LOS ANGELES – UCLA opens the 2018 football season at home this Saturday, September 1, playing host to the Cincinnati Bearcats at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. PT.
Parking lots for UCLA vs. Cincinnati Gameday presented by UCLA Health will open at 10:00 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. This season, Blockparty, a fan-focused hospitality and entertainment company will offer an expanded menu of customizable tailgating options in two locations, featuring both basic and all-inclusive choices. From bellhop service and tailgate attendants to catering options, tailgate games and event-day service via Blockparty's SMS on-demand service platform FanTextTM, fans can create and customize the tailgate experience that's perfect for their group.
The new and improved Fan Zone in Lot H opens at 11:45 a.m., offering a wide variety of public activities and photo opportunities, including a new inflatable couch and giant inflatable Cornhole. Fans should also be sure to check out the new UCLA/Under Armour Photo Booth at Gate A.
New for 2018, the UCLA Football team will arrive to the Rose Bowl via Arroyo Blvd. where they will depart the bus outside Gate A. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the Bruins as they arrive for a modified Bruin Walk along the west side of Arroyo. Tentative timing is planned for 2.5 hours prior to kick-off, but fans should follow @UCLAGameday on Twitter for the most up to date information, and all their Rose Bowl gameday needs. Rose Bowl gates open at 2:30 p.m., and the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium wearing Powderkeg Blue will receive a UCLA Bucket Hat courtesy of AAA.
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.
New this season, the Rose Bowl, in partnership with concessionaire Levy Restaurants, will introduce new dining offerings including Carmela Ice Cream, Poke Nachos, Border Grill and much more. Fans can also find value-priced concessions in two locations. Value-priced $3 nachos and hot dogs and discounted fountain beverages will be on sale near Gate D and Gate G.
Saturday's Honorary Captain is Avery Anderson, Director of UCLA Track & Field and Cross Country. Anderson is a former UCLA student-athlete who competed in both football and track & field. He was a member of the NCAA runner-up 4x100 relay team his senior season and helped the UCLA track & field team win four Pac-10 Championships. A wide receiver for the Bruin football team from 1991-95, he played in the 1994 Rose Bowl after helping lead the Bruins to the 1993 Pac-10 title. Anderson played wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts from 1996-97. When a back injury ended his career, he decided to return to track & field as a decathlete.
Fans should be in their seats by 3:30 p.m. to witness pregame festivities, including a National Anthem performance by U.S. Army veteran Maurice Alpharicio and a flyover by a B-25 Bomber. Halftime will feature a performance by the United Spirit Association.
Following the game, fans are encouraged to stay to enjoy the annual postgame fireworks show presented by UCLA Health. At the conclusion of fireworks, 10,000 fans will receive a UCLA Football Schedule Poster upon exiting the Rose Bowl.
Tickets for Saturday's game are still available and can be purchased at www.UCLABruins.com/tickets. New this season, as part of UCLA's new, comprehensive military appreciation ticket program, active duty members of the military, veterans and their families can purchase tickets for all regular-season UCLA home sporting events at half price. For football, the 50 percent discount will be offered at two different seat locations and price points. In partnership with GovX, these specially-priced tickets may be purchased in advance online. A limited number of military appreciation tickets are on sale now at www.uclabruins.com/military.
As a reminder, the new and improved UCLA Bruins Mobile App is now available for download on iTunes and Google Play. Collaborating with IMG College and Sidearm Sports in its production, UCLA Athletics is pleased to offer the mobile app to all Bruin fans free of charge. The app, which allows fans to receive live score updates during events and sign up to receive push notifications about breaking news, and more, can be downloaded here. Anyone who already has the app can get redesigned version simply by downloading the update.