City Council Authorizes Potential October Soccer Match in Rose Bowl

It’s a go. Pasadena’s Rose Bowl can host a potential international soccer match in October that would be in excess of the allowed number of Displacement Events in the stadium within the year.

Pasadena’s City Council approved a request Monday from the Rose Bowl Operating Company, the nonprofit organization that manages the stadium, to allow stadium management to finalize with Soccer United Marketing a schedule for the potential match which would happen on October 9.

The match is contingent upon the result of another match in July to be played at another venue.

William Boyer, Public Information Officer at the City Manager’s Office, said the request was approved during Monday night’s City Council session.

This game would be in addition to the July 21 match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Barcelona in the International Champions Cup U.S. edition.

Earlier, Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn said Soccer United Marketing, which promotes a number of soccer football competitions in the United States, wanted to get a commitment that the stadium would be available for the October 9 potential match even if it may not happen.

No more than 12 “displacement” events can be held at the Rose Bowl according to municipal regulations, and anything in excess should be supported by findings that the additional events would bring more benefits than disadvantages for Pasadena and the Arroyo Seco area.

In the Agenda Report, Dunn also reported that Pasadena will make more than $400,000 from the match, aside from the income to be made from additional economic activity associated with the match that will benefit local businesses and therefore city tax revenue.

The Operating Company assured the event, if it happens, would result in minimal conflict with currently scheduled activities in the Arroyo, suggesting that early planning and coordination with the proper city departments will address any potential problem with traffic and any safety or security concerns.

Soccer United Marketing has also offered a $50,000 traffic mitigation fund since the match is scheduled on a weekday.