Newly disclosed court filings in the legal battle over UCLA football’s potential move from the Rose Bowl to SoFi Stadium suggest discussions between university officials and representatives of the stadium had progressed further than publicly acknowledged, according to records cited in ongoing litigation.
According to a published report, the filings include an August text message from Rams and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment President Kevin Demoff to then-UCLA Vice Chancellor Steve Agostini that read: “good luck tonight, next year at SoFi!”
The message surfaced despite repeated public statements from the university that no final decision had been made regarding the football program’s future home venue.
Additional court filings reportedly show February text exchanges between Demoff and Agostini discussing a tour of SoFi Stadium by UCLA officials “to see how we would make next season work.”
Demoff allegedly responded, “Yes will make whatever work.”
The revelations emerged as part of a lawsuit filed by the Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC), which oversees the Rose Bowl Stadium. The suit seeks to prevent UCLA from leaving before the expiration of its lease agreement, which runs through 2043.
Attorneys for the Rose Bowl argue that outside parties, including the Rams organization and SoFi Stadium operators, improperly interfered with UCLA’s contractual obligations by encouraging or facilitating a premature move.
Under California business law, contracts are generally protected from outside interference, and the RBOC is arguing the communications demonstrate efforts to induce UCLA to breach its lease agreement.
The dispute also places Demoff at the center of another high-profile stadium relocation controversy.
During the Rams’ eventual move from St. Louis to Los Angeles, Demoff publicly downplayed speculation that the franchise planned to relocate to the site that ultimately became SoFi Stadium. The NFL later agreed to a $790 million settlement with St. Louis over the relocation.
Unlike the St. Louis case, the Rose Bowl operators moved to court before any relocation occurred. The litigation could delay or derail any future effort to move UCLA football games from to Inglewood while potentially sparing Rams owner Stan Kroenke and affiliated entities from a larger financial judgment tied to an actual departure.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Lipner heard arguments on a motion by the University of California Regents seeking dismissal of the lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to protect First Amendment activity from meritless litigation.
Although Lipner issued a tentative ruling Monday indicating he was inclined to deny the motion as “untimely and unsupported by sufficient cause,” he ultimately took the matter under submission following Tuesday’s hearing.
In the tentative ruling, Lipner wrote that UCLA “had an ability to raise these issues at the outset of this case” and therefore would not be prejudiced if the court declined to consider the merits of the anti-SLAPP motion at this stage.
The judge also indicated he was inclined to reject most of UCLA’s separate challenge to the lawsuit’s legal claims, though he said one cause of action involving promissory estoppel may require additional support. Lipner postponed a scheduled case management conference until July 21 while he considers the motions further.
The lawsuit, filed Oct. 29 by the Pasadena Center Operating Company and the city of Pasadena, alleges UCLA improperly explored relocating football games to other venues, including SoFi Stadium, despite what plaintiffs describe as a binding lease requiring the Bruins to play at the Rose Bowl through 2044.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
More »
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | THE ARTS | REAL ESTATE | HOME & GARDEN | WELLNESS | SOCIAL SCENE | GETAWAYS | PARENTS & KIDS
𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑹𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔: Classic California Charm in San Marino’s Coveted Mission District
For David Cross, Call (626)  737-8486 Ext. 8
For Advertising, Call (626)  737-8486 Ext. 7
Click for Directory
Pasadena Now has been published daily since April, 2004 and is among the very oldest continuously operated community news websites in the U.S.
Pasadena Now strives to publish a full spectrum of news and information articles in service to the entire community. The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls. Pasadena Now strives to provide factual, unbiased reporting. Our opinion section is open to all.
Copyright © 2026. Pasadena Now | Terms of – Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection
Breaking News Tips: (626) 737-8486 Extension 7
E-mail press release to : [email protected]
Fax press release to : (888) 650-9712
James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | [email protected]
(626) 737-8486 Ext. 7
Candice Merrill, Co-Publisher | [email protected]
(626) 737-8486 Ext. 4
Faith Fernandez, Chief Administrative Officer | [email protected]
(626) 737-8486 Ext. 801
.
Editorial Department
André Coleman, Managing Editor | [email protected]
(626) 737-8486 Ext. 2
David Cross | [email protected]
(626) 737-8486 Ext. 8
Eddie Rivera | [email protected]
(626) 737-8486 Ext. 82
.
Sales and Sales Manager
James Macpherson, Co-Publisher | [email protected]
(626) 737-8486 Ext. 7
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content. Subscribe to our feeds to get the latest headlines, summaries and links back to full articles – formatted for your favorite feed reader and updated throughout the day.

source