Metro Gold Line speeds UCLA fans to the Rose Bowl

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The Rose Bowl in Pasadena is expected to be sold out on Saturday, September 6, 2014 as UCLA plays its first home football game of the season at 7 p.m. against the University of Memphis and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) encourages fans to avoid traffic congestion and take the Metro Gold Line to the game.

Gold Line service is scheduled every 7-10 minutes before and after the game. Fans can exit the Gold Line at the Memorial Park Station and walk four blocks west on Holly Street to catch a free shuttle to the Rose Bowl that departs from the Parsons Corporation parking lot at Raymond Avenue. Alternatively, it is a 1.5 mile walk (about 25 minutes) to the Rose Bowl.

“Traditionally, the Rose Bowl has been a car-oriented destination but more and more fans are discovering the convenience of riding the Metro Gold Line to the games,” Metro CEO Art Leahy said. “Metro customers not only get quick and safe transport, they won’t have to sit in snarling traffic and pay $25 to park their cars.”

The highly-ranked Bruins are expecting a full house for their first home game of the 2014 campaign putting extra pressure on transportation systems and law enforcement to make things run smoothly.

The Purple, Blue and Expo Lines funnel trains through the 7th Street/Metro Center to Union Station where fans can take the Gold Line for the 20 minute ride to Memorial Park Station. Also, fans can board the Gold Line at Sierra Madre Villa Station in East Pasadena for the ride to Memorial Park.

Fans riding Metro are required to buy a TAP card with the proper fare loaded. TAP can be purchased at TAP vending machines at Metro Rail and Orange Line stations or about 500 retail locations including many Ralphs Markets and check cashing services. The cost of a TAP card is $1 with the purchase of a $5 day pass. TAP can be reloaded and reused. To avoid lines on the return trip, fans should purchase their round trip fare or Day Pass in advance. Metro fares will increase on September 15, 2014.

5 replies

  1. Is it possible to have these shuttles run for all events at the Rose Bowl, like for concerts? That’d be awesome!

    • Hi Pearl,

      Shuttles do run for most Rose Bowl events, but not all of them are free. It usually depends on who is hosting the event at the Rose Bowl. For UCLA football games, the shuttles are free…for the upcoming One Direction concerts, unfortunately not!

      Anna Chen
      Writer, The Source

      • What is the standard fare for the shuttles from Memorial Park Station to the Rose Bowl? Also, do you know if there will be shuttles for the One Direction concert this Friday, 12th?
        Thank you,

        • Hi,

          For UCLA games, shuttles to the Rose Bowl are free. There will be shuttles running to the One Direction concerts, but the cost is $10 as it is a Live Nation event.

          Anna Chen
          Writer, The Source

  2. What are the stats on how many people go from the Gold Line to the shuttle? If there were enough, it would make sense to run the normal park-and-ride from Parsons and a second shuttle from old Line stop. There is that real wide spot there at the intersection of Holly and Arroyo Seco Pkwy. That would handle the busses easy.