In Reply to: People act like it's the Pyramids of Giza posted by TJJ on March 11, 2026 at 18:15:32
First, this feels more contradictory to me. I think many of us actually have moved on. That's why I don't think of the last supposed true Rose Bowl was 2001. The Rose Bowl now is where the Elite teams play and NEVER fails to sell out. And these are teams/fans that travel from all parts. Compare it to the Orange Bowl who's attendance numbers are usually pretty sad.
Second, it's just an old stadium? Again, when people do their ratings of the top college football stadiums in the county, I can bet that Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU, and the Rose Bowl will make that top 10 list every year. And the thing that they have in common are they are old, but people still consider that an experience.
I still wonder about this 'where the recruits want to play' thing that gets thrown out. I just don't see the Pro stadium thing anywhere near as big of a deal as many think it is. NIL is a major driving force, but there is still they go to where there is fan support and game day experience. All the top programs, minus Miami I guess, are not in pro stadiums. And even Miami's attendance numbers aren't all that great.
For myself, my opinion is from overall experience. I've built one stadium and in the middle of building another. Concerts in the one stadium SUCK. The sound is HORRIBLE. But they generate major revenue and the stadium is in the process of completely changing the sound system. I've done multiple football games in the stadium. It's fine, but it is very geared towards Premium seating. I'll still take a day at the Rose Bowl over a few hours at a pro stadium.
I can just tell you I've been to a Bowl game in SF's stadium and was the experience was very sterile feeling. And ridiculously expensive. I've been to Texas for home games, LSU for home games and I didn't see anything that made either stadium better than the Rose Bowl. But both are great experiences and like to see them continue. I've done a Ucla game at Dallas Stadium. It was BIG, but don't know if I'd call the experience memorable. It was fun.
My fear for Ucla football is they have history at the Rose Bowl and an identity there. It's not a nostalgia thing. It's they need to get fan support back which is a separate issue IMO. Quite frankly Ucla has really gotten it pretty good in that they've never had to spend a dime in building a stadium in the history that I've watched them. The thought of being a 3rd tenant at best at another stadium worries me. Personally, I'm looking forward to all the upgrades that a being made at the Rose Bowl. I'll even give that they are long overdue, but they are happening.