Question Rose Bowl travel - flying out the same night doable?
I haven't been to a game in 10 years (and that was in Ann Arbor during school), but something about this year grabbed me. Earlier today I bought a ticket (through the OnLocation link, section 10-L), and after some quick research settled on flying in morning of, and flying out night of. I live in the Bay Area so the flights are not that long.
I'm flying into Burbank airport, scheduled to land well before 11am, so I think I'm safe getting to the game, even if I miss out on tailgating (no arranged plans, just assume walking by and saying Hi to people is doable). However, I'm not 100% sure about the departing flight, which is around 8:30pm. I thought, game might last 4.5 hours, giving me 1.5 hours to get to the Burbank airport, should be pretty safe. Even if I don't make it I have relatively easy backup plans.
Questions to the seasoned travel vets out there:
1) am I likely very safe to make my outbound flight, or very unsafe, or somewhere in between?
2) Is Lyft or taxi (or something else?) better to get from airport to the stadium?
3) On the way out, it seems like its probably better to walk somewhere out of the stadium area before calling for a Lyft to the airport, given stadium traffic patterns - any recommendations there?
Apologies if this got covered elsewhere, I didn't see discussion to this level of detail. I weighed driving down and finding parking, hotels in Bakersfield or LA, etc, and settled on flying same day.
December 5th, 2023 at 1:04 AM ^
This. Just looked at hotels.com and there's the Hollywood Roxy hotel which is 5.6 miles from the airport and $76 including tax. Looks like a dump, but if your goal is a place to sleep it's got a bed and private bathroom. For not a ton more you can get something decent.
December 5th, 2023 at 7:21 AM ^
The challenge here is that a lot of the hotels (the nicer ones) in Pasadena have multi-night minimums (because of New Year’s Eve, as well as the game), so it’s not as easy to just pick one up. For example, you can book the Hilton in Pasadena for the 28th-2nd (at about $900 a night, mind you), but you can’t book that same hotel the 31st-2nd.
December 5th, 2023 at 1:06 PM ^
But you don't need to stay in Pasadena. OP is flying out of Burbank so if he leaves the next day there's TONS of hotels less than 10 miles from the airport. If you really don't care where you stay I listed one above that was $76 including taxes 6 miles from the airport. It's not a Ritz Carlton, but it's a cheap bed and completely eliminates stress. OP is probably close to $1000 or more invested in this trip but can't spend $76? That's crazy to me.
December 5th, 2023 at 1:06 AM ^
i mean why not just fly private?
December 5th, 2023 at 3:00 AM ^
Thank God for Burbank airport.
LAX sucks and I never fly out of it if I can help it.
I would be worried about getting into the Rose Bowl if you are landing so close to game time.
The traffic is brutal.
December 5th, 2023 at 3:02 AM ^
Actually -- if you are in the Bay Area . . . . drive and spend the money on a hotel. It's only a 6 hour drive. Gives you way more flexibility.
December 5th, 2023 at 4:23 AM ^
You're cutting it close and taking a chance that everything will be "perfect" in terms of variables out of your control (i.e. accident that snarls traffic, emergency road closure/detour because a water main break etc). If it were me, I'd be taking a later flight. I get wanting to save money but I'd be worrying too much during the game if I'd have enough time to make it if I stay for the entire game or when should I leave. I rather pay a little bit extra to enjoy myself
December 5th, 2023 at 5:07 AM ^
Leaving the same day is for rich people with private jets. I would stay the night
December 5th, 2023 at 6:33 AM ^
As someone who grew up a couple hundred yards from the Burbank airport runway (check out Cantlay St, Sun Valley) I can tell you that your plan is not realistic. If you want to save money, stay at a hotel along San Fernando Rd close to the airport and leave in the morning.
December 5th, 2023 at 7:17 AM ^
Biggest thing you need to consider is that you CANNOT get an Uber/Lyft from the stadium, but rather have to go back into Pasadena (shuttle or walk) to catch one. The time in that alone probably derails your timeline (unfortunately). I would look at taking the train to Burbank after the game and staying near the airport.
December 5th, 2023 at 7:44 AM ^
If you try and do a same night flight back, all I can say is good luck with that. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's said this, but you're doing yourself a disservice by trying to do it all same day. Maybe you could get away with flying in the same morning on the first flight out, but why risk delays or cancellations?
And then trying to fly back the same night? Do you really want to be staring down at your watch through the entire fourth quarter hoping the game ends on time when all you really should be focusing on is the game itself? Would really dilute the experience and I think you'd end up regretting it down the road.
I'd just take the first flight out the following morning and give yourself the peace of mind in knowing that you can stay for the whole game, enjoy it in its entirety, and not have to be worried about the clock and getting out on time.
Which....getting out of there in a reasonable time period after the game? Hooo good luck with that.
December 5th, 2023 at 7:54 AM ^
I've been to three Rose Bowls and I would strongly suggest staying in LA overnight after the game. Driving out of that place is a nightmare.
I don't know how far Burbank is from Pasadena, but three hours might be enough time to get you into your seat for kickoff. I would be a nervous bird though. To play it safe, you might want to leave as soon as the game is no longer in doubt. Just my $0.02
December 5th, 2023 at 8:08 AM ^
No questions about getting tix now or waiting until 5 minutes before kickoff to see if prices drop by $15?
December 5th, 2023 at 8:09 AM ^
Agree with most of what's been previously said here. Its not the arrival time I have issue with but your departure timing. Been to one Rose Bowl back in 04, we lost and jetted at the final whistle (so no time spent watching the trophy ceremony or anything like that) and it still took FOREVER to get out of that depression in the ground where the Rose Bowl is. We took a shuttle in and out of the Rose Bowl and the ride out back to our car took the better part of an hour as I recall.
December 5th, 2023 at 8:23 AM ^
No chance! getting out of that ravine after a Rose Bowl game is a slowboat to China. Shuttle Busses are plentiful and the system is decent, but it still takes half of the rest of the evening to get out of the valley let alone getting to an airport 1.5 hours before a flight.
December 5th, 2023 at 8:43 AM ^
is there a train?
December 5th, 2023 at 8:57 AM ^
Fly back out of Ontario on the 2nd. There is a 6:50 am to Oakland for $129 or if you want to sleep in there is a 9:10 am for $154. Hotels out that way are much cheaper. I found a Spring Hill in Corona for $139. If you don’t stick with Marriott you can likely get cheaper than that
Edit: multiple cheap hotels for $99 out that way
December 5th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
First time I read Ontario in another reply I thought it was the name of an airline :facepalm:
Will check this out today
December 5th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
It's certainly doable but if it were me, I'd mentally build in the possibility that I'd miss the plane home. Air travel is often a mess now, plus it's its own getting out of the parking lot.
December 5th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
As a experienced traveller,former airline employee, Group Travel coordinator and currently coordinating meetings and events world wide AND 5 time Rose Bowl attendee the traffic after the game is always slow .
Even a uber might take time getting to you because of traffic volume in and around the stadium and HWY..Im in agreement with others that the 830pm MIGHT be cutting it close but doable out of Burbank, the game starts at 1pm so if it goes 5 hrs it still gives u 2.5 hrs to get to nearby Burbank I think that is VERY doable. U need to be at the ticket counter 1 hr prior if u have bags.since u dont have checked bags (Im assuming) and check in online u go directly to the gate no need to go to ticket counter
Maybe u can take a later flight out of LAX or other nearby airport that doesnt stress you out..If u are already locked into these flights then thats a done deal .Worst case scenario games goes into OT u miss your flight and THEN u get a hotel at airport if the next avbl flight out of BUR is next morning. I thinks the odds of making your flight are very good , When MICHIGAN wins the game it will all be worth it.,.GOOD LUCK and GO BLUE
December 5th, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
the game starts at 1pm so if it goes 5 hrs it still gives u 2.5 hrs to get to nearby Burbank I think that is VERY doable
This is a helpful post, but the game is at 2pm (with kickoff being more like 2:20pm), though, which makes that 1.5 hours rather than 2.5 hours.
December 5th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
I was not able to find info on how long the game would take. 4 hrs seemed like a "long but possible" time, discounting overtime. 5 hours seemed like "crazy overtime"?
December 5th, 2023 at 11:27 PM ^
Game duration can vary but if it's insanely fast I would say the absolute bare minimum would be 3 hours with a 2:20 start so that gives you a 5:20 finish. I would guess 3.5 hours (6 PM finish) to 4 hours (6:20 finish) are far more likely. Getting from your seat to just being outside the stadium will take 15 minutes minimum which puts you somewhere in the 6:15 to 6:35 range. You now have 2 hours until your flight takes off. Even if you had a car sitting waiting for you (which you won't) and even if not a single person was attempting to exit the stadium (which is not true on an order of 90,000 people) you need 20 minutes to get to the airport which has you there about 90 minutes prior to departure (which would be fine). I would guess a best-case scenario is you're delayed by an hour getting to the airport which gives you an absolute best case of arriving 40 minutes early. Since doors close 15 minutes early you would have 25 minutes to check in, clear security, and get to your gat if everything goes absolutely perfect. 25 minutes is probably enough for that airport (if you have precheck etc. you could probably do it in 10). To me that just seems so incredibly unlikely, I would never risk it.
December 5th, 2023 at 9:23 AM ^
My son is taking an 11:55 pm red eye back to Newark on 1/1 (game day). Definitely saved $ flying on the holiday.
December 5th, 2023 at 9:46 AM ^
If you're in the Bay Area, it seems like it would be a lot less stressful to just drive down and get a hotel, but if your heart is set on flying, you're really cutting it close with those flight times. You might be able to pull it off, but it'd be a stressful day, both before and after the game ... do you want to deal with that?
December 5th, 2023 at 11:28 AM ^
What I love about L.A. is that people put the word "The" before all of their highway numbers.
If we were to do that in Michigan, we'd be saying, "When Gatlin Bair lands at Detroit Metro, he'll take the 94 into Ann Arbor to meet his new teammates."
December 5th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
"When Gatlin Bair lands at Detroit Metro, he'll take the Willow Run Freeway into Ann Arbor to meet his new teammates."
That sounds strange now, but that's what that segment of 94 was called way back in the day.
"The" before the highway number mostly has its roots in LA freeways all having other proper names, and those names STILL being on highway signs. Back in the 70s/80s, Michigan deemphasized having Ford/Chrysler/Jeffries/etc on highway signs. But California still keeps proper names on highway signs. The San Diego Freeway = the 405. The Ventura Freeway = the 101 (or 136). Et cetera.
December 5th, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
Think for sure would go as early as possible just to soak up atmosphere / account for traffic in / get a couple drinks before game. Guaranteed more fun having more time pre-game than post. On way out would just bust out ASAP at end of game to beat the rush / watch at section entrance if I need to. Even drop in one near the shuttle line.
December 5th, 2023 at 5:01 PM ^
Thanks to everyone's input - my risk aversion has led me to take the "stay longer" route and I will be staying day before and after now.
Risk aversion beat spending money aversion this time.
Still have to decide what to do on where to stay - crash couch or another 300/2 nights....
December 5th, 2023 at 11:28 PM ^
How well do you know these couch crash people? If they're good friends/family that seems like a good option otherwise I would go with the hotel. Unless they are very close family I would feel obligated to spend some time hanging out with people who are letting me stay at their house, but I don't know how well you know these people.