Saying there was no evidence of an immediate emergency necessitating such a move, a judge Wednesday denied a request by the city of Pasadena and the operators of the Rose Bowl for a temporary restraining order barring UCLA’s football team from playing its home games at any other venue.
The city and the Rose Bowl Operating Company sued the university in late October seeking to enforce the terms of a lease agreement they claim locks UCLA into playing football at the venue until 2044.
While the suit is pending, the plaintiffs filed papers Monday asking that a restraining order be issued prohibiting UCLA from playing any home football games at any other venue in Los Angeles or Orange counties, and barring the university from trying to terminate its Rose Bowl lease while the lawsuit is pending.
During a hearing in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday morning, a judge heard arguments and ultimately ruled there was no emergency need for a restraining order, with no indication a UCLA departure from the Rose Bowl was
imminent.
“We appreciate the Court’s careful and thoughtful consideration before its ruling [Wednesday,]” read a statement from the city of Pasadena. “While the Court held that-on UCLA’s representation that it had not signed an agreement with SoFi Stadium yet-no emergency existed which demanded temporary relief, the Court did invite the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company to seek discovery and to file a motion for a preliminary injunction. His Honor also concluded there is real and concrete evidence of injury and irreparable harm to the City not compensable by money damages alone.
Following the Court’s lead, the City intends to file a motion for preliminary injunction and pursue comprehensive discovery.
The City is confident the Court will see the irreparable harm facing the Rose Bowl Stadium, the City of Pasadena, public taxpayers, and the regional economy should UCLA move forward with plans to breach its lease. The written lease signed by UCLA is clear-UCLA made a binding commitment not to leave the Rose Bowl Stadium until 2044 and it waived its right to terminate the lease agreement. We look forward to the hearing on the preliminary injunction.”
The university has indicated that it is exploring options for a new home football venue, specifically SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
UCLA only has one more home game remaining on its 2025 schedule.
Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, issued a statement saying the court’s ruling speaks for itself.
“As we have said, while we continue to evaluate the long-term arrangement for UCLA football home games, no decision has been made,” she said.
UCLA has been playing home games at the Rose Bowl Stadium since 1982.
City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.
