A judge Wednesday denied a request by the city of Pasadena and the operators of the Rose Bowl for a temporary restraining order that would bar UCLA’s football team from playing its home games at other venues, including SoFi Stadium.
The city and the Rose Bowl Operating Company sued the university last month, seeking to enforce the terms of a lease agreement they claim locks UCLA into playing football at the venue until 2044.
While the suit is pending, the plaintiffs filed papers Monday, asking that a restraining order be issued prohibiting UCLA from playing any home football games at any other venue in Los Angeles or Orange counties, and barring the university from trying to terminate its Rose Bowl lease while the lawsuit is pending.
During a hearing in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday morning, a judge heard arguments and ultimately ruled there was no emergency need for a restraining order, with no indication a UCLA departure from the Rose Bowl was imminent. The university has indicated that it is exploring options for a new home football venue, specifically SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
UCLA only has one more home game remaining on its 2025 schedule.
The attorneys for the city told NBC Los Angeles that they appreciated the judge’s comments, and they will continue to fight.
UCLA attorneys declined to comment.
Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, issued a statement last month saying the university has not made any decisions about the future home of Bruin football games.
“While we continue to evaluate the long-term arrangement for UCLA football home games, no decision has been made,” Osako said.
According to the city of Pasadena, a UCLA representative “has notified the city and Rose Bowl of UCLA’s intent to take steps that will breach the agreement, an agreement that was signed back in 2010 and amended in 2014.”
“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,” according to a city statement.
The statement from the city said UCLA has been a partner for more than 40 years and the city and venue have exceeded its contractual obligations, including “significant time, effort, and financial resources” as well as
“ongoing major renovation work,” all in partnership with the university.
According to the lawsuit, UCLA has expressed its intent “to abandon the Rose Bowl Stadium and relocate its home football games to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.”
“This is not only a clear break of the contract that governs the parties’ relationship, but it is also a profound betrayal of trust, of tradition, and of the very community that helped build UCLA football,” the lawsuit states.
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