Rose Bowl won’t bid to host 2020 national championship game
The Rose Bowl won’t put itself in the running to host the 2020 College Football Playoff title game.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Tournament of Roses executive board looked at the “feasibility” of hosting the game, but ultimately decided against it.
“We would love to host a national championship game here,” Rose Bowl executive director William Flinn told the Times. “But we have to make sure it works for everybody.”
The College Football Playoff will award the title game designation for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 games this year. The Rose Bowl hosted the BCS title game four times between 1998 and 2013, but with the new CFP bidding process, it would have to stack up against other cities (with newer stadiums) for the chance to host the national championship.
According to the Times, host cities have to “underwrite the bid,” a cost that could range from $13 to $20 million.
“We’re not going to put a bid out on a hope and a prayer,” Flinn said.
The first three CFP title game locations were awarded to Arlington, Texas, Glendale, Ariz., and Tampa, Fla. According to the Times, those cities “must guarantee 10,000 hotel rooms and provide other perks, such as VIP transportation and parties.” The Tournament of Roses, a nonprofit organization, is “not compatible with the bid requirements,” Flinn said.
However, Flinn hopes the Rose Bowl could make it work in the future. To do so, conversations have taken place with officials in Pasadena and Los Angeles to make a “unified bid.”
As it currently stands with the College Football Playoff, the Rose Bowl hosts a national semifinal game every three seasons. Last year the Rose Bowl played host to the semifinal game between Florida State and Oregon. In the off years, the Rose Bowl will host a bowl matchup between the Pac-12 and Big 12 champions (unless a champion makes the four-team playoff).
The Rose Bowl’s next semifinal game will take place on Jan. 1, 2018.
– – – – – – –
Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
