Rose Bowl history: Gate-crashers, near fisticuffs and crowds, the move to the Arroyo Seco 100 years ago
The stadium was initially built as a horseshoe — designed similar to the open-ended Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn. Several hundred fans on that Jan. 1 decided against buying tickets and took advantage of the temporary gate in the open end. These cheapskates rushed the gate, knocked it over and faded into the crowd, taking over vacant seats.