UCLA Fans Irate at Reported Departure From Rose Bowl

The Bruins are threatening to leave their historic home and fans aren't having it.

Sep 4, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; Fans gather before the UCLA Bruins play against the Louisiana State Tigers at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

UCLA Bruins football fans were hit with a bomb Sunday morning when news broke that the program is nearing a deal to leave the historic Rose Bowl Stadium to play home games in SoFi Stadium as early as the 2026 season.

As soon as BruinReportOnline's Tracy Pierson broke the news, fans were sent up in arms. Here are some of the craziest X (Twitter) reactions to the news:

UCLA Fans Disapprove of Rose Bowl Move

Extraordinarily dumb. https://t.co/U4Zl4CG1e5

— UCLA Football Countdown (@CountdownUCLA) November 9, 2025

Underwhelmed. I feel like my Saturdays will be free. I’m not paying sofi tailgate lot parking prices https://t.co/h7mvsWNmic

— nation of neal (@icecoldjd1906) November 9, 2025

Bad idea 👎 https://t.co/TdQyruOj8D

— Petros Papadakis (@Theoldp) November 9, 2025

UCLA's football program has been dying for years, but at least we had our history to stand on.

Moving to SoFi will be the death of the traditions and identity that were the only things holding this program together

— Barstool UCLA (@StoolWestwood) November 9, 2025

Not sure. I just want FB games to be more accessible to the students. And the talk, “back in the day we had no prob filling seats.,” is difficult to apply to this generation of students. The world is different, so they are different. Adapting is necessary, but is this the way? 🤷🏽‍♀️

— S. Rivers (@Honeyjrivs) November 9, 2025

Program is totally lost…. pic.twitter.com/QlNA6tmRyY

— Matt C (@McMccicero) November 9, 2025

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Further Details of Move to SoFi

"UCLA is finalizing the deal for its football program to play its home games in SoFi Stadium, according to multiple sources within the UCLA athletic department," Pierson reported. "While it probably shouldn't be considered an absolute certainly, it was described as a "near-done deal" by one source. Many athletic department sources discuss it like it's already been acknowledged and accepted as happening."

Pierson added that the plan right now is for the Bruins to begin playing games at the state-of-the-art stadium in the 2026 football season.

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; A general overall view of the Rose Bowl Stadium facade Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

"The motivation for the move is almost entirely financial. UCLA believes the revenue generated from premium seating and luxury suites at SoFi is worthy of the move," Pierson added.

UCLA was hit with a lawsuit by the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company in late October that accused the university of "betraying the trust of its agreement" by entertaining the thought of moving games to Inglewood.

The Bruins would join the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams in occupying the stadium.

Pros and Cons of SoFi Move

Sep 8, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; A general overall view of the SoFi Stadium exterior. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rose Bowl attendance numbers have been one of the preeminent discussions of a dreadful era of UCLA football. Ticket prices have become a problem and the stadium, 26 miles away from UCLA campus, is too far to build a solid student base at games.

Arash Markazi, founder of The Sporting Tribune, compared the two stadiums' amenities, saying of the move, "I don't love it, but it makes sense."

SoFi Stadium

• 12 miles from UCLA
• 70,000 seats
• 260 luxury suites
• 13,000 premium seats

Rose Bowl

• 26 miles from UCLA
• 90,000 seats
• 54 luxury suites
• 1,200 premium seats

Nov 2, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; a general view of SoFi Stadium prior to a game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Whether the move benefits the university or UCLA's football program, the push back is undeniable. Fans, new and old, are completely against the reported deal, citing the program's history at the Rose Bowl and "soullessness" of SoFi.

Regardless of what happens ahead of next season. This is yet another domino falling in a truly murky UCLA era.

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