Rose Parade Question ...

[joeparules]

So I got a 'Preferred' parking pass since it was south of the stadium and closer to the parade route. My wife wanted grand stand seating for the parade since she is short and has difficulty seeing over people and bought some online. It didn't look that far on the map but according to Google Maps they are about 3.5 miles apart!? Anyone know if they have shuttles running between the stadium and spots along the parade route? Is Uber an option?

Also, does anyone have any idea how long the parade lasts? Game starts at 2:00 and wondering how long we have to get back to the stadium.

Thanks

 

[twilsonpsu]

So I got a 'Preferred' parking pass since it was south of the stadium and closer to the parade route. My wife wanted grand stand seating for the parade since she is short and has difficulty seeing over people and bought some online. It didn't look that far on the map but according to Google Maps they are about 3.5 miles apart!? Anyone know if they have shuttles running between the stadium and spots along the parade route? Is Uber an option?

Also, does anyone have any idea how long the parade lasts? Game starts at 2:00 and wondering how long we have to get back to the stadium.

Thanks

I believe the parade starts at 8 and is 2.5 hours long. I remember reading that somewhere.

 

[LafayetteBear]

So I got a 'Preferred' parking pass since it was south of the stadium and closer to the parade route. My wife wanted grand stand seating for the parade since she is short and has difficulty seeing over people and bought some online. It didn't look that far on the map but according to Google Maps they are about 3.5 miles apart!? Anyone know if they have shuttles running between the stadium and spots along the parade route? Is Uber an option?

Also, does anyone have any idea how long the parade lasts? Game starts at 2:00 and wondering how long we have to get back to the stadium.

Thanks

Having slept out a time or two in order to get a good spot to view the parade, I know it starts fairly early. I think it lasts two-plus hours. The parade normally starts on Orange Grove Blvd. and turns right onto Colorado Blvd., (the main drag in Pasadena) proceeding east on Colorado Blvd. for a couple of miles. Which is away from the Rose Bowl, which is actually west from the intersection of Orange Grove and Colorado.

The Parade and the Game are both overseen by the Tournament of Roses Committee, and there are a number of people who participate in both events. For example, the Grand Marshall, members of the Committee, and the Rose Queen and her court. Also, I would imagine the Blue Band was invited to perform in the parade, but am not positive about that. If so, they would have to get the Blue Band back to the Rose Bowl in time for the game, no? Same thing for the USC marching band. You should have ample time to get back to the game. Perhaps you could Uber to the Parsons parking lot and take a shuttle.

 

[joeparules]

I believe the parade starts at 8 and is 2.5 hours long. I remember reading that somewhere.

Thanks for the info. Guessing it will probably end around 11:00-ish where we are sitting. Gives us plenty of time to walk back, but I'm hoping for shuttle/public transportation options back towards the stadium to increase my pre-game tailgate time.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

So I got a 'Preferred' parking pass since it was south of the stadium and closer to the parade route. My wife wanted grand stand seating for the parade since she is short and has difficulty seeing over people and bought some online. It didn't look that far on the map but according to Google Maps they are about 3.5 miles apart!? Anyone know if they have shuttles running between the stadium and spots along the parade route? Is Uber an option?

Also, does anyone have any idea how long the parade lasts? Game starts at 2:00 and wondering how long we have to get back to the stadium.

Thanks

It depends on where your bleachers are located, but I just checked Google Maps and it shows the following

1) From the Rose Bowl Stadium to the Norton Simon Museum at the intersection of Orange Grove and W. Colorado is 1.3 miles (30 minutes). It is mostly uphill from the Stadium to the parade, but it is an easy walk

2) Rose Bowl to Downtown Pasadena along E. Colorado is 1.6 miles (45 minutes).

If your bleachers are too far down Colorado (East) perhaps you can phone the ticket company and swap/upgrade for some bleachers closer to Orange Grove Blvd.

I don't remember any busses running between the stadium and the parade.

 

[djm_psu_alum]

So I got a 'Preferred' parking pass since it was south of the stadium and closer to the parade route. My wife wanted grand stand seating for the parade since she is short and has difficulty seeing over people and bought some online. It didn't look that far on the map but according to Google Maps they are about 3.5 miles apart!? Anyone know if they have shuttles running between the stadium and spots along the parade route? Is Uber an option?

Also, does anyone have any idea how long the parade lasts? Game starts at 2:00 and wondering how long we have to get back to the stadium.

Thanks

I believe they recommend people be in their seats by 7am though I've heard one should be there by 6:30am. In the 7 years we've been living in Pasadena, we've never got parade seats (for us, we just walk down from our place and watch it though we never watch the whole thing since PSU has never been here since we've lived here). You state that they are 3.5 miles apart. I know that the stadium is about 1.5 miles away from Parsons which is in the heart of Old Town so I assume your bleacher seats are further down the parade route?

The shuttle at Parsons to the stadium does not start running until 3 hours prior--that is standard though maybe they start earlier for the Rose Bowl game but I doubt it. The parade starts at 8 and is 2 hours long from any given point along the route. So where Parsons is located, the parade will be over around 10:30 (at the latest). Shuttles begin at 11am.

In short, no shuttle and Uber could be used but Colorado Blvd will be closed as well as a handful of other streets so Uber could get you somewhat close but you'd have to walk the rest of the way. To get back to the stadium, I would walk to Parson and then take the shuttle.

Hope that helps.

 

[djm_psu_alum]

It depends on where your bleachers are located, but I just checked Google Maps and it shows the following

1) From the Rose Bowl Stadium to the Norton Simon Museum at the intersection of Orange Grove and W. Colorado is 1.3 miles (30 minutes). It is mostly uphill from the Stadium to the parade, but it is an easy walk

2) Rose Bowl to Downtown Pasadena along E. Colorado is 1.6 miles (45 minutes).

If your bleachers are too far down Colorado (East) perhaps you can phone the ticket company and swap/upgrade for some bleachers closer to Orange Grove Blvd.

I don't remember any busses running between the stadium and the parade.

#1 - I've done that walk lots of time and its not bad at all.
#2 - That could be tough to swap since the more sought after seats are those closer to the Orange Grove corner.

 

[joeparules]

#1 - I've done that walk lots of time and its not bad at all.
#2 - That could be tough to swap since the more sought after seats are those closer to the Orange Grove corner.

#1 - I'm only concerned about the "comments" I will get from my wife
#2 - Got the furthest west grand stand available through the website (should have gotten them sooner). There are options on the secondary market, but I'm already going to be paying a premium for game tickets whenever I pull the trigger. Prices are very slowly starting to come down.

 

[djm_psu_alum]

#1 - I'm only concerned about the "comments" I will get from my wife
#2 - Got the furthest west grand stand available through the website (should have gotten them sooner). There are options on the secondary market, but I'm already going to be paying a premium for game tickets whenever I pull the trigger. Prices are very slowly starting to come down.

#1 - I'm always concerned about comment from my wife so I got ya there.
#2 - I had no idea that parade tickets were such a hot commodity. Each district representative in Pasadena does a raffle/lottery for its district for game and parade tickets. If your name gets drawn for game tickets, you still have to pay for them (you win the "right" to buy them) but parade tickets are given away for free and there are always way more of those given out. The game ticket prices will begin to fall as we get to that one week when StubHub requires that for physical tickets to be sold.

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

The secured zone bleacher seats require you to be in your seat at 6:30 AM.

There are bleachers just outside the secure zone (for instance, 240 where I am seated) that require you to be in your seat by 7:30 AM.

See: http://www.sharpseating.com/

Just do it.

If it is just your first time at the parade, definitely get reserved seats. That is the best way to get a clear view, given how many people camp out overnight to have front row viewing on the sidewalks. This then evolves into people going along the sidewalks up and down the intersecting streets, giving a view as the parade passes the intersection. But, it is almost just as hard to get in the front row on these intersecting streets.

If you are in town a few days before the parade, folks along the route rent out seating on their balconies/properties. That, of course, is limited and you are taking your chances on availability.

Besides the floats and the bands, one of the unique features of this parade is the horse units. IIRC, this parade has the most horse units of any parade.

When you reserve bleacher seats, you can also buy a program voucher, which guarantees you a nice souvenir.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

Can you even park in your preferred parking lot at a time that would allow you to walk 3.5 miles to your parade seats and be there by 7AM? Meaning you are parked at 5 or 5:30AM

Just throwing this out there because you seem concerned about getting back to Rose Bowl/parking after parade, while I see getting to your parade seats after parking as the bigger issue.
I may be all wet though ....

 

[djm_psu_alum]

Can you even park in your preferred parking lot at a time that would allow you to walk 3.5 miles to your parade seats and be there by 7AM? Meaning you are parked at 5 or 5:30AM

Just throwing this out there because you seem concerned about getting back to Rose Bowl/parking after parade, while I see getting to your parade seats after parking as the bigger issue.
I may be all wet though ....

The general lots open at 4am and that would include the preferred lots so yes, you could get there at 5/5:30am.

 

[bwifan]

The general lots open at 4am and that would include the preferred lots so yes, you could get there at 5/5:30am.

Thank you for all your input! Next time PSU is in the game maybe we can convince you to have a big tailgate at your place (all BWI members chip in some coin get some brunch delivered) and walk down to the parade from your place...

 

[djm_psu_alum]

Thank you for all your input! Next time PSU is in the game maybe we can convince you to have a big tailgate at your place (all BWI members chip in some coin get some brunch delivered) and walk down to the parade from your place...

Oh we have been thinking hard about doing something at our place but timing can be an issue. Folks will want to be in their spot for the parade and then there is getting to the stadium so not much time in between and before is a bit early. Perhaps a pre-tailgate tailgate on Jan 1st

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

The general lots open at 4am and that would include the preferred lots so yes, you could get there at 5/5:30am.

They don't actually open at 4:00 am. I know that is what's advertised, but it's not really what happens.

We arrived "at the lots" at 5:00 am only to find all of them closed. We drove around looking for the first gate to open and finally at 5:30 am, the South Gate opened. We parked haphazardly along with everyone else and headed up to Pasadena. After the parade, we returned to our vehicle only to realize that we were surrounded by USC fans. They turned out to be very nice people, but it wasn't the same as 1994 when we tailgate in the North/west losts that were almost all PSU'ers.

In short, it is possible to arrive too early.

 

[mahatango1]

I'm going to try to park up at the rose bowl(golf course) and walk down to the parade