A Michigan Football Fan's Guide To The Rose Bowl

We now know that the Michigan Wolverines will take part in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

As part of the College Football Playoff semifinals, the Wolverines will face Alabama in Pasadena on the first day of 2024.

Wolverine fans here in Michigan are likely to make their way over to California in droves for the big game.

If you’re one of the people looking to head to Pasadena, here’s what you need to know about The Rose Bowl.

The Rose Bowl CFP Semifinal

Top-seeded Michigan is set to face off with No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET.

The Wolverines (13-0) are coming off a third-consecutive Big Ten Championship. The Crimson Tide (12-1) won the SEC Championship by unseating Georgia in the conference title game.

Michigan is making its third consecutive playoff appearance but is 0-2 in its previous two outings. Alabama is making its eighth playoff appearance. The Crimson Tide are 9-4 over 13 games and have won the championship on three occasions.

These two prestigious programs have only met five times in their history. Alabama is 3-2 in the series, having won the last two meetings.

Michigan sportsbooks currently list the Wolverines as a 1.5-point favorite against Alabama.

Rose Bowl tickets

Getting a ticket to this premier matchup won’t be cheap.

Ticketmaster currently is offering tickets to the game as low as $450 and as high as $3,700.

Michigan is offering tickets through On Location. You can purchase an official game ticket and commemorative ticket starting at $391.10 per person.

Seat Geek is offering tickets starting at $459, while StubHub is offering tickets starting at $480.

Ticket/hotel packages are also being offered through On Location. They have ticket and 3-night stay offerings at The Westin Pasadena or Hyatt Place Pasadena that also include pregame hospitality events. However those packages start at $2,545 per person.

Accessible seating for guests with disabilities is available through any of the authorized ticket distributors of The Rose Bowl. Guests with disabilities should request seating in the disabled patron seating area when purchasing their tickets. Up to three companion tickets may be purchased. They will be assigned to the closest available seat next to the accessible seat.

Flights to Pasadena

If flying to Pasadena, you will be directed to destinations in Burbank, Orange County and Los Angeles.

For those looking to leave on Dec. 30 and return on Jan. 2, you can find flights that are round trip out of Detroit for as low as $768 through Spirit Airlines.

If looking for a little more comfort on the flight, American Airlines flights start at just over $1,000 while United has flights at $1,100 and Delta has flights starting at over $1,200.

Leaving a day later on Dec. 31 won’t see a big decline in prices, but there are a few more options that are below $1,000.

One cheaper option comes through American Airlines out of Lansing airport. You can leave on Dec. 30 and return on Jan. 2 for as low as $735.

If wanting to fly out of Grand Rapids, United has offerings below $1,000 for Dec. 30-Jan. 2.

Another option that will cut some of the price is flying out of Chicago. They have flights ranging from $523-655 through Spirit, United and American Airlines for Dec. 30-Jan. 2.

Getting to The Rose Bowl

The Rose Bowl is located at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. in Pasadena, Calif.

The stadium website offers the following directions when approaching the stadium.

From the West via the 134 Freeway (San Fernando Valley)

Exit Linda Vista/San Rafael
Right on San Rafael Avenue
Left on Colorado Boulevard
Stay right under bridge onto Linda Vista Avenue
Right onto Salvia Canyon
Proceed to parking lots as directed

From the South via the 110 Freeway (Downtown Los Angeles)

Take the 110 North and merge onto the 5 North
Merge onto the 2 North, then the 210 East
Exit Berkshire, Arroyo/Windsor or Lincoln Avenue/Washington Boulevard
Proceed to parking lots as directed

Arriving from the North via the 210 Freeway (North San Fernando/Santa Clarita)

Take the 210 East
Exit Berkshire, Arroyo/Windsor or Lincoln Avenue/Washington Boulevard
Proceed to parking lots as directed

From the East via the 210 Freeway (San Gabriel Valley/Inland Empire)

Take the 210 West
Stay right towards San Fernando
Exit Seco/Mountain, Lincoln Avenue or Arroyo/Windsor
Proceed to parking lots as directed

You also have the option to take the Gold Line Light Rail Service. Just take the Metro Gold Line and exit at Memorial Park Station. The stadium is located two blocks from the exit.

There are also free shuttle bus options available at Parsons Parking lot located at the corner of Union St. and Walnut St. in Pasadena. The shuttle runs continuously from 10 a.m. until two hours after the game concludes.

Any ride-share and taxi drop-off service requires people to be left on Holly St. between Fair Oaks Ave. and Raymond Ave. From there, use the free shuttle or walk to the stadium.

Parking/Tailgating at The Rose Bowl

Parking lots open six hours prior to game time.

The Rose Bowl includes a number of different lots, including many general admission lots. See the map above for a full look at the available lots.

Lot H, 1-4, 6 and 8-10 is available for general parking. Cost for general parking is $55 in advance and $65 on game day.

Parking passes for The Rose Bowl can be purchased at this link. That includes multi-day RV parking packages.

Accessible parking for guest with disabilities is adjacent to the stadium in Lots F, B and D. All vehicles must display a handicapped placard to enter the lot. Cost will be $65 for parking. A golf cart shuttle may be available for transporting patrons with disabilities.

Tailgating is allowed at The Rose Bowl. The stadium provides a full list of rules and regulations for tailgating on its Stadium Rules Page.

Does California have legal sports betting?

If you are going to The Rose Bowl, you won’t be able to bet on the game while in California.

The state has still not legalized sports betting and that won’t change anytime soon.

Current amendments would see sports betting hit the state no earlier than July of 2025. However, that requires these amendments to be passed in the 2024 ballot.

What else to know about The Rose Bowl

Like most large athletic facilities, The Rose Bowl is a cashless venue. Only card and mobile payments will be accepted inside the stadium. There are two Reverse ATM’s on the concourse that allow you to apply cash to a card in order to make purchases inside the stadium.

You can find a complete list of what is not permitted in the stadium on the stadium’s website.

When it comes to bags, the following are approved: