA, cautioning the school that “preliminary or exploratory discussions” would breach the agreement. Athletic director Martin Jarmond and UCLA vice chancellor and chief financial officer Stephen Agostini were the recipients of the letter.

UCLA responded March 27, “denying any breach and brushing off relocation talks,” according to the lawsuit.

This month, the city and Rose Bowl learned of renewed discussions between UCLA and SoFi Stadium. The lawsuit claims that UCLA was contacted Tuesday to reaffirm its commitment to the lease agreement with the Rose Bowl.

“UCLA stated only its intent to continue playing home games at the Rose Bowl for the remainder of this football season,” according to the lawsuit.

In its own press release Thursday, the city confirmed it “took the unfortunate but necessary step of filing a lawsuit.”

“That lease agreement is unambiguous, explicitly stating that there is no option for UCLA to terminate the lease prior to its expiration,” the release said.

“Notwithstanding the clear language of the lease, a representative from UCLA has notified the city and the Rose Bowl of UCLA’s intent to take steps that will breach the agreement. … The city expects UCLA will honor the terms of the agreement, and the city council will do everything in its power to protect and defend the city’s contractual rights on behalf of the public interest, the city’s residents, and all in our region.”

While the school claims it did not violate the agreement and only engaged in preliminary discussions, the city sees it differently after being told “we’re moving on” and that “there’s no way we’re staying long term.”

“It did so in secret,” the lawsuit said, “while its leaders continued to suggest to Plaintiffs that no departure was planned, and while the city continued to spend millions on improvements requested by, or for the benefit of, UCLA.”

Last December, the Rose Bowl announced an $80 million multi-year renovation project using privately-raised funds to upgrade the stadium ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Among the renovations will be a field-level club in the south end zone and a new videoboard.

“The Rose Bowl Stadium has been our home for over forty years and America’s Stadium for more than one hundred,” Jarmond said at the time of the announcement. “We look forward to seeing the unmatched tradition of the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium paired with modern-day amenities that will enhance the fan experience for years to come.”

SoFi Stadium, home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, features more than 260 luxury suites. The distance from campus, however, is among the potential draws for a UCLA football program that has struggled to attract fans in recent years.

The Bruins have averaged 35,253 fans through four home games, though a Los Angeles Times report in September discovered that the announced figures have been inflated by including stadium workers and media members.

UCLA is 26 miles away from the Rose Bowl, while SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is located 13 miles from campus.