Iconic stadium handed reprieve as college program shuts down $5.5bn NFL relocation

UCLA will stay at the Rose Bowl for the 2026 season.

The Bruins are considering a move to SoFi Stadium amid dwindling attendance at their current home, which hit a record low of 37,282 in 2025.

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Former UCLA vice chancellor and chief financial officer Stephen Agostini was a huge advocate for joining the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams in their $5.5 billion home.

But days after he was dismissed, it was confirmed that UCLA is staying put for now.

“UCLA will play the upcoming football season at the Rose Bowl,” Mary Osako, UCLA’s vice chancellor of strategic communications, told The California Post.

“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.”

UCLA is currently fighting a breach-of-contract lawsuit brought by the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl.

The Bruins’ lease at the iconic old stadium runs through the 2043 season and both sides are scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court Friday.

Moving to SoFi would halve UCLA’s 26-mile trip to the Rose Bowl and provide a more modern venue with suites and mixed-use revenues.

But tailgating would not be the same and breaking the lease could prove to be extremely costly.

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The Rose Bowl, which was opened in 1922, is trying to keep up with the times with a $30 million field-level club set to be unveiled in the south end zone.

New coach Bob Chesney has been appointed to end a conference title drought that stretches back to 1998 — the last time UCLA appeared in a Rose Bowl game.

UCLA Bruins schedule for 2026

A Septeber 12 clash with San Diego State is the first home game for the Bruins in 2026 .

Purdue, Michigan State, Nevada, Illinois, and USC are also due to visit.

While discussions over a move are ongoing, the focus will now shift to increasing attendance at the Rose Bowl.

Better performances on the field would be a start after a 3-9 season that saw expensive quarterback transfer Nico Iamaleava struggle after leaving Tennessee.

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He is staying put for 2026, and early reports suggest that a better season could be on the horizon.

“Bob Chesney is a very good football coach,” Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt said on his podcast. “He doesn’t have to start over at the most important position.

“He has got a two-year starting quarterback. One at Tennessee, one at UCLA. Nico Iamaleava is 25 starts in, he’s a five-star player and if that Penn State game taught us anything, I know Tennessee fans don’t like this guy.

“And a lot of fans don’t like him because of everything that happened last offseason. Fact remains, that was not a good football team, except for him.

“He was the one that would give them a chance. His ability to run it and now you surround him with some better players. The schedule is manageable. Trend up for the Bruins.”

A long-term decision is yet to be reached, but both UCLA and USC will likely both play at SoFi when the Olympics hit LA in 2028.

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