University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA to Open 2017 Football Season Sunday
August 31, 2017 | Football
LOS ANGELES – UCLA opens the 2017 football season at home this Sunday, September 3, playing host to SEC power Texas A&M at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT.
Parking lots for UCLA vs. Texas A&M Gameday presented by Coca-Cola will open at 10:30 a.m. Fans are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and pre-purchase parking online here for a $5 discount off on-site pricing.
The Rose Bowl offers one of the best tailgating experiences in college football, with a variety of options for pre-game celebrations. The Wendy's College Tailgate Tour makes its debut at the Rose Bowl's Fan Zone on September 3. The interactive, fan-focused pre-game experience features food, music, games and special guest appearances at 12 highly anticipated college football games this season, beginning this weekend in Pasadena.
The Fan Zone opens at 12:15 p.m. and the UCLA football team will make its way through the Fan Zone to the stadium for the traditional Bruin Walk at approximately 2:00 p.m.
Three "cooling stations" will be available outside the Rose Bowl for fans to cool off from 12:30 p.m. until the sun sets. The air conditioned buses will be located south of Gate B, on N. Arroyo Blvd., just north of the Fan Zone and in Lot D outside of Gate D.
Rose Bowl gates open at 3:00 p.m. A limited number of fans wearing Bruin Blue will receive a Kenny Easley Retired Number Collector's Coin courtesy of AAA. This coin will be the first in a series of 10, two of which will be given out each season for the next five seasons.
Fans are encouraged to enter the Rose Bowl early. As a reminder, enhanced screening procedures, including the use of electronic security equipment at all gates, have been implemented at UCLA Football games. The Clear Bag Policy limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the Rose Bowl. The policy is designed to provide more consistent screening and to expedite fan entry.
Sunday's Honorary Captain is former NFL defensive back and UCLA legend Kermit Alexander. Fans should be in their seats by 4:00 p.m. to witness pregame festivities, including a National Anthem performance by Conjunction Entertainment gospel recording artist Keith Williams, Jr. and a flyover by three F/A-18s based out of NAS North Island in Coronado. The flight crew includes alumni of both UCLA and Texas A&M.
During the second quarter of the game, UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero will be recognized as the recipient of the 2017 John L. Toner Award. Presented annually by the National Football Foundation, the Toner Award recognizes an athletics director who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football. Guerrero is the first-ever sitting athletics director from the West Coast to claim the honor in the award's 20-year history.
At halftime, UCLA will hold a special on-field ceremony to honor Kenny Easley for his recent induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During the ceremony attended by Guerrero and Hall of Fame coach Terry Donahue, fans will have the chance to hear from Easley, who became the sixth NFL Bruin to be inducted.
Following the game, fans are encouraged to stay to enjoy the annual postgame fireworks show presented by Coca-Cola.
As a reminder, fans in attendance on Sunday will be encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross' Hurricane Harvey relief efforts via in-venue video board messages and public address announcements. Those who show proof of their donation at one of three customer service centers inside the Rose Bowl will receive two complimentary tickets to the UCLA vs. Hawai'i football game on September 9.
Tickets for Sunday's game are still available and can be purchased at www.uclabruins.com/tickets.
