Tournament of Roses Appeals to State to Allow Family Members of Football Players Inside Stadium for Rose Bowl Game

The Tournament of Roses Association has filed an appeal with the state that would allow families of players in the College Football Playoff Semifinal Game inside the Rose Bowl to view the action.

“The Pasadena Tournament of Roses continues to plan for the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1,” Tournament of Roses CEO David Eads told Pasadena Now. 

“Under current California state guidelines, we are unable to allow for spectators of any kind at the game. However, a second appeal has been made at the state level to allow for a special exemption for player and coach guests,” Eads said.

“We continue to work with the College Football Playoff and local health officials to provide the safest possible environment at our game,” he said.

The state’s recent Stay-at-Home order prohibits large gatherings, and two weeks ago the tournament announced that due to the COVID-19 restrictions set forth by the state, Los Angeles County, and Pasadena health officials, spectators would not be allowed to attend the game.

The appeal comes amid rumors that discussions have begun that could see the game moved from Pasadena to Texas, where families would be allowed inside the stadium to view the game.

According to published reports, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has been named as one alternative location. If the game was moved, it probably would not be called the Rose Bowl Game.

A College Football Playoff official said the hope is that the tournament’s appeal will be successful.

“At this moment, the College Football Playoff looks forward to playing one of the two semifinal playoff games at the Rose Bowl, as scheduled,” CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said in a statement Tuesday. 

“As we move forward with our planning, we continue to hope that the Rose Bowl’s appeal to government officials to allow the families of student-athletes to attend will be permitted, just as student-athlete families will be welcomed at the Sugar Bowl, the other New Year’s six games and the championship game in Miami,” Hancock said.

According to CBS Sports, Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby on Tuesday said the Rose Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff is “still an evolving circumstance.”

The Rose Bowl Game, known as “The Granddaddy of Them All” is the nation’s oldest operating bowl game.

The game dates back to 1902 when it was played as the Tournament East-West Football Game, in Pasadena’s Tournament Park, near Caltech. 

The game has been played annually since 1916 and in the Rose Bowl since Jan.1, 1923

The game and the Rose Parade are part of the Tournament of Roses America’s New Year Celebration. 

The Rose Parade has already been canceled for the first time since World War II.

If the game were moved to Texas, it would mark the first time in 79 years that Pasadena had none of its usual Jan. 1 festivities.

In 1942, the game was moved to North Carolina because of fears of an attack by Japan on the U.S. West Coast after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The parade was also canceled that year. 

In that game, Oregon State defeated Duke 20–16.