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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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).
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
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.
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!
Getting Back to the Hotel
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.
- Previously: Tournament of Roses Reconnaissance Day(s)
- Next Time: A 1-on-2 Tour of America’s Stadium
(If you’d like to lend support to the ongoing recovery efforts in greater Los Angeles County, please visit these American Red Cross or the California Teachers Association sites.)