Longtime Rose Bowl general manager announces retirement – Pasadena Now

[UPDATED] After 27 years at the Rose Bowl, stadium CEO and general manager Darryl Dunn announced his retirement on Thursday, effective June 30.
Dunn said it was with “mixed emotions” that he tendered his resignation.

“Being part of the Rose Bowl and Pasadena team has been the most incredible opportunity of my career and has shaped my journey in so many ways,” Dunn said.

One of his greatest accomplishments during his tenure was founding the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation in 2010, the nonprofit fundraising arm of 501 c3. The mission of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation is to preserve, protect and enhance the future of Rose Bowl Stadium within the Arroyo Seco by providing private funding to support improvements to the site and surrounding area through educational partnerships and community.

To date, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation has raised over $50 million to support Rose Bowl Stadium.

“Rose Bowl Stadium, Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and Brookside Golf Course are part of my family and I care deeply about them. I’m so proud of our collective accomplishments over the years and how we’ve grown as a team and I think we’ve helped Pasadena tremendously over the years.

Dunn said the Rose Bowl Operating Company board of directors will appoint an ad hoc committee to determine his successor in the near future.

“Until my last day with the RBOC, I will continue to dedicate everything I have to the RBOC, Legacy and City and look forward to creating more memories in the months to come,” Dunn said.

In its twenty-seven years with the organization, Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted four college football national championship games, three semifinal championship games, several annual Rose Bowl games, the Cup Finals 1994 Men’s and Women’s World Championships, Copa America matches and many international football matches, including hosting the national teams of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and the United States, as well as with clubs such as Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The venue has also hosted high-profile concerts, including a 2009 record breaking event U2 360, as well as Beyoncé, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, BTS, the Rolling Stones and many more.

“The success of Rose Bowl Stadium over the past 27 years is largely attributed to Darryl’s leadership and his passion for the Rose Bowl,” said Steve Haderlein, Chairman of the RBOC Board of Directors. “Darryl has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the stadium. One of his top priorities was to ensure that America’s Stadium continued to work for the community with various community events and neighborhood protections surrounding its events. He will be missed but his contributions will not be forgotten.

Dunn also served as the City of Pasadena’s principal representative to the American Golf Corporation, focusing on operations and long-term planning for Brookside Golf Course, a 36-hole public golf course adjacent to the stadium. .

The Rose Bowl Operating Company will immediately initiate a search to identify Darryl’s successor under the direction of an ad hoc committee of the RBOC Board of Directors.