The Rose Bowl is an iconic venue for football, and for cooking and drinking outside.
In a power structure of LA sport fandom , UCLA football ranks somewhere around eighth , depending on how well our NHL and MLS squad are play at any hand moment . It is not even the glamor franchise of LA college football — that would be thescandal - riddenketchup - and - mustard - colored private school business district . But UCLA football game has one advantage that no other local team can match — the Rose Bowl .
The stadium is tucked into Pasadena ’s Arroyo Seco , in a particularly gorgeous section of the ravine that run from JPL and the picturesque foothill of the San Gabriel Mountains to meet up with the LA River near Elysian Park . The stadium itself is beautiful and important , a National Historic Landmark celebrating its centenary this class , and it has host five Super Bowls , two World Cup Finals , and an Olympic Gold Medal Soccer match , among countless other major events . And what is the best thing to do at this iconic locale ? Stand around outside it and drink , of course .
The tailgating scene before a UCLA game at the Rose Bowl is lively and fun , maybe not as dense or well - funded as some of thebiggest namesincollege footballbut friendly and more effortless for it . ticket to the game are well-off to get , there ’s plentifulness of parking and access to tailgate muscae volitantes in one of the most beautiful stadiums in the country , if not the earth .
Rosebowl Stadium
If you ’ve never been to a game at the Rose Bowl you ’re missing out onan substantive LA experience , and even if you ’re a seasoned tailgater it ’s probably clock time for a refresher course . Here ’s how to have the ultimate tailgate experience at a UCLA biz at the Rose Bowl :
When and where does UCLA play?
UCLA hasseven continue home gamesat theRose Bowlin Pasadena this declension . They ’re all on Saturday , except for one Friday night game against the University of Washington on September 30 .
How can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available directly through theUCLA website , or for shockingly scurvy prices through manysecondary market place website .
When and where can I tailgate?
Tailgating is allowed in front of or behind your motorcar in any parking outer space around the Rose Bowl , as long as you do n’t block the fire lanes . The parking lots undecided six hour before the plot and close 90 minutes afterwards .
What are the rules around cooking and drinking while tailgating?
There are no exposed flames grant , and no charcoal allow in the RV section of the parking lots . As far as alcohol , there are no glassful containers allowed and no crapulence paraphernalia like beer bongs . imbibition games are also technically frowned upon , though they continue commonly played around the grounds . Also , drinking outside is expected to terminate once kick - off happens — but you should be in the stadium by then anyway .
So what should I bring to eat and drink, and where should I get it?
There are two primary pathways here — either pick up food to bring with you , or cook your own . The wide-eyed method acting is to snag some sandwich , pizza pie , or breakfast burritos and then feed them in the parking lot . If you ’re coming to the Rose Bowl from the East , you might want to end byLee ’s Hoagie House , U Street Pizza , orRodney ’s Ribs . From the West you could swing throughThe Oinkster , Meea ’s , orSkaf ’s . From the South , there’sJeff ’s Table , Yuca ’s , orMoo ’s Craft Barbecue . And wherever you ’re coming from , there ’s alwaysLucky Boyand theGourmet Cobbler Factory .
The other selection is cooking your own food . This is the high risk turn , but it is also higher payoff — there are relatively few opportunities to grill in a gorgeous setting with a friendly crowd , and pulling it off is deep solid . Carne asada is a top selection , and if you do n’t feel like marinade your own there ’s aVallarta Supermarketjust a minute outside the stadium , where you could nibble up their excellent Ranchera Preparada , solid salsas , fresh tortilla chips , and mesquite charcoal .
If get by a fervour feels like too much hassle you could go with the dull cooker method instead . seize as many crock pots as you could retrieve and discombobulate together a simple chilli in the dawning or toss some meatballs in marinara , and you may as well whip up an easycheese dipwhile you ’re at it . Then you just demand a big businessman source for your tailboard , either a portable author or memory access to aMega Power Frunk .
Rose Bowl Stadium
Whatever you choose to do about food for thought , you will credibly want a lot of good timber drinks . If you ’re a beer person , Eagle Rock’sTalon Tap & Winehas an impressive option of local craft beer , including perfect crushable hoppy pale ales and crisp pilsners . Highland Park Wine , Good Luck Wine Shop , andPasadena Wine Shopare great grape stops with plenitude of playfulness and bright natural wines . And there ’s a mammoth outpost ofTotal Winenot far from the sports stadium if you require a piffling bit of everything .
Is there a place to celebrate before the game if I don’t want to set up my own tailgate?
The officialUCLA Fan Zoneis in Parking Lot H , which is the near lot to the Rose Bowl on the Southeast side . The Fan Zone is a loose , all - ages area with intellectual nourishment and potable for leverage , as well as game , booth , and inflatable play areas for kids .
If you ’re interested in joining a public tailgate , you may get into theRalphs Tailgate Tentwith a $ 35 leverage at the grocery store the week before the game , or you may makereservationsfor the Landmark Vineyards Century Club for $ 75 per person to enjoy a catered sideboard and a host bar . you may also divagate the parking good deal and seek to make friends the old fashioned means .
Can I bring food and drinks into the stadium?
You ca n’t impart any inebriant , but you are allowed to bring food in a clear plastic tote or a clear charge plate ziploc . Non - alcohol-dependent beverage are allow as long as they ’re in factory - sealed plastic bottles and as long as they ’re not glacial .
So I can’t drink at all once the game starts?
Now you may — as of the 2021 season , beer and wine are available for purchase inside the Rose Bowl during the game .
I’m still skeptical. I thought tailgating was for powerhouses in the SEC and the Big Ten, do people really do this?
Yes ! particularly as we get into the dip and gameday temperature drop below 100 degrees but stay above 65 . Tailgating is a marvelous way to take advantage of our perfect fall and wintertime weather , the gorgeous San Gabriel Mountains , and the rare appropriate prison term to drink outside in the middle of the day . And as a affair of fact , both UCLA and USC will beBig Tenschools themselves in a few short years , so it ’s time to get prepared .
Is UCLA any good this year?
Maybe ! They have some goodreturning talentbut also newfangled players at key side along the offensive descent , and their omnibus has an interestingup - and - downtrack record . The good news program is , UCLA has an easy schedule — third gentle in the country according toSports Illustrated’spreliminary calculations — so they should excruciate up plenty of wins whether they ’re actually in force or not .
If I want to watch UCLA win, which games should I go to?
The Bruins should be competitory in almost every home biz this year , so you ’ve set about good odds . Just probably do n’t come to the Utah game , which the Utes have wonfive geezerhood in a rowin predominant style , and they have another substantial team this class .
But even if they don’t win the game, they’ve never lost a tailgate, right?
This is a popular slogan for football programs with scratchy record on the field of honor , but it ’s not of necessity accurate . At a Rose Bowl tailgate before the Arizona State game in 2014 , for example , a certain untried alumnus ( who is not this author ! ) lost repeatedly at beer pong , imbibe too much , lose his cubicle phone , lose his house keys , fell asleep in the stadium during the first one-half and then disappeared for the second one-half of the game , which UCLA also lost in grievous style .
In this case UCLA lose the game and also the tailgate , disproving this slogan and also dish as a powerful admonisher — don’t be that guy cable .
Tailgater Concierge
Tailgater Concierge
Rose Bowl Stadium
