UCLA football game help needed

Old Jul 17th, 2010, 04:35 PM
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UCLA football game help needed

I am holidaying in LA area in Sept/Oct with my husband and 2 teenage sons from Australia and we are hoping to see a football game. We have been advised that the UCLA games are good to see however the only date that works with their schedule is 2 Oct - the day we leave for home. Given the game is at 12.30pm, can you please advise what time we would need to be there to be able to park, how easy parking is in the area and roughly what time the game ends (to make sure we still catch our flight)

I have had a look for tickets and it appears that there are only general release seating tickets left, is anybody able to tell me how restricted the views are in this area. My feeling is we want to enjoy the atmosphere and the experience of it all so birdeye views probably aren't too much of an issue. Do these games generally get sold out or is it usually possible to just turn up and buy tickets upon entry?

Thanks
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Old Jul 17th, 2010, 10:38 PM
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I can't help with UCLA games, but you might consider a USC game, especially if it's a better fit for your schedule.

See: http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-f...otbl-body.html

There's a schedule of games, a game day guide, and information about tickets at the site.

The Trojans are a great team and they play in the historic LA Coliseum, which holds over 93,000 fans. There are pregame events on campus including the Trojan Marching Band and the USC mascot, Traveler the horse. Traveler is a white horse ridden by a Trojan warrior who appears at all of the Trojan home games.

See Coliseum here: http://www.lacoliseum.com/pages/history.shtml

and

See Traveler here: http://www.autumnspectacle.com/Masco...raveler%29.jpg

Signed, a Trojan Mom

And, in fairness to UCLA, here's the Bruins' website:

http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-f...otbl-body.html
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Old Jul 18th, 2010, 02:40 AM
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Thanks for the Trojan info, just had a look at their schedule however it doesn't fit in either, pity as it sounded good. Are there pregame events with the UCLA game, we are hopting to see the marching bands, the cheer squads etc?? We need to be back to the airport for 6pm and the UCLA game is at 12.30pm so I think that should work well????
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Old Jul 18th, 2010, 06:15 AM
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UCLA plays at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (not on their campus in Westwood, which is much closer to LAX). Parking and traffic are terrible in that area on game days, and it is about an hour from LAX. Sorry, I do not think you can stay for the entire game and make it back to LAX, turn in your rental, and make your international flight.

You could, however, arrive early and leave right after the halftime show. This way, you would avoid the end-of-game traffic, and still get a good taste of the atmosphere of a college football game.

Hopefully a Bruin fan will be along soon with some parking strategies for you.
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Old Jul 18th, 2010, 06:24 AM
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I'm a Trojan Mom, but I live across the country in the Boston area. I've visited LA a handful of times since my son enrolled at USC.

My experience with LA driving, traffic, and airports is limited, but here goes . . .

First, a college football game will typically run 2 1/2 to 3 hours. If there is a long half-time show, definitely 3 hours.

A review of the Bruins' website - there are typical pregame and half-time entertainments - the band performs and there are cheerleader and dance squads that appear as well.

Next, the Rose Bowl Stadium is approx 30 miles from LAX. Mapquest predicts a 40 minute drive:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1pn=Ros...::::f:no::::/e

(wow, I hope that link works . . . )

Google puts the drive at anywhere from 35 minutes to 90 minutes depending on traffic:

http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=ig&hl=en&tab=wl

What time is your flight?

Without first hand experience of the drive between Pasadena and LAX I would use the 90 minute estimate AS A MINIMUM to take into account returning to your car, leaving the stadium, game day traffic, etc.

You need someone familiar with the driving route to give you reliable advice.

I hope you are able to see the game, US college football is exciting, and it's a great idea for visiting teens.

UCLA students, parents, alumnae and local college football fans - can you offer firsthand advice?
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Old Jul 18th, 2010, 08:32 AM
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Don't worry too much about getting to the airport...you can always leave the game a half-hour early if you really need to. Make sure you have a car with a trunk not an SUV that will show all your baggage sticking out like a sore thumb, all packed and ready for the airport. Have your car tuned to 1070am traffic radio so that you can avoid any unforeseen freeway closures/accidents. Sat and Sun usually are the easiest days traffic wise and Sat afternoon is always a breeze returning a car and hopping to your terminal at LAX. Security lines usually aren't bad on Sat, 2.5 hours before flight time will be plenty.
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Old Jul 18th, 2010, 09:11 AM
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I would recommend either a USC or UCLA game. Either way hopefully the Bruins will win!!

If it's a noon game it will last about three hours, homegames are in Pasedena. Crowds are large and will take time to get out - you'll be out around 4:30, then an hour to the airport 5:30 ish (with no traffic glitches), return car rental add at least an hour to be on the safe side 6:30 ish. Overseas flight will require at least an hour or two check in. So hopefully your flight is not leaving until 10:00 or so.
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Old Jul 18th, 2010, 09:30 AM
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Just noticed your flight is 6:30. You will only be able to stay for part of the game. You'll probably need to leave no later than 2:30.
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Old Jul 18th, 2010, 10:13 AM
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Celtic71: Unless you leave at half time, there is no way I'd do this. If you only have to be at LAX by 6PM (and that isn't your flight time) you will need to be at the rental car return by 5PM in case there is a delay w/ the paperwork.

So go to the game if you want but definitely leave as soon as the half time entertainment is finished. Otherwise - you'll get caught up in post-game traffic and never make it to LAX in time.

portiaperu: For long links like that it is better to use Tiny Url. That long mapquest one ends up: http://tinyurl.com/32scwnu
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Old Jul 19th, 2010, 06:08 AM
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Thanks everyone. Our flight isn't until 9pm, I was just allowing for time to return the hire car and check in etc so I think I shall book the tickets and if we have to leave a wee bit early so be it, the boys are very excited about the idea dn I think it'll be a great last day event, thanks everyone for all the detailed info.
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Old Jul 19th, 2010, 11:06 AM
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My suggestion would be to get to old town Pasadena by around 9:30 or 10am (this way you miss most of the game-day traffic). I would park at Parsons Engineering for $12 and take their shuttle to the game - the shuttle leaves every 10 minutes or so. By getting there that early you get to stroll around Old Town Pasadena along Colorado Blvd, which is cute and has lots of shops and restaurants and you could grab breakfast there. One popular breakfast/brunch spot is Marston's on Walnut...not sure if they take reservations. You could hop on the shuttle by 11:45 or noon and be at the game by the start.

http://parpark.com/
http://parpark.com/ucla.html
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Old Jul 20th, 2010, 04:01 PM
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Hi celtic71,
I was going to recommend parking in Old Town Pasadena as vova did but the line to get back on those shuttle buses at the end of the game is a nightmare, unless you & your family are willing to make the walk back. That's actually what I do. It takes about 20 minutes & is definitely worth it for me to avoid sitting on the golf course trying to get out. (Parking around the Rose Bowl is literally on a golf course). Many people make the trek so you can just follow the line of walkers. I would still leave before the game ends to get to the freeway by 4pm though. Saturday afternoon traffic is pretty bad in this city. You can probably just buy tickets on game day at the box office..our games don't sell out unless we're playing USC. Welcome to LA! I have many friends in Oz that I've made through my travels.
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Old Jul 20th, 2010, 04:27 PM
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PLEASE listen to the advice from others regarding the Rose Bowl traffic and leaving BEFORE the game is over. It is the worst venue to get in and out of. So bad, I won't go there anymore.
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Old Jul 20th, 2010, 06:40 PM
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Go to the game for sure -- BUT Leave at the start of the 2nd half. You will see 1/2 the game and the halftime entertainment - but you won't get stuck in the post game MESS.

You really can't imagine what the traffic/crowds are like at the end.
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Old Jul 20th, 2010, 06:43 PM
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oops- hit post too soon -- the Rose Bowl holds more than 90,000. That's a LOT of traffic.
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Old Jul 21st, 2010, 06:01 AM
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Go to the game for sure -- BUT Leave at the start of the 2nd half
__________________________________________________ ___________
yes, do go!
Since it's your first time- you'll find the whole experience exhilarating. We just don't want you to miss your flight home.
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Old Jul 21st, 2010, 07:06 AM
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For your first experience, half a game is definitely enough.
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