The Rose Bowl Stadium will unveil the California High School Football Hall of Fame to the public for the first time when the college football season kicks off in September.
The new Hall of Fame, established through the work of the nonprofit Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, will honor the coaches, players, and big moments that shaped high school football history throughout the state.
Visitors can check it out starting Sept. 1 as part of the stadium’s public tours and on UCLA game days. A private ribbon cutting and opening ceremony will be held Aug. 26.
With a storied history of hosting marquee high school football matchups, Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation President Dedan Brozino called the stadium the most appropriate home for its Hall of Fame.
“After much anticipation, planning and thoughtfulness by a team of people, we are excited to open another great space at America’s Stadium for the enjoyment of our visitors,” Brozino said.
The Hall of Fame’s establishment was made possible through partnership with the California Interscholastic Federation, the National Football Foundation, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Stadium.
The organizations formed a selection committee who last year chose the inaugural class of inductees, 100 players and 13 coaches, who will have a formal ceremony in spring 2024. Inductees will include all-time greats and NFL Hall-of-Famers like John Elway, Tom Brady, Tony Gonzalez, and Jackie Robinson.
“The CIF is honored to be part of the California High School Football Hall of Fame,”CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti said. “We thank the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation for their extraordinary efforts in bringing this project to fruition and look forward to the ribbon cutting ceremony at the iconic Rose Bowl.”
The public opening will coincide with another collaboration with the Pro Football Hall of Fame that will allow the stadium to showcase historic memorabilia from Rose Bowl football games throughout the venue.
More than 60 future NFL Hall-of-Famers have graced the Rose Bowl since it first hosted the league’s championship game in 1977, starting a two-decade stretch which saw the stadium host the Super Bowl every few years, both crowning and ending dynasties.
The display will also include photos of players’ bronzed busts — which the Pro Football Hall of Fame sculpts for each inductee – for each HOFer who has also been inducted into the California High School Football Hall of Fame.
“When scanning the names of California High School Football Hall of Fame inductees, it quickly becomes obvious this is a national-caliber ‘who’s who’ list of players, many who also went on to make significant contributions in the college game, the pros and – for a truly impressive number – all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said. “We join in celebrating these outstanding achievers.”
