Olympic Rose Bowl Deal Discussion Rescheduled

Discussions over plans to use the Rose Bowl for some events during the 2024 Olympics were a no-go last night due to the absence of three key Councilmembers. Tyron Hampton and Steve Madison, who represent communities on the East and West flanks of the Bowl property, did not attend the meeting. Also away was Councilmember Victor Gordo, the Council’s representative to the Rose Bowl Operating Company.

The discussions were to center around a financial guarantee letter stating “neither Pasadena or the operating company would have increased financial liability or exposure as a result of the Games.”

The letter also asks the Los Angeles Olympic Committee to make an unspecified investment that will improve the Rose Bowl.

According to a draft letter sent to the Rose Bowl Operating Company by the Olympics Committee, the venue’s minimum terms guarantee an exclusive use period stipulating only Olympic-related activities be allowed to take place between July 5 and August 8 at the Rose Bowl in 2024.

Discussions on using the Rose Bowl during the 2024 Olympics have been pushed back to next week’s meeting. During the 1984 Olympics, the Rose Bowl hosted the Bronze and Gold Soccer matches before a combined audience of over 202,000 spectators over a two-day period. Despite making a bid for the 2024 games, there is still no guarantee the Olympics will come back to the Los Angeles-area for the first time since 1984.