How to do UCLA Bruins Football at the Rose Bowl Stadium like a local

There’s nothing quite like the electrifying atmosphere of game day when UCLA Bruins football fans are cheering for a big win. Dressed in Blue and Gold, fans fill up the sports bars in Pasadena, the tailgating lots at the Rose Bowl Stadium, and cheer on the team with local game day celebrations.

The Hollywood Burbank Airport is LA’s favorite airport for good reason – it's the closest one to the goal line. The airport is the official airport of the Rose Bowl Stadium and is located only 15 miles from Pasadena, averaging a 25-minute drive on most days. Fodor’s Travel named the airport the #1 in the U.S. for its accessibility and mellow, hassle-free experience. This airport is easy to travel through with two terminals served by Alaska, America, Avelo, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, United, Spirit, and Southwest with daily non-stop flights. There are also public charter providers such as JSX, as well as private jet services at Million Air and semi-private jet service with Advanced Airlines.

Since 1982, one of the most storied stadiums in all of college football, the Rose Bowl Stadium, has been the home stadium of UCLA Bruins college football. They won two consecutive Rose Bowl Game titles in their new home stadium in 1983 and 1984. You can purchase tickets to a UCLA game through the Rose Bowl Stadium website.

Accessible seating

Accessible seating is available and ticket holders may also turn in standard seating tickets for accessible seats on game day at the Customer Service Window outside of Gate B or inside the stadium at Tunnel 28. Be sure to check the schedule to see when UCLA might be playing your favorite team.

Tickets

Be sure to avoid wearing anything cardinal-red, which is a cardinal sin for UCLA fans because of the UCLA-USC rivalry. If you don’t, Bruins will have some fun and scream at you to take off your red shirt. We recommend experiencing the Bruin fandom as one of their own, so pack your True Blue and Gold to the game.

To get truly immersed into the Bruin fanfare at the Rose Bowl Stadium, be sure to learn the gameday cheers, chants, and traditions. Join in on the “8-clap” gameday cheer with the true fans. This famous rally cry is simply eight claps, followed by the “U-C-L-A U-C-L-A Fight! Fight! Fight!” chant.

It’s no question that the Rose Bowl Stadium has majestic views in the hills of the San Gabriel Valley. If you’ve never tailgated at a UCLA football game, prepare for one of the most unique tailgating experiences in the country. A portion of the space takes over the Brookside Golf Club, which is an operational 36-hole golf course that stretches into the hills of Pasadena (except during music festivals and football season). You’ll be playing cornhole and partying with Bruins on a fairway – just be sure not to fall into the sand bunkers. Parking lots open 6 hours prior to gametime, so follow the UCLA Bruins Tailgating Guide to see how to do it like a local. You can even arrange for a tailgating service for your group, complete with tents, tables, food, and beverages.

Located in Lot H at the Rose Bowl Stadium, just outside of Gates A & B, the Fan Zone makes gameday one of the most exciting tailgating zones in the country. There are food vendors, exhibits, beer gardens, and tailgating parties to join.

When you work up an appetite, the stadium features a variety of amazing food and drink options, including some delicious local specialties such as hot dogs and bratwursts from Dog Haus.

Like many stadiums in the country, the Rose Bowl Stadium has a clear bag policy inside the stadium for all events. Be sure to check the approved bags and non-approved bags so you won’t have to walk your bags back to the car.

Nestled at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, the views of at the Rose Bowl Stadium are unmistakably the best. Enjoy the peaks of the mountaintops, the beautiful sunsets of the mountains, and the quaint surrounding neighborhoods that are lined with palm trees and beautiful homes.

For options outside of the Rose Bowl Stadium, fans have an abundance of gameday options and viewing experiences in Pasadena.

Sports Bars

General parking and RV parking is available at a lower rate if purchased online in advance. General parking opens 6 hours before game time and stays open 90 minutes after the game ends. ADA parking is also available.

Parking Passes

A free shuttle is offered on game days, which runs between the parking lot at the Parsons Engineering Building in Old Pasadena to the Rose Bowl Stadium at Lot B/Gate B, provided by Foothill Transit. Those traveling to Pasadena on the Metro A Line from downtown Los Angeles can walk to the Parsons lot a block away from the Memorial Park Station in downtown Pasadena for the shuttle.

Rose Bowl Shuttle Service