Text messages show how close UCLA came to leaving Rose Bowl

New court documents filed in the Rose Bowl’s lawsuit against UCLA revealed how imminent the school’s expected departure was for SoFi Stadium before reversing course.

Last August, when UCLA opened its football season against Utah at the Rose Bowl, a vice chancellor from the school and high-ranking Kroenke Sports and Entertainment official exchanged text messages about the Bruins’ proposed move to SoFi Stadium, according to the documents.

New court documents filed in the Rose Bowl’s lawsuit against UCLA reveal how imminent the school’s expected departure was for SoFi Stadium before reversing course. Getty Images

As part of one exchange, Kevin Demoff — president of the Rams and Kroenke Sports and Entertainment — texted Stephen Agostini — then a UCLA vice chancellor and the school’s chief financial officer — writing, “good luck tonight, next year at SoFi!”

Agostini, who was one of the driving forces of UCLA’s proposed move to SoFi Stadium, was fired in February after school officials alleged that he made inaccurate statements about campus debt.

Later that month, UCLA committed to staying at the Rose Bowl through the 2026 season.

The text exchange between Agostini and Demoff was included in the Rose Bowl attorneys’ response to a recent motion filed by UCLA that could further delay the court case. Describing the maneuver as unnecessary stalling, attorneys representing the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena are asking to be reimbursed for attorneys fees.

Attorneys representing both sides are scheduled to meet in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday morning.

In recent weeks, The California Post has learned, representatives from both sides have engaged in discussions intended to reach a resolution that would satisfy all parties and presumably end the contentious legal battle that started in October after the Rose Bowl sued UCLA over a possible departure for SoFi Stadium.

UCLA’s proposed move to SoFi Stadium could have provided new revenue from favorable lease terms as well as additional income from a mixed-use real estate development project.

There was also the lure of playing football games significantly closer to campus at a far more modern facility than the century-old Rose Bowl, which is 26 miles from Westwood.

UCLA’s campus in Westwood is 26 miles from the Rose Bowl. Getty Images

Under its current agreement with the Rose Bowl, UCLA does not receive suite revenue or stadium sponsorship sales and only a fraction of parking, concessions and merchandise revenue. But a resolution between the parties could result in more favorable lease terms for UCLA for the duration of any agreement; the Bruins’ lease at their longtime football home runs through the 2043 season.

UCLA is already set to keep revenue from the sale of premium seats associated with a new field-level club that’s scheduled to open this season.

The new court documents disclosed what appeared to be a concerted effort for UCLA to find a new football home.

Communications between UCLA and SoFi Stadium executives from February 2025 included in the court filing showed that Agostini texted with Demoff about having the school’s athletics operations team tour SoFi Stadium “to see how we would make next season work.”

In response, Demoff texted, “Yes will make whatever work.”

Plaintiffs attorneys contend that officials from the Rose Bowl Operating Co. heard from UCLA personnel that the school had held meetings with SoFi Stadium executives involving seating charts, revenue sharing arrangements and development projects associated with the proposed move.

By October 2025, the plaintiffs attorneys contend, Jeffrey Moorad — the former Diamondbacks and Padres chief executive officer who said he was working as a consultant on behalf of UCLA — informed them that UCLA would no longer play its home games at the Rose Bowl, saying there was “no way [UCLA is] staying long term” and that UCLA “will leave.”

The Rose Bowl filed its lawsuit alleging breach of contract later that month, eventually adding SoFi Stadium executives as co-defendants for allegedly enticing UCLA to switch stadiums.

Rose Bowl attorneys have said the team’s departure would cause “irreparable harm” for which money alone could not sufficiently compensate the stadium and surrounding community.