History Is On the Side of Dry Field

The rain that hit Southern California this week prompted Michigan and Texas to alter their practices at the Home Depot Center on Tuesday, but it’s not likely to affect Saturday’s Rose Bowl game, based on history.

That’s because it has not rained on a Rose Bowl game in 50 years. There have been games when it drizzled, but the last time teams played the Rose Bowl in pouring rain was 1955, when Ohio State defeated USC, 20-7.

“I just hope that it stops,” Jim Muldoon, Rose Bowl media director, said about the winter storms that had both teams practicing on artificial turf instead of the grass fields. “You always [want to] have it not rain, but it’s football. Teams are used to adjusting to their surroundings.... What the rain really hurts is the other parts of the operation, from traffic to parking. That’s where the weather really has an impact.”

Parking has always been an issue for Rose Bowl games, especially on the grounds of Brookside Golf Course. It’s even worse on rainy days, because if the greens get too muddy, the Pasadena Police Department and Rose Bowl officials may prevent parking on the grass.

But that doesn’t happen often.

“The threat of rain is part of the whole Rose Bowl experience,” said Darryl Dunn, Rose Bowl general manager. “This year, the threat is a little stronger than it has been in the past, but there always seems to be rain the week leading up to the game.”

But because as many as 10,000 vehicles park on Brookside Golf Course, Rose Bowl officials are not taking any chances. They are already preparing as if there will be rain on Saturday and are encouraging fans to plan to park in one of the various lots in Old Pasadena and shuttle to the game.

“Brookside is a golf course, and we’re sensitive to that fact,” said Dunn, who added that many corporate tents were already in place in Area H around the Rose Bowl. “We won’t make a call on the parking until dawn Saturday morning. But we’re advising people to leave early.”

Rose Bowl officials are not worried about the playing field.

It was painted Michigan’s maize and blue and Texas’ orange before being covered Sunday afternoon. It will remain protected from the rain until the weather clears or game time on Saturday.

“They knew this was coming, so they got started a week ago, so no rain has hit the field,” said Marc Simon, Rose Bowl media coordinator. “The field will be kept covered unless there is a break in the rain and we have time to do some touch-up work painting. The field is in great shape and will be that way for the game.”

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According to Rose Bowl officials, light rain occurred on game day in 1997 and 1998 but did not affect parking. UCLA has played its home games at the Rose Bowl since 1982, and it has never rained for a game.