Fuse Is Burning in New Cross-Town Rivalry

They have no soldiers, no generals and no national anthems, but an arms race has broken out between Pasadena and Carson. Or, to be precise, between the Rose Bowl and the new Home Depot Center.

The source of fraying relations: bragging rights over which venue will stage the biggest Fourth of July fireworks show.

Previously, the Rose Bowl had been the undisputed champion in the Los Angeles area’s Battle of the Bangs. But this year, as Pasadena and Carson competed for an NFL team, Home Depot Center officials decided to show Southern California that Carson’s display was more spectacular, even if it meant spending tens of thousands of dollars on everything with a fuse.

“This is a fireworks war,” said Tim Leiweke, president of Home Depot Center owner Anschutz Entertainment Group. “There is a whole disagreement as to which show is the largest. The bottom line is we’ve spent more money and we have more shells.”

Indeed, Carson does have more aerial shells, more than 4,000.

The Rose Bowl has about 3,000. But, officials in Pasadena hasten to add, they have more Roman candles.

Besides, the Rose Bowl officials say, it’s not how many shells you have, but what you do with them that matters.

“We’ve doubled our show from 15 to 30 minutes,” said Rose Bowl General Manager Daryl Dunn, who teamed up with Clear Channel Communications to help pay for the $100,000 event. “This is the largest show we’ve put on. It’s going to be humongous.”

At the center of the rivalry -- literally -- is Pyro Spectaculars, a Rialto-based company providing fireworks for both shows. For Pyro, the Fourth of July is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, what with all the extra spending.

Company President Jim Souza sidesteps the question of which show might be called the biggest.

“These are both great shows,” he said. “I guess it’s up to the public to decide which one is the best.”

One thing is certain: There’s not a spare Red Peony, Popping Flower Pistol or Brocade Kamuro to be found this side of the Mississippi River.

Leiweke, a self-described fireworks aficionado, called Pyro Spectaculars a week ago to inform the company that he was willing to spend $20,000 more than the Rose Bowl on fireworks, bringing his bill to $120,000.

Pyrotechnician Brendan McKenney, who is working on the Carson production, said the request rendered him temporarily speechless.

“I had to pick my jaw up from off the ground,” he said. “I keep scratching my head, saying, ‘This is the biggest show I’ve ever worked on.’ It’s mind-boggling, really.”

He said he immediately started rounding up more firepower, calling on a supplier in Italy for an express order. Occasionally, he’d stop by to see his colleague, Chris Souza, who was coordinating the Rose Bowl show. The two pyrotechnicians kidded each other about their efforts, invoking fireworks with names befitting Seattle rock bands.

“I’ve got Big Gold Shells that keep breaking three and four times,” said McKenney.

Souza responded: “I’ve got Shells of Shells with Brocade Popping Pistols and Big Willows.”

These, in the fireworks world, amount to fighting words.

Both fireworks events get underway at 9 p.m. today.

The Carson show, which will be held after the Galaxy soccer game, is an aerial production and also will last 30 minutes. Officials estimate that people will be able to view the display for 10 miles around.

The Rose Bowl’s event, meanwhile, will include both aerial fireworks and a display that can be seen only by spectators inside the stadium.

Dunn, the Rose Bowl general manager, diplomatically sums up the gentle rivalry.

“In all honesty,” he said, “if you are in Pasadena or Carson, you’ll see a great show.”