UCLA’s onetime SoFi Stadium ambitions revealed in…
New court paperwork filed in the Rose Bowl’s lawsuit against UCLA revealed how imminent the varsity’s anticipated departure was for SoFi Stadium before reversing course.
Last August, when UCLA opened its soccer season against Utah at the Rose Bowl, a vice chancellor from the varsity and high-ranking Kroenke Sports and Entertainment official exchanged textual content messages about the Bruins’ proposed transfer to SoFi Stadium, according to the paperwork.
New court paperwork filed in the Rose Bowl’s lawsuit against UCLA reveal how imminent the varsity’s anticipated departure was for SoFi Stadium before reversing course. Getty Images
As half of one exchange, Kevin Demoff — president of the Rams and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment — texted Stephen Agostini — then a UCLA vice chancellor and the varsity’s chief financial officer — writing, “good luck tonight, next year at SoFi!”
Agostini, who was one of the driving forces of UCLA’s proposed transfer to SoFi Stadium, was fired in February after faculty officers alleged that he made inaccurate statements about campus debt.
Later that month, UCLA dedicated to staying at the Rose Bowl through the 2026 season.
The textual content exchange between Agostini and Demoff was included in the Rose Bowl attorneys’ response to a current movement filed by UCLA that may additional delay the court case. Describing the maneuver as pointless stalling, attorneys representing the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena are asking to be reimbursed for attorneys charges.
Attorneys representing both sides are scheduled to meet in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday morning.
In current weeks, The California Post has realized, representatives from both sides have engaged in discussions meant to attain a decision that would fulfill all events and presumably end the contentious legal battle that began in October after the Rose Bowl sued UCLA over a attainable departure for SoFi Stadium.
UCLA’s proposed transfer to SoFi Stadium may have offered new income from favorable lease phrases as nicely as further income from a mixed-use real estate development project.
There was also the lure of taking part in soccer video games considerably nearer to campus at a far more trendy facility than the century-old Rose Bowl, which is 26 miles from Westwood.
UCLA’s campus in Westwood is 26 miles from the Rose Bowl. Getty Images
Under its current settlement with the Rose Bowl, UCLA doesn’t obtain suite income or stadium sponsorship gross sales and only a fraction of parking, concessions and merchandise income. But a decision between the events may consequence in more favorable lease phrases for UCLA for the length of any settlement; the Bruins’ lease at their longtime soccer home runs through the 2043 season.
UCLA is already set to keep income from the sale of premium seats related with a new field-level membership that’s scheduled to open this season.
The new court paperwork disclosed what appeared to be a concerted effort for UCLA to discover a new soccer home.
Communications between UCLA and SoFi Stadium executives from February 2025 included in the court submitting confirmed that Agostini texted with Demoff about having the varsity’s athletics operations staff tour SoFi Stadium “to see how we would make next season work.”
In response, Demoff texted, “Yes will make whatever work.”
Plaintiffs attorneys contend that officers from the Rose Bowl Operating Co. heard from UCLA personnel that the varsity had held conferences with SoFi Stadium executives involving seating charts, income sharing preparations and development initiatives related with the proposed transfer.
By October 2025, the plaintiffs attorneys contend, Jeffrey Moorad — the previous Diamondbacks and Padres chief government officer who said he was working as a guide on behalf of UCLA — informed them that UCLA would no longer play its home video games at the Rose Bowl, saying there was “no way [UCLA is] staying long term” and that UCLA “will leave.”
The Rose Bowl filed its lawsuit alleging breach of contract later that month, finally including SoFi Stadium executives as co-defendants for allegedly engaging UCLA to swap stadiums.
Rose Bowl attorneys have said the staff’s departure would trigger “irreparable harm” for which money alone couldn’t sufficiently compensate the stadium and surrounding group.
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