Visiting Fans Guide To Attending A UCLA Game At The Rose Bowl

The UCLA Bruins football program and the University of Miami (FL) football program share a very unique distinction, both schools play home football games more than 20 miles away from their campuses. The Bruin's Westwood campus sits a whopping 29 miles from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. This situation means that fans are traveling to a city, much more than a campus, when attending a UCLA gridiron contest.

Perhaps the most historic football venue in the country, the 89-year-old Rose Bowl is located in the picturesque Arroyo Seco canyon, resting at an elevation of 825 feet. Surrounded by residential hillsides and flanked by the San Gabriel Mountains, the Rose Bowl provides fans with a feeling of serenity, amid the sprawl and congestion of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.   

Aside from hosting UCLA games and the "The Granddaddy of Them All" bowl game, the facility has also hosted five Super Bowl's, Men's and Women's FIFA World Cup Finals, as well as events during the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics. For these reasons, the Rose Bowl is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The Pasadena stadium is located 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, 28 miles from Los Angeles International Airport and 16 miles from the smaller Burbank Airport.

The Rose Bowl's unique geographical setting makes for beautiful views; however, it also contributes to a difficult traffic flow situation. The venue sits near the intersection of the 134 and 210 freeways, but the need to enter and exit a canyon makes for a significant level of gridlock. Be prepared to deal with traffic before and after the game.  Tailgating is welcome and provides a great excuse for fans to try and get ahead of the congestion. Take a look at UCLA's guides for directions/parking and tailgating policies.

Before or after visiting the Rose Bowl, a brief two mile drive brings fans to vibrant downtown Pasadena, also known as Old Pasadena. Located over a several block stretch of Colorado Boulevard, this area boasts of literally 100's of dining, shopping and nightlife destinations. This array of commerce rivals most US big city downtown areas, plus it is very pedestrian friendly. An Old Pasadena highlight is the Paseo Colorado outdoor shopping area.

The South Lake Avenue district, located just south of Colorado Boulevard, provides for another several block stretch of opportunity for fans to eat, drink and buy.          

The Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens offers a renowned library of historic works, comprehensive art gallery and 120 acre botanical garden. This scenic venue rests on the estate of early LA industrialist Henry E. Huntington, in the neighboring city of San Marino.

For Cal Bears fans attending Saturday's game, the Cal Alumni Association is hosting a pregame rally at the Brookside Golf Club, located immediately adjacent to the Rose Bowl. This event begins at 1:30 pm.

Once outside the Pasadena area, visiting fans have a metropolitan area of 17 million people at their disposal. Below is a snapshot of LA at its best.

Burbank

LA's highest concentration of entertainment industry business sits in the San Fernando Valley city.  

“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” tapes at the historic NBC Studios, once home to Johnny Carson's legendary program.

3000 W. Alameda Ave.

“Conan” tapes down the street at Warner Brothers Studios. Warner Bros. also offers a full studio tour.

3400 W. Riverside Drive

Hollywood/Universal City

Check out the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre and an excellent view of the Hollywood Sign. The best place to do all this is the Hollywood & Highland Center.

6801 Hollywood Blvd. (intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave)

Universal Studios Hollywood's famous studio tour and exciting amusement park rides are a thrill for all ages. Also, check out the adjacent Universal City Walk for dining, shopping and entertainment options.

Universal Studios exit off the 101 Freeway