Scenic Misery: Where Does The Rose Bowl Rank Among Iconic Stadiums

The UCLA Bruins‘ home, the iconic Rose Bowl, just landed at No. 9 in The Athletic’s national stadium rankings, with writer Ira Gorawara summing up the atmosphere like this:

“Big Ten teams can complain about the mileage, but no one deserves pity for a trip that ends beneath the San Gabriel Mountains. If it really amounts to suffering, it has to be the most scenic misery imaginable, where light melts into gold and even a busted coverage appears cinematic. You might park on the edge of a golf course, drink sweating in your hand and grill smoke curling into dry air. By kickoff, mountains blush purple and light gilds every row.

A stadium that feels dug out of earth, the Rose Bowl is California at its purest, sun-faded, stubbornly beautiful and caught in the illusion of perpetuity. Anywhere else, sure … but there’s no justifying travel whining for a trip to Pasadena. Yes, for UCLA home games, not just the Rose Bowl Game itself.”

Rose Bowl Renovations

Now, the iconic venue is getting ready for its next chapter.

The Rose Bowl Operating Company and the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation announced a series of renovations ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, when the stadium will host soccer.

Check Out Our Custom-Designed UCLA Bruins Merch HERE!

The upgrades include a new south end zone field-level club, improved bowl seating, and one of the largest video boards in the country. Several infrastructure improvements are also planned, with construction set for two phases, the first finishing in 2026 and the second wrapping up just before the Olympics.

Some recent work has already been completed, including the refurbishment of the marquee sign, the installation of new east side safe standing sections, and a revamped sound system. Most of the major projects are already funded thanks to private donors and stadium partners.

The UCLA Bruins are now firmly established in the Big Ten, and while the football team builds momentum on the field, the Rose Bowl is ensuring the off-field experience keeps pace. Even as college football evolves, Pasadena still holds its own.