Judge Denies TRO in UCLA Rose Bowl Venue Dispute

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a request for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the University of California, Los Angeles, from relocating its football home games away from the Rose Bowl Stadium. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed last month by the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company, which seek to enforce a long-term lease binding UCLA to the historic venue through the 2043 season.

Judge James C. Chalfant determined that the plaintiffs had not shown an immediate emergency warranting the order. He noted that UCLA's next home game after its November 22, 2025, finale is not scheduled until the 2026 season, leaving time for further proceedings. "I don't know why UCLA can't just show up and play football at the Rose Bowl. You don't need to talk to them at all," Chalfant remarked during the roughly 80-minute hearing in downtown Los Angeles.

The lawsuit stems from UCLA's exploration of options for its football program, including potential discussions with SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, home to the NFL's Rams and Chargers. The 2010 lease agreement, amended in 2014, requires UCLA to host all home games at the Rose Bowl through...