November 17, 2002

It's slow track for the Bowl
All six are against bringing the 2008 Super Bowl to the Rose Bowl

I tried to assure them that if those events should occur, it will not be fast nor will pro football use of the Rose Bowl be railroaded through City Hall's bureaus, commissions and the City Council.

WE'RE TALKING about as momentous a happening as the Indiana Colony acquiring and populating Pasadena, original building of the Rose Bowl, City Hall, Main Library, Civic Auditorium and the rest of the Civic Center - all put together.

Everybody involved will have to move judiciously.

Responsibility of City Hall is obvious, as is the burden on all the plan's supporters.

So is the onus borne by those bad- mouthing such plans. When your grandkids ask what happened to the marvelous sports facility Pasadena once had, how would you like to tell them you helped tear it down?

The Rose Bowl is definitely in peril of such a fate - unless a permanent super tenant comes along - soon.

A LIFETIME buddy contributes a compilation of remarks of groups who may be against remodeling the Rose Bowl for a professional football tenant.

Included are the customary suspects Pasadena Heritage, other preservationist groups, resident associations.

Remarks are made in regard to environmental impact reports and such.

They certainly involve matters that must be studied and settled. That takes time and eliminates fast- track notions.

Other hurdles money, most of all also must be cleared.

It's going to be a slow, perhaps painful process but one that must be undertaken if we are to preserve the Rose Bowl. CHRIS SAGERS uses e- mail and lists himself being from Pasadena/South Pasadena.

OK with me. I also claim both of those towns as well as the rest of Our Valley.

Chris opines, "I know I'm not alone when I say that bringing the NFL to Pasadena would be a tremendous boost for the city to compliment all the growth that is already going on.

"Aside from the small percentage of our city's population that lives in the immediate vicinity of the Rose Bowl, I think that the majority of Pasadenans could see the logic, as well as the long-term benefit of investing into the renovation of this historic Southern California landmark, and its continued use by a professional football team.

"This is an issue I've always felt very strongly about, and now that I know that others are talking about it as well, I would be very interested in finding out how I could become a part of whatever group or committee that you know of that is trying to get the issue pushed forward.

"This, along with the many other current developments in Pasadena and its surrounding areas, could be one of the final links to a socio-economic explosion we could create in this beautiful city.

"I appreciate your time, effort and concern in the matter.'

SUSPECT volunteers are needed like mad.

My guess is you should call Daryl Dunn, Rose Bowl head honcho, (626) 577-3101.

May take time to solve the problem since there is neither a free lunch nor a fast track.

 -- Contact Charles Cherniss at charles.cherniss@sgvn.com.