The Rose Bowl and the City of Pasadena have filed a restraining order against UCLA as the team is reportedly seeking to move the Bruins' football games to SoFi Stadium.
"There is no way to sugarcoat it: UCLA has confirmed its imminent departure, severely destabilizing Plaintiffs' core operations," the filing states. "Those operations are structured around and contingent upon UCLA."
Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company filed suit on Oct. 29 to enforce UCLA’s current lease through June 30, 2044.
ESPN pointed to the court filing, which shows the plaintiffs point out that the lease agreement "expressly prohibits UCLA from conducting any home football games in any facility located in the Los Angeles [area] or in Orange County, other than the [Rose Bowl Stadium]," claiming they would suffer "immediate and irreparable harm" if UCLA is not forced to keep the status quo of the lease during the lawsuit.
UCLA denies that it has made any decision around moving the team to SoFi, saying in a statement to ESPN that they "continue to evaluate the long-term arrangement for UCLA football home games" and that "no decision has been made."
Pasadena and the Rose Bowl argue that UCLA has been the beneficiary of ample support from local taxpayers.
“UCLA’s attempt to walk away from its contractual commitments is particularly egregious,” the complaint states, noting years of "taxpayer-funded investments and ongoing capital improvements to the stadium — including significant enhancements that directly benefit the university’s athletic program.”
The complaint concludes, “The City and RBOC ask only that UCLA perform the commitments it made—so that the law matters, that promises endure, and that integrity is not for sale.”
