Tournament of Roses Pleased With CFP Agreement

One day after coming to terms with the College Football Playoff the Tournament of Roses chair of the Rose Bowl Management Committee spoke to Pasadena Now about the status of the Rose Bowl Game. 

“We’re extremely pleased to have come to an agreement with the CFP Board of Managers on early CFP expansion,” said Laura Farber. “We are happy that the Rose Bowl will continue to be a part of the college football postseason.”

The CFP announced on Thursday that it will expand the playoff system from four teams to 12 teams. “The New Year’s Six Bowl games would rotate between hosting quarterfinal and semifinal games.” 

The Tournament of Roses wanted to keep its traditional date and start of 2 p.m. on Jan. 1 for the Rose Bowl Game.

Farber would not discuss the negotiations and instead said she appreciated the CFP Board of Managers agreement to include the Rose Bowl Game as part of the playoff system. 

“In our negotiations we had initially asked for an exclusive around the Rose Bowl Game’s historic time slot at 2 p.m. on Jan. 1. While we relinquished that ask, the Tournament of Roses will continue to work with the CFP Board of Managers on how we will fit into the CFP playoff rotation. It is our intent to keep the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1 but we will remain flexible in scheduling as needed,” Farber said.

According to news reports, the media deal for the playoffs could be worth as much as $450 million for the College Football Playoff.

“This agreement was an important step to allow for early adoption of playoff expansion,” Farber told Pasadena Now.

“There are still more steps to be taken as the structure of the expanded playoff is finalized and we look forward to being part of that process.”

“Historically while the Rose Bowl Game is held on Jan. 1. It has been held on Jan. 2 when the first falls on a Sunday. Additionally, in 2002 and 2006 the Rose Bowl was held on Jan. 3 and 4 respectively as part of the BCS Championship system. Both of those games were widely successful and brought in millions in economic impact for the City of Pasadena.” 

According to a Master License Agreement (MLA) between the Tournament and the City the Rose Bowl Game is defined as a football game played in the Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 1 or Jan. 2 if Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday.

However, the MLA allows playoff games to be played on a different date.

On two occasions, the Tournament of Roses hosted the National Championship as a Rose Bowl Game on January 3 and January 4. Additionally, the Rose Bowl Game also played host to two games, a traditional Big Ten and Pac-12 Rose Bowl Game and a National Championship, in 2010 and 2014.

“I would welcome two games and I hope they come to an agreement to have two games. That would be terrific for the stadium, the CFP and the City,” Mayor Victor Gordo told Pasadena Now on Thursday. “We have had two games in the past and we could do it again.”

According to Farber the game could have been excluded from the playoffs after 2026, which she said would have had an adverse reaction on the City, the Tournament and the Rose Parade. 

“What’s good for the Tournament is good for the stadium and is good for the City of Pasadena. We are aligned in our interests and will continue to work with the system,” she said. 

According to Farber, the Tournament of Roses always works closely with the City of Pasadena on the annual Rose Bowl Game and the Rose Parade. 

The City and the Tournament discussed the importance of keeping the Rose Bowl game as part of the expanded 12-team playoff during the week.

“From the alliance then to the BCS to the CFP four team’s playoffs,” Farber said. “To the upcoming 12-team playoff, the Rose Bowl Game has found ways to integrate The Granddaddy of Them All into the ever-evolving postseason models. We are confident that an expanded playoff will create an exciting postseason atmosphere here in our beloved City of Pasadena and we are very supportive of the College Football Playoff.”