Events set for Rose Bowl
By Elizabeth Lee
Staff Writer

PASADENA - Fans of the Mexican national soccer team and pop music will visit the Rose Bowl this spring and summer, under two special events approved Monday by the City Council.

The council voted to approve an international soccer match featuring the men's soccer team from Mexico on May 18 or 19. The match falls only days before the team heads off to the World Cup competition, being held this year in Japan and Korea.

The council also approved the first reading of a suspension of the noise ordinance, which paves the way for the 2002 Wango Tango concert to take place at the Rose Bowl on June 15. The concert, approved by the council in January, is sponsored by Clear Channel Communications, owner of KIIS-FM 102.7. Headliners in previous years were Britney Spears and 'N Sync.

Rose Bowl Stadium Manager Darryl Dunn said he does not yet know who this year's headliner is.

"Historically, it's been huge. They've had a who's who lineup," Dunn said. "We fully expect it's going to sell out. As far as we know, it's the only stadium concert this summer in L.A."

It is estimated the concert and soccer match will net the Rose Bowl at least $315,000.

Both agreements include options for second events. Clear Channel has the option of holding the concert at the Rose Bowl again in 2003. Anschutz Entertainment Group, the promoter of the soccer match, can hold another match featuring the Mexican team sometime this year.

So far, 17 major events have taken place or are scheduled to take place at the stadium this year.

-- Elizabeth Lee can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4461, or by e-mail at elizabeth.lee@sgvn.com.