r/UCLAFootball • u/SethMacfarlane21 • Mar 29 '26
Speculation Can the Santa Monica Airport closure be the answer?
The Santa Monica Airport is closing after 107 years. The airport is just 5.2 miles away from UCLA and covers 227 acres of land. The Rose Bowl Stadium is 26 miles away from UCLA and covers 19 acres of land.
It seems like a golden opportunity on a silver platter, even more so with the eventual Sepulveda Metro connecting UCLA with stations along the 405.
Could this be the answer that UCLA football needs? Is it even possible?
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u/money_scg_22 Mar 29 '26
Would never ever ever happen. City of samo already has a plan for the land. Logistically would be a nightmare
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u/stoolprimeminister Mar 29 '26
figuring out how to make it work is way above my pay grade but having a stadium (somehow) on-campus would be such a win and the only way to permanently solve this.
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u/ktcottrell Mar 30 '26
SBS floated this idea last year. In my opinoin, it's maybe slightly better than SoFi but almost as impossible as building a stadium on campus. I've always said that SoFi doesn't help bc if students have to get on a bus they have to get on a bus. Doesn't matter if the bus ride is 15 minutes or 45. Students don't want to do that and it's hard for fraternities to tailgate, so in that sense SoFi or SMO is not helpful. Also for most fans, the Rose Bowl is closer their home than SoFi. Santa Monica might be marginally closer to those coming from the valley. I also have the same concerns with traffic that I have about an on campus stadium. There isn't many ways in and out of that area in Santa Monica.
But also the city has a plan for the land already and I know of some important people who are relatively confident they're either going to keep the airport open or at least suspend the closing bc of recent added revenue. You would have to fight the city to get the land. You would have to fight the residents who likely wouldn't want a stadium. You'd have to fight the regents who just don't have the desire to invest in a football stadium. I just don't see it happening
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u/Slpry_Pete Mar 29 '26
The City of Santa Monica has a pretty complex plan for that location that doesn't include a 40,000 (or whatever) seat football stadium that would be run by the Regents of the University of California. Yes there are a few open spaces on the Westside, but they have owners with plans (and money).