Exclusive | 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.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 c...