Mayor Pleased, Governor Not, With UCLA Jump to Big Ten

Governor Gavin Newsom called on UCLA to publicly explain the deal to leave the Pac-12. 

UCLA announced plans to leave for the Big Ten in 2024, along with longtime rival USC.

“No big deal. I’m the governor of the state of California. But maybe a bigger thing is that I’m the Chair of the UC Board of Regents,” Newsom told Fox News. “I read about it. Is it a good idea? Opportunity to discuss the merits of the decision? I am not aware that anyone has done this. So it was made isolated. It was made without the supervision or support of the Regents. It was made without regard to my knowledge.”

“UCLA must clearly explain to the public how this deal will improve the experience for all its student-athletes, will honor its century-old partnership with UC Berkeley, and will preserve the histories, rivalries, and traditions that enrich our communities,” Newsom said in a prepared statement.

The remaining Pac-12 conference teams are reeling over the threat of losing millions in media rights revenue, according to the LA Times. 

Mayor Victor Gordo on Wednesday told Pasadena Now that UCLA’s move for the Big Ten represents an opportunity for both the City and the Rose Bowl. 

“The Big Ten fans are passionate and loyal to their teams and I believe will travel to the Rose Bowl and Pasadena to support their teams and take advantage of the visit to explore Southern California and that’s a great thing for Pasadena,” said Mayor Victor Gordo. 

The move gives Big Ten fans, who frequently travel to see their teams, the opportunity to come to Pasadena for regular season games. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity to reinvigorate the Rose Bowl and inject economic activity into Pasadena and Southern California,” Gordo said. “When people come here for the games, they are going to take to visit other parts of the region.

Rose Bowl will benefit and Pasadena’s economy will benefit. Let’s work together and maximize this opportunity.”

The Tournament of Roses and UCLA both signed 30-year lease extension agreements with the Rose Bowl which run through 2042.

But it’s also a chance for more visibility for the statement and the teams. 

In a statement, UCLA cited “better television time slots for our road games” as a reason for joining the Big Ten.

Fox and ESPN currently pay $430 million for the rights to broadcast Big Ten games, but that contract ends next year and a host of media companies, including ESPN, CBS, Comcast Corp.’s NBC, Apple and Amazon have expressed interest in bidding on the remaining games, which could now worth $1 billion. 

“I hope Governor Newsom will see the benefit of seeing people from all parts of the country visit Southern California and contribute to our economy and business community,” said Gordo. “I am urging the governor to see the great benefit to all of us when different parts of the country turn their eyes to the Rose Bowl.”