Pasadena - A Football Venue

Opportunity

Metropolitan Los Angeles is the largest population in the country not represented with an NFL team.

Pasadena has the infrastructure necessary for a pro football team.

The Rose Bowl is a stadium that can host an NFL team.

Many possible sites in the Southern California region have been explored. Several cities have been named: Carson, Irwindale, Exposition Park come to mind. But none of those cities have what Pasadena already has to offer - a world-class stadium ready for new footbal events. The Thorns offer Pasadena the opportunity to have a team uniquely identifiable with their own city. Many aspects of The Thorns identity are modeled off the local traditions.
Rose Bowl is a beloved stadium. Built in the 1920's, the Historic Rose Bowl has been a dominant community locale and residents are concerned about the Bowl's future. The Rose Bowl was built as a football stadium and can remain so.
As demonstrated by Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn, Southern California WILL have an NFL team. The questions are where, when and on what terms (see accompanying article).

Consider the following facts:
Pasadena City Council members on February 2002 voted unanimously to seek a major new tenant, possibly an NFL franchise.

Pasadena is an already well known football venue, between hosting both The Rose Bowl Championship & UCLA home games. The stadium will hosted the 2002 BCS championship. The stadium is built for and easily accommodates professional football events.

Nestled between picturesque mountains and city, Pasadena is a natural draw. Already one of the most attractive football venues in the country.

Pasadena is already a popular tourist destination for football fans all over the country.

Pasadena sits central in Los Angeles County. 6 Million live within a 30 minute drive of the stadium.

Rose Bowl luxury box suites were constructed in 1992.

Pasadena connects to the Los Angeles Metro Rail system in 2003. The Bowl is just a short shuttle stop away from the upcoming Gold Line station in Old Town Pasadena.

Public already identifies Pasadena with football. Pasadena would be THE world class football city.

Pasadena is past Super Bowl host several times over.

The Vikings, Raiders, SF, all use L.A. as a bargaining chip to get new stadiums in their respective host cities.

Fiscal Responsibility
Los Angeles residents have repeatedly made it known that they don't want to shoulder the cost of building an expensive stadium. There might be other cities that are willing to foot the bill, but why it that necessary when Pasadena is perfectly situated to accept an NFL team?

Thorns are an opportunity to have a southland NFL team without building an entirely new stadium. Few modifications to the Rose Bowl are needed or recommended. My Thorns plan treats the Rose Bowl as the historical structure it is. Not even the signage of the stadium should be changed.

The Rose Bowl poses an excellent solution. It's a classic stadium in a beautiful mountain setting. The lush Brookside golf course provides a great park-like tailgating. Any new stadium's parking lot would inevitably be a sterile concrete.

For eight 8 Sundays a year, The Rose Bowl can host profitable NFL events. It's a classic outdoor football stadium in a place best-known for being a great winter location.

In sum, Pasadena is a premier spot in the eyes of the nation. This Team will have a real and recognizable local & national identity.