Pasadena officials approve up to five years of NFL games at Rose Bowl

The NFL could be coming back to Los Angeles soon after Pasadena, Calif. officials approved a measure that allows more games to be played the 90-year old stadium. (Getty Images)

Pasadena, Calif. officials approved a measure that allows an expansion of the permissible number of annual events at the Rose Bowl from 12 to 25 a year, a stepping stone that could bring the NFL back to the Los Angeles area, reports the Pasadena Sun.

Renovations to the Rose Bowl, once budgeted at $152 million, have grown to almost $200 million. Allowing a NFL team to play at the 90-year-old stadium for up to 13 Sundays a year could mean big dollars to the community.

“We have a fiduciary responsibility to the whole city to take the next step,” Councilwoman Margaret McAustin said.   I’m not excited about the NFL, and clearly [the Rose Bowl’s neighbors] are not excited, but it’s the responsible thing to do.”. Barrett Sports Group, a Manhattan Beach consulting firm hired by the city, projects an NFL lease could raise from $5 million to as much as $10 million for the venue each year.

Pasadena City Council members voted 7-1 to increase the number of events allowed at the Rose Bowl from the current 12 a year to 25 if a deal is struck with an NFL team.