Rose Bowl Game Tickets Sell Out in an Hour

PASADENA, CA -- Tickets for the Rose Bowl Game sold out in less than an hour Tuesday despite the $150 plus price tag for a single ticket.

The intense demand is no surprise as, "the matchup is expected to be an exciting one between Penn State and USC," Karen Linhart, the Rose Bowl Game's media director, told City News Service.

Both teams will be playing in the Rose Bowl Game for the first time since 2009, when the Trojans defeated the Nittany Lions, 38-24.

USC (9-3) has won eight consecutive games after a 1-3 start. Penn State (11-2) has won nine consecutive games after a 2-2 start.

The game will be played on Jan. 2 because of Tournament of Roses' "Never on Sunday" policy, which began with the Rose Parade, then extended to the football game.

Officials decided to move the 1893 Rose Parade to Monday, Jan. 2 to avoid frightening horses tethered outside of local churches, which would interfere with Sunday services, according to the tournament's website.

In 1922, the first time New Year's Day fell on a Sunday when a Rose Bowl Game would have been played, it was moved to Monday.

This will be the 14th time the Rose Bowl Game to be played on a Jan. 2 and first since 2012.

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Sparrowman980 (talk) via Wikimedia Commons