Coming Up Roses

by SweisKloss
September 23, 2021

For most people, when one thinks about football, architecture isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But for us if architecture can be applied in some way, then hey, why not. Therefore, football + architecture (+ SoCal) = the Rose Bowl. With college football season off to a start, we thought it would be fun to write about this iconic stadium.

Designed by well-respected architect Myron Hunt, the stadium was built in 1922 and completed in a record-breaking eight months to hold the first post-season college football “bowl” game initiated as part of the Tournament of Roses. The design plan for the stadium was originally horseshoe shaped and used elements from classical Roman and Greek theaters and stadia. To accommodate more seating and space, it changed to a full bowl shape.

The Rose Bowl was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The City of Pasadena considered bringing in a National Football League (NFL) team to the Bowl, which would have given significant funding for extensive renovations. However, the proposed plan would have greatly changed the historic design and thereby take away its status as a National Historic Landmark. Pasadena residents rejected the plan through a ballot measure.

An alternative plan allowed for an updated infrastructure, historic Arroyo walls were reinforced with new foundations, public safety considerations were upgraded, systems and amenities were modernized, all while maintaining the design integrity. The original architecture was kept intact as much as possible, preserving rather than tearing down.

Known as “America’s Stadium,” the Rose Bowl is home to the UCLA Bruins and has hosted the Olympics, five Super Bowls, FIFA World Cups (remember Brandi Chastain’s victory moment?!), in addition to its annual Rose Bowl Game—this year marks the 110th one. Of course, the Rose Bowl is known for its sporting events, but it is also used as a major music venue. And every second Sunday of the month is the Rose Bowl Flea Market, which if you love flea markets, this is THE one, and by far the largest, to go to in L.A.

For history buffs, there are scheduled days for tours of the stadium. If you want to attend the Rose Bowl Game on New Year’s Day 2024, get tickets way in advance. The Rose Parade precedes the game. For more information about the Rose Bowl, click here.