Holiday Inn LAX. Could I have found a cheaper room closer to the Rose Bowl? Probably. Paying $177 on 12/31 (saying in Vegas the night of 1/1 and flying home 1/2).
Unfortunately my travel dates are limited....I have to work New Year's Eve but my boss is letting me off at 2:00 here in Des Moines, so the earliest flight I can take is 3:25pm. We won't arrive in LA until 9:18pm. Not only have neither my brother nor I been to LA, but neither have driven in a city of this size. I chose a hotel next to LAX as opposed to driving anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area....at night...in the dark...on New Year's Eve.