College Sports
UCLA Is 9-0, but Rose Bowl Crowds Haven’t Reached Half Capacity
The Bruins averaged 31,461 fans through five home games. Their Friday night return against Illinois follows a season-low crowd of 24,611 against Nevada.
UCLA will return to the Rose Bowl on Friday with a 9-0 record and an average home attendance of 31,461. The fifth-ranked Bruins have won all five games in Pasadena this season, and each crowd was smaller than half the stadium’s listed capacity of 81,258.
UCLA reached 9-0 with a 34-20 win at Minnesota on Saturday and is 6-0 in the Big Ten. Its most recent home game, a 27-0 win over Nevada on Halloween, drew 24,611, the smallest home crowd of the season. Wisconsin drew the largest crowd at 36,045 on Oct. 17.
UCLA’s five Rose Bowl crowds
| Opponent | Kickoff (ET) | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego State, Sept. 12 | 7:15 p.m. | 31,976 |
| Purdue, Sept. 19 | 11 p.m. | 30,916 |
| Wisconsin, Oct. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | 36,045 |
| Michigan State, Oct. 24 | 3:30 p.m. | 33,757 |
| Nevada, Oct. 31 | 4:15 p.m. | 24,611 |
Source: UCLA football game notes. Average attendance was 38.7% of listed capacity.
USA TODAY reported that UCLA based this season’s announced attendance on ticket scans after previously using tickets distributed. That change makes year-to-year comparisons difficult.
What the kickoff times show
The Illinois game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 13, or 6 p.m. in Pasadena. For fans driving from UCLA’s Westwood campus, that means a Friday evening trip to Pasadena. UCLA has drawn small crowds at several kickoff times. Its lowest turnout came against Nevada at 1:15 p.m. local time, while the 8 p.m. start against Purdue drew 6,305 more.
UCLA has tried to lower the cost for students. The school made regular-season home football tickets free for eligible undergraduate and graduate students starting with the Purdue game. Students still have to get to Pasadena. UCLA lists a campus-to-stadium Rooter Bus pass at $15 per game.
“We need our students to show up, be loud, and make a difference,” UCLA athletic director Tim Harris said when the school announced the policy. Attendance ranged from 24,611 to 36,045 in the four home games played since the policy took effect. The announced figures count the full crowd, including students.
Original photograph under CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.
