As the cost of the Rose Bowl renovation “continues to rise,” some Pasadena City Council members said that they “are concerned about a widening financing gap that has grown from $12 million to $20 million since construction started earlier this year,” according to Brenda Gazzar in a front-page piece for the PASADENA STAR-NEWS. Rose Bowl officials said that costs “have risen largely because bids have come in at higher amounts than budgeted.” The Rose Bowl Operating Co. board yesterday “accepted a bid from Costa Mesa-based Clark Construction for nearly $38.9 million to complete the rest of the press box work.” Although Clark made the lowest bid, its price “came in higher than the $34.7 million that stadium officials estimated.” Rose Bowl CEO & GM Darryl Dunn said that stadium officials “recognize the need to address the existing funding gap.” Dunn also insisted that officials “have no intention of tapping the city's General Fund.” City Council member Terry Tornek said, “I think they've got a competent team in place. They know they're going to have to live within their means.” Tornek added that the project “will have to be successful in its fundraising efforts or the scope of the job will have to be reduced.” Gazzar notes stadium officials “plan to plug at least a portion of the funding gap with $4 million in projected revenue from the 2014 Bowl Championship Series title game along with money raised by the private philanthropic group Legacy Connections.” That campaign has “raised $3 million out of its $25 million goal so far.” Dunn said that stadium officials “also identified more than $11 million in improvements that could be delayed -- such as widening four tunnels and building 11 concession stands” (PASADENA STAR-NEWS, 12/15). City Council member Victor Gordo, who is also Rose Bowl Operating Co. President, said that construction delays “are just one option under consideration,” and that he “expected that private donations and increased revenues will help fill the gap.” In L.A., Adolfo Flores noted venue officials also “hope to raise revenue by having the Rose Bowl host an NFL team for a few years, although no NFL team has committed to moving” (LATIMES.com, 12/14).
