Senate Bill 96, authored by state Sen. Anthony Portantino and referred to as the Historic Venue Restoration and Resiliency Act, was celebrated in October at the Rose Bowl’s Court of Champions after having formally been signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Portantino, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger were joined by Rose Bowl CEO Jens Weiden and Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation President Dedan Brozino, all of whom championed the bill which will provide a portion of sales and use taxes generated at the Rose Bowl Stadium on major event days to be reinvested back into the site for restoration, infrastructure, safety, security and maintenance purposes. The bill met zero “no” votes during its consideration throughout the state Senate, Assembly, and several review committees.
“Senate Bill 96 is both an affirmation of the positive impact that historic sports and entertainment venues have on their local economies, and a testament to the hard work of Sen. Portantino in moving this bill through with the support of his colleagues,” Gordo said. “For more than a year, I have been in communication with Gov. Newsom, Sen. Portantino and others to discuss the significance of supporting our state’s iconic venues and the need to ensure a safe and secure Rose Bowl Stadium for generations to come. Those discussions ultimately led to Sen. Portantino’s proposal of SB 96. As the mayor of our great city, I am proud that the city of Pasadena has once again led the way and that SB 96 will allow state historic venues to reinvest in their infrastructure and continue to bring people and communities together.”
Portantino added, “California is the proud home to many large historic entertainment and sports venues such as the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, which I am proud to represent. The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and the Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley are two others. These venues have been critical to California’s culture and economy for over a century. In order to keep them thriving we need to invest in them so they can continue to do what they do best — entertain and enlighten us. I appreciate the governor’s support for the performing arts and the healthy communities it creates.”
“The Rose Bowl Stadium is extremely grateful to Gov. Newsom for signing SB 96 into law and to Sen. Portantino for his sponsorship and strong stewardship of this critical legislation,” said Jens Weiden, CEO and general manager of the Rose Bowl Stadium.
A “historic venue,” as defined in SB 96, is a venue in the state that meets specific seating capacity criteria. This includes having a structure built before 1940, being officially designated by the U.S. National Park Service or the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark, or being located at a site that has been continuously used for live, ticketed events for more than 50 years. With the governor’s signature, the bill will have a five-year period before its sunset or potential extension.
“This is huge,” said Barger, the county supervisor. “The governor signing SB 96 into law clearly shows that we are ready to invest in keeping our vibrant historic venues refreshed and ready to serve anyone who attends a show, watches a game, or enjoys a live performance in our county. Undeniably, time and use take their toll on our historic venues. We must be intentional about keeping them well-maintained, secure, and safe for all. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Locally, SB 96 received support from Gordo, Congressman Adam Schiff, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, Los Angeles Galaxy, the city of Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Heritage, the Pasadena Center Operating Company, and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.
“The Rose Bowl Stadium and the other qualifying venues for SB 96 have become tremendous symbols of togetherness and community over the past century,” said Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation President Dedan Brozino. “The Legacy Foundation is so grateful to everyone involved for continuing to memorialize the importance of America’s Stadium as a multi-generational venue that is deserving of continued preservation, protection and enhancement as we continue our second century.”
First published in the Nov. 23 issue of the San Marino Tribune
