Traditional clubs have come through Pasadena, Calif. , over the course of 111 Rose Bowl activities, including this year’s regional hero, Ohio State. But Rose Bowl Stadium has never seen a class quite like this. As the Eaton Fire continues burning only yards away, the Rose Bowl premises have served as a base station for almost 4,000 first firefighters and those supporting their work. A bag room has become a control center; another a presentation area. Inside, converted trucks serve as sleeping quarters, a wash, or a health center. Two restaurants serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mail is delivered and sent out. A help center employs six canines to help ease firefighters and National Guard company members. “We’re in the situations company; we’re not in the stadium business, ” Rose Bowl CEO Jens Weiden said. “Right then we’re putting on—maybe not the most iconic—but probably one of the most significant events we’ve ever put on, which is hosting these people so they can go out there and do their job and prevent this fireplace. ” Owned by the city of Pasadena, the Rose Bowl Stadium has always been part of the place’s disaster response programs, though some knew disaster coming so close to home. “Minutes into the flames, they knew it was going to be a large-scale combat, but within minutes I got a call from the lieutenant fire captain and he said, ‘We need your space, ’” Weiden recalled. “And I said, ‘We’re available. ’ ” In Los Angeles, open, accessible areas can be difficult to find. But the Rose Bowl has maintained large swaths of parks and surface-level driving plenty that have allowed it to sponsor a small village ’s value of service this month. The facility also spends$ 2 million to$ 9 million annually on capital projects—touch-ups like gas and water line infrastructure improvements—that have proved critical of late. The first rescuers will stay as long as responsibility demands—the Eaton Fire remains about 90 % contained, though cleanup work will probably continue well past the last kiss of light. But Weiden’s task requires him to keep an eye on the upcoming too. Many events slated for the Rose Bowl Stadium have already been canceled or postponed, though the stadium hopes to return to its original intent as soon as it is fairly do so. January is usually a quiet fortnight, total of planning discussions and enhancement projects; the team is doing their best to keep those on record while hosting a special large-scale activity. The Rose Bowl announced an$ 80 million revamp in December, including improved seating, club storage and video board. Weiden said none of those repairs have been delayed and the money remains secured. Last month, the Pasadena location was selected to number six games in FIFA’s fresh Club World Cup, starting with Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético de Madrid on June 15. Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting around$ 100 for that match. In 2026, LA’s SoFi Stadium did number eight World Cup matches. Two years later, sports did returning to the Rose Bowl during the 2028 Olympics. Assuming all goes according to plan. FIFA has said it is “actively monitoring the situation ” in LA. While the Rose Bowl has not been straight impacted by the fire, finding places for people to stay in the area may be complicated, and it remains to be seen what kind of assets the area you dedicated to hosting the event. The same can be said on a larger scale for the 2028 games. “The strength of our communities and our unity in tough times make this city extraordinary, and when Los Angeles welcomes the world in 2028, our spirit will shine brighter than ever before, ” LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said in a statement. Hosting a major sporting event in the wake of tragedy is unfortunately nothing new. The 1948 Summer Games took place in London four years after the city withstood Nazi bombing raids. Mexico’s 1986 World Cup, meanwhile, came less than nine months after a massive earthquake killed at least 10,000 people and left many more without homes. There are likely difficult conversations ahead, however. LA had already asked for$ 3. 2 billion in federal support to complete related transportation projects ahead of the Opening Ceremony. It’s not hard to imagine that ask being pushed down the priority list now, as fires have caused up to$ 250 billion in damages and economic loss, in addition to unimaginable emotional trauma. Much of what was wiped away can never truly be rebuilt. But LA’s iconic sporting venues, all physically unharmed for now, can help strengthen Angelenos’ sense of community amid disruption. That healing process is already underway on one of sports ’ most revered grounds. “Our goal [going forward ] is to have everything we do have some type of a benefit to those that were impacted, ” Weiden said.