The Pasadena City Council has approved a $152 million financing plan for a major renovation of the Rose Bowl stadium.

As the largest investment in the history of the 88-year-old iconic structure, the renovation will improve public safety, enhance fan experience, maintain the national historic landmark status of the Rose Bowl Stadium, develop revenue sources to fund the project and other long-term improvements, and enhance the stadium’s facilities, according to stadium officials.

The financing plan includes lease extensions that will ensure UCLA will play its home games at the Rose Bowl stadium through 2042 and the Rose Bowl Game will be played there through at least 2043. 

Work would begin in January and continue outside the football season through August 2013. Primary funding for the renovations would come from bonds to be issued by the city of Pasadena.

Stadium officials say a project team has been retained. The three-phase project will be bid utilizing a multi-prime contracting method. Phase one work is out for bid currently. Future bids will be issued shortly after the first of the year.

The team consists of Bernards | Barton Malow Joint Venture (Project Management), D’Agostino Izzo Quirk Architects Inc. (architect), Historic Resources Group (historic architect), Thornton Tomasetti Structural Engineers, Syska Hennessy Group (MEP engineer), W2 Design Inc. (civil engineer), EPT Design Inc. (landscape architect), Earth Systems Inc. (geotechnical engineer) and KPFF Consulting Engineers (shoring engineer).

The focus of the project is improving tunnel ingress/egress, improving concourse circulation, increasing the number of concession stands and restrooms, providing state-of-the-art premium seating products in a rebuilt press box, a new scoreboard and cutting-edge video board. The renovation will also address key stadium infrastructure needs that will allow the facility to continue to operate for decades to come.

Next and final steps prior to groundbreaking are for definitive agreements to be finalized and financing of the bonds being secured. Both are anticipated by mid-November.

A private philanthropic group, Legacy Connections, Inc., will conduct a fundraising campaign to raise funds for additional project elements to complete the renovation. Legacy Connections consists of business leaders who believe in the iconic, historic nature of the Rose Bowl stadium and want it improved and maintained at the highest level.