The Rose Bowl is situated in Pasadena, a North Eastern suburb of Los Angeles, California. The stadium is one of the best sporting venues in the United States, used for big sporting events and concerts featuring well-known artists from all over the world. Built in 1922, the stadium has been recognized as a National Historical Landmark.
If you're not from Los Angeles, traveling to the Rose Bowl can seem like a fairly intimidating task. There are a number of options for getting to the stadium which will make your trip easier, however you may want to stay at one of the nearby Rose Bowl hotels for further convenience.
1. LAX
The easiest way to get to LA is to fly into LAX or Burbank airport. Both airports are serviced by most major airlines in the USA. You can drive to LA from other parts of California but those who live further away a flight into the city will make the most sense.
2. Gold Line
From LAX airport you can take the US2LAX bus to the city's main Metro station. The Gold Line will then take you to Pasadena Station. There are free shuttle buses from there to the stadium. If you're taking public transport from your hotel, take a bus or the Metro line to the main Metro Station and follow the same directions above on the Gold Line.
3. Car
Like most LA natives, you can also drive to the Rose Bowl stadium. There is very limited parking available on a first come, first serve basis. Parking spaces can be booked at the Parson's Garage which is a few blocks from the stadium and offers a free shuttle to the stadium entrance.
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What to Know Before You Go to the Rose Bowl
One of the biggest tips is to stay close to the stadium to make your trip to and from the stadium as simple as possible. Events like the Rose Bowl Game can cause major traffic congestion so staying in one of the many nearby Rose Bowl hotels will make your trip to the stadium much more convenient.
1. Rose Bowl Parade
If you're going to the iconic Rose Bowl College Game, make sure to go to the Rose Bowl Parade earlier in the day. The floats are amazing and the event will really help you get into the spirit of the event.
2. Bring a Jacket
Yes, this is California, but the evenings can get very cold outside. The venue also sells hot cocoa if you are still chilly, along with a variety of other confectioneries.
3. Arrive Early
The Rose Bowl trophy is on display before the game for photographs at the public fanfest from 8am to 1pm. If you go to the fanfest you will get early entry to the stadium and a fun dance party with well-known DJs.
4. Wear Comfortable Shoes
The Rose Bowl holds almost 100,000 people, so it's pretty big. The stadium is old and the design means that you will occasionally need to walk long distances to get to most of the seats.
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The Greatest Rose Bowl Games of All Time
In its history, this stadium has seen some truly amazing Rose Bowl games. There is a small museum on site that is well worth a visit, highlighting some of the stadium's biggest events. You may want to stay in Rose Bowl vacation rentals and spend a few days truly exploring the history of this magnificent stadium.
1. 1997 Rose Bowl Ohio State 20 Arizona State 17
Arizona State arrived at the Rose Bowl with an impressive 11-0 winning streak. They were the fan favorites and expected to win. This was a very close game that was won by Ohio State in the last 19 seconds of the game.
2. 1963 Rose Bowl USC 42 Wisconsin 37
This was the first time in College Football history that a number one team ended up playing a number two team. Eleven passing records were set on the day. This showed that matching the two top teams would result in an exciting game.
3. 2018 Rose Bowl Georgia 54 Oklahoma 48
This recent instalment of the Rose Bowl proved to be one of the most interesting in the game's history with a record-breaking 102 points scored. The game went into double overtime that resulted in an exciting win for Georgia.
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The Weather in Pasadena
- Rainy days
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