PASADENA, Calif. – It was announced today that the 2021 College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal scheduled to take place at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena has been relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will take place on January 1, 2021, and will be broadcast by ESPN.

It is not yet determined if the CFP semifinal in Arlington, Texas, will be called the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One. The name is a part of the Master License Agreement and is co-owned by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the City of Pasadena.

While the Pasadena Tournament of Roses is extremely disappointed that this year's game will not take place at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, the decision to move the game is based on the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Southern California along with the inability to host player and coach guests at any game in California.

"We know that the decision was not an easy one to make," said David Eads, Tournament of Roses CEO and Executive Director. "While we remain confident that a game could have been played at the Rose Bowl Stadium, as evident in the other collegiate and professional games taking place in the region, the projection of COVID-19 cases in the region has continued on an upward trend."

"We are very grateful to Rose Bowl officials and the City of Pasadena. They have worked hard to listen to the concerns of the CFP, the teams that might have played there, and their state and government officials," said Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff.

"We are heartbroken for our friends at the Tournament of Roses," said Rick Baker, President/CEO, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. "This year has been tough on most of our sacred traditions and this is just one more example. When friends reach out and ask for your help, you step up. We look forward to working with the Tournament of Roses staff and the College Football Playoff to host a game that will be worthy of the great tradition of 'The Granddaddy of Them All.'"

The Tournament of Roses received word late this week that the State of California would not make a special exception for player guests at the game. Additionally, with significant strain on medical resources throughout Los Angeles County, the Tournament of Roses recognizes that the well-being of the student-athlete needs to come first and that continues to be our top priority.

Since March, all sporting events played in California have been unable to host spectators and participant families. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses made its first appeal for a special exception at the Rose Bowl Game in November and made a second request to the state in December. Both requests were denied.