City, Neighborhood Gird for Middle-of-the-Week Rose Bowl Soccer Match Tonight

Chelsea FC returns after seven years to Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Wednesday, July 27, as it takes on Premier League rival Liverpool FC in Match 5 of the 2016 International Champions Cup. Chelsea last played at the Rose Bowl in 2009 when it defeated Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in pre-season friendly match.

This will be Chelsea’s first game in the 2016 ICC. For the Rose Bowl, this will be its second consecutive year it will be hosting an ICC match sponsored by Relevent Sports. Last year, LA Galaxy and Barcelona played in front of more than 90,000 fans at the historic stadium.

“This is the best roster of teams in ICC history and having them start their 2016-17 campaign playing against each other will be a treat for both fans and the players,” says Charlie Stillitano, Relevent Sports chairman. “Matches like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium and Chelsea v Liverpool FC at Rose Bowl Stadium demonstrates the elite competition the ICC stands for. We are continuing to set the gold standard for soccer in America and abroad and are excited for summer to start.”

The match will be Georginio Gregion Emile Wijnaldum’s first appearance for Liverpool. The Dutch footballer signed with the Reds last Friday and will play as an attacking midfielder. He also plays for the Netherlands national team.

The Rose Bowl management expects attendance to be over 50,000 and has worked hard towards getting fans to the stadium on time.

They have also released advisories for Rose Bowl-area residents to expect delays during afternoon rush hour. As the match begins at 8:30 p.m., traffic will likely be heaviest between 5 and 8 p.m., with some road closures in effect as early as 11 a.m.

“Residents arriving at home after 5 p.m. should consider using the north entrances to the Arroyo Seco,” says a Rose Bowl advisory. “Brief sound checks will occur sporadically throughout the morning and afternoon on the day of the match. The noise level for this event will be high, consistent with past matches of this nature.”

Lights at the stadium will also be on through much of the night from Monday, July 25 through Thursday, July 28, for safety and security, but will be turned off as early as possible each night. Recreational users will not have access to the area nine hours prior to the match, beginning at 11 a.m., although the Equestrian Loop will remain open at all times.

Parking lots at the Rose Bowl will be open to the public four hours before the event. General Parking is available at the Brookside Park and Golf Course on event day only at $40 per car.

Parking in Lot H will be sold on event day only at $60 per car. This lot is only accessible to guests by exiting the 210 Freeway at Mountain Avenue or northbound Rosemont Avenue from Orange Grove Blvd.

Limos, bus and RV parking is open on West Drive for $160 on the day of the match. ADA parking is available in both the General and Preferred lots near the Rose Bowl; vehicles must display a valid State of California handicapped placard and registration when entering these lots.

Rose Bowl staffing has been expanded throughout the neighborhoods near the Rose Bowl Stadium to address any event-day concerns as they occur. To receive assistance before, during or after the event, please contact the Rose Bowl Event Day hotline, (626) 397-4141.

Tickets for the Chelsea-Liverpool match are now on sale and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com.