Judge denies Rose Bowl’s attempt to stop UCLA’ exit to Inglewood

No restraining order, but Pasadena stadium could seek to block a Bruins deal with SoFi.

- BEN BOLCN

A JUDGE ruled the Rose Bowl would suffer no financial harm if UCLA leaves.

(ETHAN SWOPE Associated Press)

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a request from the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena seeking a temporary restraining order in their attempt to keep UCLA football games at the Rose Bowl, saying those entities had not demonstrated an emergency that would necessitate such an action.

Judge James C. Chalfant said previous cases in which the New York Yankees, New York Jets and Minnesota Twins were barred from moving games did not apply to this situation because those teams were scheduled to play in a matter of days or weeks and UCLA's next scheduled game at the Rose Bowl after its home season finale against Washington on Nov. 22 isn't until the fall of 2026.The judge also said there was no indication that the Rose Bowl or Pasadena would suffer imminent financial harm because a contract to construct a field-level club in one end zone had not been signed.

But the legal saga is far from over. Chalfant suggested the plaintiffs' attorneys seek discovery information regarding the school's discussions with SoFi Stadium and file a motion for a preliminary injunction.

Nima Mohebbi, an attorney representing the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena, said he had filed a public records request to gather information about those discussions and was pleased with the judge's statements.