Better Traffic, Crowd Control Pledged for Soccer Matches

After hearing that neighbors of the Rose Bowl didn’t get a kick out of last weekend’s successful opener of professional soccer, Pasadena officials are pledging to deal more effectively with the traffic, litter and crowds at upcoming games.

Another huge crowd is expected for next week’s Los Angeles Galaxy game, but city officials told neighborhood leaders at a meeting Thursday that they will not be caught off guard as they were in the season’s opener in which nearly 70,000 tickets were sold, more than twice what was expected.

“I think the next game will be handled beautifully,” said Councilwoman Ann-Marie Villicana, who represents areas west of the stadium. Pasadena Police Cmdr. Mary Schander said that for the April 28 game there will be more police officers, street barricades, signs and searches at the gates. A plan is underway to get the word out that fans should plan to arrive 1 1/2 hours before matches.

Barry Herlihy, president of the Linda Vista/Annandale Assn., suggested that shuttle buses be used from satellite parking lots at places such as Parsons Corp. Similar shuttle plans have been used for UCLA football games and World Cup events, but Rose Bowl officials said it costs about $30,000 to 40,000 per event.