This was my first full year on the road in pursuit of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events goal of reaching 80 iconic venues and/or events by the time my biological clock hits 60 in June 2027.
As such, I saw a lot in 2025.
In total, I traveled 53,982 miles, set foot on two new continents (Asia and South America), witnessed 26 events, and spent many nights not in my own bed.
Here are my highlights from the year that’s about to have been.
Number 5 – A December Sunday at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field
Packers’ fans celebrate a score during their 28-21 victory over the rival Chicago Bears.
My final event of 2025 was just about everything I could have hoped for.
The visiting Chicago Bears and host Green Bay Packers were playing for the NFC Central Division lead, both had winning percentages of over .700 this late in the season (the first time that’s happened since December 11, 1932), the skies were clear, and the temperatures felt like single-digits by the time the late afternoon game concluded.
The fact that the game came down to the penultimate play, a Caleb Williams pass to the end zone was intercepte by Keisean Nixon sealed the Packers’ 28-21 victory.
The only things that would have made this a game 10-out-of-10 would have been that final Bears’ drive heading into the endzone we were seated in and an occasional snowflake falling to create a total commemorative snow globe moment.
All the Content from Event No. 34 Still Needs to be Created. Stay Tuned:-)
Number 4 – Lionel Messi’s (Likely) Final Competitive Home Match for Team Argentina
This sums up, perfectly, the adoration the Argentine fans have for Lionel Messi.
It’s widely assumed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final international go-round for Argentine soccer legend, Lionel Messi.
If this in fact remains true, then I’m able to say I was among the 77,000 spectators in Buenos Aires’ Estadio Mas Monumental for one of the game’s greatest of all-time’s final competitive home match when Argentina defeated Venezuela, 3-0, in CONMEBOL’s Matchday 17.
I understood next-to-nothing the public address speaker said throughout, but what I did understand the unmitigated affection that crowd had for Messi. From the standing ovation he received as he stepped off the bus in the loading dock, to his first appearance on the pitch, to the two goals he scored (and even the one that was disallowed by an offsides call), to his exit from the pitch following post-match media.
That no one in the stadium considered leaving until he was off the field is a visual I’m unsure can ever be erased from my mind.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 24 at this link.
Number 3 – Arkansas Pitcher Gage Wood No-Hits the Murray State Racers in the MCWS
Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood celebrates a big out during his 19 strikeout no-hitter of Murray State during the Men’s College World Series in Omaha.
Like so many, I walked into Omaha’s Charles Schwab Stadium that steamy June 16 afternoon pulling hard for the Cinderella team of the Men’s College World Series, the Murray State Racers.
By the fifth inning, however, allegiances were subtly shifting.
Arkansas Razorback starting pitcher Gage Wood was DEALING! It looked like the Racers’ batters were swinging wet lasagna noodles against Wood as the strikeouts mounted.
By the seventh inning, I’m fairly certain everyone in the park knew what was happening.
That it happened was too cool for school.
Wood threw the first no-hitter in MCWS play in 65 years. His 19 strikeouts were the most in a 9-inning MCWS game … ever.
That I was there and, through the generosity of a stranger, had seats behind homeplate, is truly remarkable.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 19 at this link.
Number 2 – Indiana Class 4A High School Sectional Final in Historic Muncie Fieldhouse
The opening tip between Greenfield-Central (white uniforms) and Mt. Vernon in the Indiana Class 4A High School Sectional Championship at Muncie Fieldhouse.
I was born and raised in Indiana and, as such, have a special fondness in my heart for high school basketball.
It was a fairly regular part of my weekly life as a youngster before my family moved to Michigan before sixth grade.
So, of the many events I planned to witness in 2025, I eagerly anticipated taking in some Indiana high school tournament basketball action. The first round is known as Sectionals in the Hoosier state and I was underwhelmed by the competitiveness I saw at the first two sites visited.
But on Saturday of Sectional Week … well I saw a gem.
I went with my cousin, Brandon, and his daughter, Calah, to see the Class 4A Sectional Final at historic Muncie Fieldhouse on a warm March evening. That there was a line to get in boded well and that the favored team, Greenfield-Central, was a among the top five teams in the state also provided optimism.
What none of us knew until the game began is who, exactly we were seeing.
Greenfield-Central’s star, Braylon Mullins, would go on to win Indiana’s coveted Mr. Basketball honor a few weeks later. He was a 5-star recruit who was destined for Storrs, CT, and the then 2-time defending NCAA Champion Connecticut Huskies. Mt. Vernon’s standout was a junior who’d already committed to Purdue named Luke Ertel.
The two duked it out all night, Mullins scored 38 and Ertel 36, but the upstarts from Mt. Vernon came away with an 83-76 double-overtime win. A thriller to be sure and a terrific way to cap off my week feasting on basketball in hoop-crazed Indiana.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 14 at this link.
Number 1 – Witnessing the Setting Sun at the Rose Bowl on January 1
The golden hour at the 2025 Rose Bowl. What a view!
Odd, isn’t it, that I traveled nearly 54,000 miles in 2025 and my most memorable moment came on the very first day?
Never mind the football game (which The Ohio State won in a rout over Oregon), I was there for the environment, the pagentry, and the sunset.
I got it all!
The Tournament of Roses Parade shortly after dawn, the B-2 bomber flyover at the conclusion of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the ceremonial coin flip featuring the Grand Marshal (Billie Jean King), the Goodyear blimp hovering overhead throughout, and, of course, the sunset that was appointment viewing for me during my youth and – who am I kidding?!? – adulthood.
I won’t lie, it was a long day – especially considering I participated in the Run with the Roses 5K at midnight – but it was the best day of the year by a long shot.
Check Out All the Content from Event No. 11 at this link.
A Word from the Author: My heart is breaking for those impacted by the wild fires in greater Los Angeles. To say the past week has been surreal would be an understatement. I spent the better part of December 30 through January 2 in Glendale and Pasadena and while no area I visited was under mandatory evacuations, they came pretty dang close. That the Rose Bowl grounds, less-than a week following New Years, have been used as a hub for donations and staging for fire and rescue crews is sad. With that as a backdrop, it is with a heavy heart that I share with readers the second of three installments about Event No. 11 of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project that took me to Pasadena.
Tim and Doug along the Rose Parade route on New Years Day 2025.
My January 1, 2025 was one that might as well have been lifted from my wildest dreams.
I’ve stated – repeatedly:-) – about how the majority of my prior New Years Day plans revolved around two events: Tuning into at least part of the Rose Parade late each morning and settling into a comfortable seat to watch the Rose Bowl Game and see the pageantry that is this game each evening.
Ringing in 2025 on the Parade Route
To find myself in Pasadena on New Years Eve preparing to see both events in person was – and still is – a bit of an out-of-body experience.
Yet there I was, along with my longtime friend Tim Parker who traveled from Fairbanks, AK, to join me for Event No. 11, getting dropped off by the Lyft in the vicinity of Colorado Boulevard. We were both registered to participate in the second annual “Run with the Roses 5K” which stepped off at precisely midnight and moved down approximately two miles of the Rose Parade Route before looping back to the finish area.
From left, my view from the starting chute; some of the assembled campers along the route; and a DJ kept everyone entertained pre-race.
To be clear, I would not be running. My last 5K at more than a serious walking pace was about eight years ago, so for me this would be a lovely midnight stroll. Tim, however, was hoping to complete it at about a 10 minute per mile pace.
What many may be unaware of (and what I was unaware of until beginning to research this trip) is that the Rose Parade is a very big deal in this area. Like a VERY BIG DEAL! Families and groups of friends take to the streets on December 30 to chalk off their spots along the parade route and then arrive early in the afternoon on December 31 to begin occupying said spots. It turns into a massive, multi-mile camp out for thousands of folks along the parade route.
Countdown to New Years 2025.
The turnaround on the 5K route.
My dash to the finish line.
I’m told marshmallows are thrown at vehicles on New Years Eve while Colorado Boulevard is still open and can attest to plenty of squashed marshmallow remains along the the 5K route. Also witnessed by Tim and I was Silly String, portable heaters, air mattresses, boom boxes pumping various beats, and plenty of small grills along the way.
In a word, I’d describe the scene as … wild. Think tailgate meets all-night party.
Along my journey I even spotted a family from Dearborn, MI, sporting Detroit Lions gear. I, of course, stopped for an ussie and an impromptu “Ja-red Goff, Ja-red Goff” chant.
Spotted along the 5K route, fellow Detroit Lions’ fans from Dearborn, MI.
My time was respectable (49 minutes and change), but not befitting the post-race champagne they were offering. Plus, we needed to sleep fast as the Rose Parade stepped off in less than seven hours which meant a return trip to Colorado Boulevard.
Clockwise from left, my time was, sadly, representative of my current fitness level; the post-race celebration included champagne; imagine my surprise when I recognized the Pasadena Auditorium across from the post-race celebration. The auditorium hosts NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
Bands, Floats, and Horses Aplenty
If I’m being totally honest with myself, there were two things I was most looking forward to during Event No. 11:
First, was seeing the sunset at and that cotton candy-colored sky beyond the San Gabriel Mountains during the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl Game;
Second, was was seeing the Rose Parade in person.
As I’ve noted previously, the Rose Parade was a consistent presence in my childhood on New Years Day. Mom loved the floats resplendent with all the fresh flowers (remember, every inch of each float is covered in flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds, and bark) and while not musically inclined herself, she always seemed to enjoy watching the marching bands.
To be sitting in a grandstand on the 500 block of Colorado Boulevard a little after 8 a.m. waiting for the pageantry to get to us … well, I was deep in reflection mode when the Pasadena motorcycle police zoomed down the boulevard clearing the route of pedestrians.
And, before long, 2025 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal, Billie Jean King, stopped and waved to me (or at least I think she waved to me).
Grand Marshal Billie Jean King gave Doug a wave as she passed the 500 block of Colorado Boulevard.
The first float was the Honda float (one of the major corporate sponsors) and from there it was one piece of artwork after another. I’m unsure any words I use to try and articulate the detailed beauty of these floats would meet the moment. Suffice to say each seemed to outdo the previous in their vibrant colors, details, and animatronics that created the sense of movement. I was particularly impressed with the UPS Stores float (“Helping Dreams Take Flight”) and the Visit Mississippi entry as well as several local municipalities (Torrance and Alhambra, in particular).
From left, the Alhambra, Burbank, and Torrance floats. The giant pterodactyl on the UPS float was too cool.
The Pasadena Humane float (“Welcome Home”) has taken on a new meaning now that the agency has been heavily involved in assisting displaced pets and other animals due to the Eaton Fire. To support Pasadena Humane please visit this site.
The Pasadena Humane Society float, “Welcome Home,” certainly took on new significance a week later.
Similarly, the marching bands did not disappoint. My favorite (and the one that would’ve likely been my mom’s) was the entry from Jackson State University, known as the Sonic Boom of the South. This band brought the energy even for an early morning. I also walked away impressed with the military band entries: the United States Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy, though as Tim (himself a former band member) pointed out, serving in the band is these service personnel’s only assignment (e.g. a professional band).
The Sonic Boom of the South.
The U.S. Navy Band.
The USMC Band.
I was never big on the equestrian entries in the Rose Parade, though I’ve grown to understand why so many are featured: the number of horse riders at the turn of the 20th Century in southern California when the Rose Parade originated was plentiful and there’s – no doubt – been a tradition established that’s carried on. Sometimes the best part of the equestrian troops are the, um, clean up crews that follow and provide not only a much-needed service but also some comic relief.
The Mini-Therapy Horses from Calabasas, CA, marched in the Rose Parade. And, as with each equine entry, a team of scoopers followed behind ready to tend to any messes that may have been left behind.
Visiting the Granddaddy of them All
We eventually made our way to this iconic spot, but it was not our point of entry for the game.
Seemingly contrary to legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson‘s phrase “Welcome to the Granddaddy of them all” as I walked into the the Rose Bowl Stadium it was rather, um, anti-climatic.
We didn’t walk into Gate A where the giant Rose Bowl logo sits atop the Stadium. Rather, we entered the grounds along the backside via the Fan Fest which was free for ticket holders.
The Fan Fest was, essentially, a spot for the game’s corporate partners to tout their products. We only checked out a couple. The first was the Gin & Juice by Dr. Dre and Snoop because – well – 2024 was certainly the “Year of Snoop” so why wouldn’t we see what it’s all about. At $19 for a can of their beverage, 2025 was not going to be the “Year of Doug Drinking Gin & Juice.” We also sidled up next to the Jersey Mike’s booth hoping there might be a sample or two or, at the very least, a lifesize Danny DeVito cutout to pose for a photo or two. No dice on either:-(
After grabbing a quick bite to eat in the Fan Fest, we entered the Stadium’s concourse and began a slow stroll around the venue soaking in as much of the historical significance as we could. There are photos devoted to various momentous occasions, as well as plaques to honor some of the greats who’ve been on the field, and, of course, statues honoring some legendary performances. We lingered for a bit at as many as we could access.
Clockwise from upper left, the most-recent statue is that of Ohio State great Archie Griffin; a plaque commemorating longtime Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson who coached in the Junior Rose Bowl; an image of USC and Penn State from the first Rose Bowl in the Stadium; Notre Dame’s Four Horsement played here in 1925; Vince Young had a game for the ages in defeating USC for the National Championship; Terry Donahue was the longtime coach at UCLA which has called the Rose Bowl Stadium home since 1982; and the University of Tennessee’s Peyton Manning made his college debut stepping in for injured starter, Jerry Colquitt, against UCLA in 1994.
Under the big Rose Bowl sign at Gate A spectators will find the Rose Bowl’s Court of Champions which includes plaques featuring the final scores, head coaches, and MVPs from each Rose Bowl Game. There are empty plaques all the way through 2045 so it seems likely this tradition of casting the results in bronze will continue for another 20 years … at least.
The Court of Champions main plaque features players in action. I was fond of the 1968 Rose Bowl (Indiana University’s lone appearance) and wonder who might be playing in the game 20 years from now.
Eventually, following a complete circuit of the concourse we found our way to Ramp 7L which would lead us darn near to the top of the Rose Bowl Stadium and our seats for the afternoon. I captured the moment I got my first glimpse of the interior of the Stadium on video.
There’s nothing like that first look inside an iconic venue feeling.
And suddenly we were inside, fighting the glare of the mid-afternoon son to eye the Goodyear Blimp (I once rode one of those, BTW), the ESPN set, the Oregon and Ohio State teams going through final preparations. All of it! It was everything I’d hoped it would be and, with bright sunny skies, it also meant that about 5:30 p.m. local time that sunset I’d always dreamt of seeing in person was going to happen.
Clockwise from upper left, the Goodyear Blimp was omnipresent; past Conversations with Sports Fans guest, Brent Myers, stopped by to say hello; the OSU and Oregon marching bands during pre-game festivities; I have no idea why a sky writer wrote “Wheel of Fortune” but do know it was not the blimp; a wide shot of the Stadium from my vantage point; the ESPN set (which was collapsible) in the corner of home endzone.
Might I say, thank heavens for the anticipation of the sunset! What with the one-sidedness of the game (the Buckeyes led 7-0 a minute in, 14-0 halfway through the first quarter, and 34-0 by halftime) as neutral spectators there really wasn’t much to hold our attention.
I found myself feeling sorry for the Ducks fans seated in front of us. They were kicking off the celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary year by traveling to Pasadena to see the Rose Bowl for the first time. They, along with many other Oregon fans in our area, were subjected to a group of high school-aged OSU fans seated directly behind us who were incessant with their heckling of the Ducks. And then there was the guy seated to Tim’s right wearing a No. 4 OSU jersey (Jeremiah Smith who was the game’s offensive MVP) who reminded anyone within earshot that “No. 4 is still open.” And then, there was the fella in the last row of our section who urged all Oregon fans to stop at 7-Eleven to get a Big Gulp for the 14-hour ride back to Eugene.
It became torturous by about the mid-point of the third quarter when the only thing left to be decided was the final margin and how magnificent the sunset might be.
The answers:
A 20-point Ohio State shellacking;
And … Spectacular!
The sunset did not disappoint.
Getting Back to the Hotel
A benefit of skipping the shuttle was seeing the main entrance at night.
All that was left to accomplish was getting back to Glendale where our lodging was located.
We’d taken the shuttle busses from downtown Pasadena to the Stadium following the Parade. While there was a sizable queuing line it was a pleasant enough wait in the late-morning sunshine. Our assumption is that we’d take the shuttle busses to return, but then we walked outside and saw the line.
It. Went. For. A. Long. Way.
We quickly deduced that walking back downtown was the way to proceed and that’s what we did. It was a bit under two miles – though a tad uphill – and a lovely early evening to stretch the legs following a long day of sitting. Even when we arrived back downtown, ride services were in short supply so we settled into our spot from Monday night – Congregation – split a plate of nachos and enjoyed a cooling beverage waiting for the crowds to thin out.
Before collapsing into bed, I made sure to capture a screenshot of my Fitbit’s account of my first day of 2025.
It was – shall I say – an eventful one.
The Fitbit did not lie. We covered a lot of ground on January 1, 2025.
A sure sign you’re not in Michigan anymore? Palm trees and the Rose Parade logo.
I’ve made no secret in this space – and on my podcast (Conversations with Sports Fans) – about my fondness of all things Tournament of Roses.
The Parade instantly transports me to my family’s living room sofa in rural Adams County, IN, munching on New Years Eve leftovers while discussing the marching bands and the floats with my mom and sister. And the Bowl Game stirs echoes of legendary broadcasters such as Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, and Keith Jackson, crafting the soundtrack of the play at the foot of the sunsplashed San Gabriel Mountains as our late afternoon Middle America dreariness gave way to total darkness.
Overly nostalgic?
Perhaps. But for a sports-crazed kid from the Middle of Nowhere, Indiana, the entire Pasadena and Rose Bowl event was almost an out-of-body experience that I very rarely – if ever – missed.
So you’re going to get plenty of words (and images!) about my three-plus days in Pasadena for the recent Parade and Bowl Game. This is the first installment.
A Word About Hollywood Burbank Airport
At left, Tim and Doug shortly after arriving at historic Hollywood Burbank Airport. At left, a reminder of the airport’s history and former name, Bob Hope, hangs behind the holiday decorations.
If there’s one thing I’ve enjoyed about this Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project, it’s been the planning – the chase, if you will – to maximize the limited resources I have and fit all the puzzle pieces into place.
As I explored flights into the Los Angeles area, my initial instincts had me looking at Los Angeles International (of which I’d flown in and out of a few times, previously) but the distance, and traffic, to Pasadena was less-than-appealing. That distance thing was the same reason for never seriously considering John Wayne (aka Orange County) Airport.
Enter Hollywood Burbank Airport, which I recalled being named Bob Hope Aiport (official rebrand occurred in 2017). The airport’s convenience and proximity to Pasadena (20-25 drive even in traffic) was tremendous! And while I’m a big fan of non-stop flights, the lower cost, ease of arrival/departure, and location could not be topped.
If you’re traveling to greater LA and don’t have a need to go into the city center regularly, I cannot recommend BUR highly enough.
Tim & Doug Check Out Pasadena
The parade route was all decked out.
Surprisingly, our hotel room in neighboring Glendale was ready for us by our 1 p.m. arrival and, after a quick recalibration nap, we headed off to see Pasadena and find a spot to watch some of the Detroit Lions-San Francisco 49ers Monday Night Football game.
Our Lyft driver delivered us to the front door of Vroman’s Bookstore. Tim and I are both retired English teachers and former journalists, so visiting a bookstore on Pasadena’s venerable Colorado Boulevard (site of a certain parade) seemed a natural first stop.
The Vroman’s Bookstore sign.
Billed as California’s oldest independent bookstore, Vroman’s has been peddling books in Pasadena since it’s founder Adam Clark Vroman opened the doors in 1894.
In a nod to 2024, the bookstore now features a coffee house and a wine bar.
It’s a lovely little spot that features all the usual genres as well as the additional items bookstores need to carry to help sustain in this era: Pasadena/Los Angeles/California-themed merch, games, journaling/author materials, the aforementioned coffee and wine spots, and during our visit, holiday items for sale.
No books were purchased, but I did nab a postcard and a sticker to commemorate my visit.
The busts of Jackie, at left, and Mack Robinson in downtown Pasadena.
From Vroman’s we headed west on Colorado (which along this stretch doubles as part of historic U.S. Route 66) in search of the Pasadena Robinson Memorial. The memorial features a pair of massive busts of Jackie and Mack Robinson two of Pasadena’s most famous sons.
Jackie, of course, was a 4-sport star at Pasadena City College before going on to do the same across town at UCLA. His claim to fame to the wider world was becoming the first modern Major League Baseball player of color.
Jackie’s older brother, Mack, was a track and field star at PCC where he set junior college records in the 100 and 200 meters as well as the long jump. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team that ran in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. Mack took second to Jesse Owens in the 200 meters, finishing 0.4 seconds before Owens. Mack went onto run track and graduate from the University of Oregon.
From a distance, the sculptures appear as giant floating heads, but upon closer inspection, the details inlaid into each is magnificent and features additional words and imagery.
Some of the detail in the Robinson busts, clockwise from upper left, at the top of Jackie’s head is a crossword puzzle-type grid with the names of significant people from his life; the back of Jackie’s head features images of the four sports he competed in during his high school and college years (football, baketball, track, and baseball); the back of Mack’s head depicts him sprinting; the side of Jackie’s head lists his career including time in the Army, with the LA Dodgers, and Chock Full o’ Nuts Coffee; the top of Mack’s head features the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
Across the street from the Robinson Memorial is Pasadena’s City Hall which was crazy busy (to us, at least) for a late Monday afternoon during a holiday week with folks dressed to the nines posing for photos. We eventually approached a pair of city officials to inquire about all the photo-ops and were told it’s just become a thing. The architecture and scenery lend themselves to senior photos, engagement photos, wedding photos, etc. Also, one gal informed us, this building was used for exterior shots of the fictious Pawnee government building in the show “Parks and Recreation” (which neither Tim nor I watched).
Clockwise from upper left, the exterior of Pasadena’s City Hall; its Christmas Tree; and the courtyard in the rear which was full of folks taking professional photographs.
Once back on Colorado, we kept heading west in search of the Lululemon pop-op where we’d pick up our Run with the Roses 5K materials for the next night’s kickoff to a busy New Year.
Along our route I noticed the grandstand where we’d be seated for the Parade in a couple of days. It set directly in front of the First United Methodist Church. We even ambled up the steps to sample our seats in anticipation of the big event on January 1.
Aisle 2 of this Grandstand along Colorado Boulevard would be our home for Rose Parade viewing.
We made it to our destination, picked up our materials our materials for the January 1 at midnight 5K that I got us into. Lululemon was kind enough to offer us a 25% off discount on any purchases but alas, even by shaving a quarter off the price, neither Tim nor I found anything that screamed to us, “Wear me!”
So we sallied forth in search of sustenance, a cooling beverage, and some TVs to check out my Lions’ revenge game in Santa Clara. We found all of the above at a place called, Congregation Brewery and Cocina, a California-based brewery in Azusa.
Note the halo and devil horns above the g’s on the sign.
Our server, Brenda, was a delight and helped us navigate the menu, drink list, and, most importantly, get MNF on screens that were within eyesight of each of us.
There was one more stop in Pasadena I wanted to make before we headed back to our lodging.
My daughter, Helena, is a frequent shopper of Trader Joe’s and I was keenly aware the franchise originated in Pasadena. And there, just a few blocks from where we enjoyed pizza and beverages, was the one that started it all.
The original Trader Joe’s in Pasadena. Note the mural inside the front window noting it’s where it all started as well as the sign affixed to the palm tree indicating the exact date it opened (I was but 2 months old!)
Somewhat surprisingly, aside from the sign out front, it looked pretty much like every other Trader Joe’s I’ve ever visited … which, I suppose, is fine.
Floats, Bowls, and Links
This float is from Love 2 Yeu and honors the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
Knowing what the following 48 hours were going to look like, Tim and I slow-played our start to the final day of 2024. No alarms were set, we enjoyed the hotel’s breakfast, and watched nearly all of the Michigan-Alabama ReliaQuest Bowl.
By early afternoon we got started by driving over to the Rose Bowl Stadium footprint where we were pleasantly surprised to find floats queued up receiving last-minute attention. Being able to be a few feet away (in some instances) from these works of floral art was rather remarkable.
As every square inch of exposed surface of the floats must be covered by flowers and/or other natural materials, the floats are true labors of love. Clockwise from upper left, there’s even special glue; a spray waits to be placed on a float; extra flower blooms wait to be affixed to a float; both particiapting schools in the game have floats dedicated to them; each rose rests in an individual vial of water to remain fresh; the Mississippi entry was among my favorites; the Honda float featured a spinning globe; the American Heartland Theme Park (OK) entry.
Of the ones we saw, my favorite was the one from Mississippi. A major reason for preferring this one is, no doubt, because Event No. 10 took me to Oxford, MS, for the Egg Bowl. I also stayed one night in Tupelo where the Elvis statue depicted on the float is displayed.
From there we trekked across a field to check out the Ohio State and Oregon semi-trucks that hauled gear cross country for the next day’s game, saw Urban Meyer on the B1G Network set, the Rose Bowl’s Jackie Robinson statue (off limits for up close visits due to the TV set).
We next made our way to the main gate of the Rose Bowl Stadium, though closed, it still offered plenty of opportunities for photo ops as well as a quiet and up close look at the Keith Jackson statue.
Clockwise from upper left, Keith Jackson became a beloved voice of the Rose Bowl and now has a statue near the main entrance honoring his him; tractor trailers from both Oregon and Ohio State were featured prominently in front of the stadium; former OSU head coach Urban Meyer chats it up on the B1G Network; the Rose Bowl Stadium has a statue of former UCLA running back Jackie Robinson on its grounds; and the main entrance of the Rose Bowl Stadium.
Our final stop on this side of the stadium was in the adjacent parking area where something called the “Bowl Bash” was ongoing. Free to anyone who showed up, the Bowl Bash featured food and beverage, a DJ, big screens showcasing other bowl action, some games (pickleball, corn hole, field goal kicking, passing accuracy, etc), appearanced by the Oregon and OSU bands and spirit squads, and photo opportunities with the Rose Bowl’s Leishman Trophy and other assorted Rose Bowl-themed things.
I’d categorize it as a fun experience, though I failed in the field goal kicking I was successful in fending off Tim in corn hole (21-20). We steered clear of the overpriced food and beverage but enjoyed seeing The Ohio State band and spirit squads perform. We even caught a glimpes of ESPN talent – play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler and studio analyst Joey Galloway – get stopped and searched at a security checkpoint.
Clockwise from the upper left, absolutely, I’ll sit in your over-sized inflatable chair and pose for a photo; ESPN’s Chris Fowler is wanded by security before entering the stadium; the OSU band marches in; Tim and I pose with the Leishman Trophy; Tim and I posing with the 2025 Rose Bowl sign; ESPN’s Joey Galloway chats up a security guard waiting to be inspected; and, yes, I’ll also pose under the balloon helmets from each school.
After we finished bashing, we headed to the other side of the stadium and visited Brookside Golf Course which, like the stadium and rest of the parkland surrounding it, is owned and operated by the City of Pasadena. Brookside features 36 holes and is open to the public. Tim wanted to check it out because he brought his clubs on this trip and there’s a chance he might sneak in 18 after returning from a cruise he and wife, Tracey, were sailing on following the Rose Bowl festivities.
Only one of the courses was open on New Years Eve (and players were walking off as we arrived) because the other was utilized for parking and the next day’s “Fan Fest.” While looking dry (which it has been in this area) the course appeared well maintained, the clubhouse had plenty of Rose Bowl merchandise free of the participating schools’ logos, and a lovely grill that was closing as we arrived.
From left, the Brookside sign out front; a view of one of the practice green areas (note the hospitality tents in the background); a mural inside the clubhouse; and a banner on the lamp post out front quotes Keith Jackson with the “Granddaddy of them all.”
