UCLA football will continue to play at the Rose Bowl for home games in 2026 despite the Bruins’ attempt to break the school’s lease with the City of Pasadena, Calif, and the Rose Bowl Operating Company.
According to NBC Sports, UCLA hoped to break the lease that currently runs through 2043 and play home games at SoFi Stadium instead, but the ongoing legal battle will not permit the team to leave the iconic Rose Bowl stadium for the 2026 season. The lawsuit has expanded and now includes Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and SoFi Stadium as a part of the litigation.
Related: City of Pasadena, Rose Bowl Sue UCLA Over Stadium Lease Terms
In seeking to call a new stadium home, officials at UCLA cited the Bruins’ average football game attendance, roughly 35,000, but the Rose Bowl has the capacity for over 90,000 fans. By comparison, SoFi Stadium can accommodate 70,000 fans. With a 3-5 overall record, the Bruins have struggled to attract a large audience to home games during the 2025 season, and the athletics department believes that is partially to blame on the 26-mile distance between campus and the Rose Bowl. In moving games to SoFi, UCLA would only be 12 miles away from its new home football venue.
In a statement, UCLA vice chancellor for communications, Mary Osako, said, "UCLA will play the upcoming football season at the Rose Bowl. We know how much game day means to Bruins — to our students, alumni and fans who plan their autumn around Saturdays together. Our priority is delivering a strong season experience for our student-athletes and our community, and we have great momentum in our football program. During this unprecedented time in college athletics, UCLA will always be guided by what's best for our student-athletes and the Bruin community."
Coinciding with the recent announcement is the termination of UCLA’s vice chancellor and chief financial officer, Stephen Agostini, who supported the move to SoFi Stadium. School officials have not commented on the timing of the decision to part ways with Agostini and the lawsuit.
