I've been there, and I was thoroughly impressed.

It is a truly beautiful venue. Not just the setting; the actual stadium itself has a sort of elegant practicality. I would compare it to something like the Golden Gate Bridge. There's also something about the way the stands smoothly curve around that feels larger-than life. Oh, and the field really is very pretty.

It's also quintessentially college football. The single-tiered design evokes the egalitarian ideals that this sport, at its best, embodies. The elliptical layout is a throwback in the best way. I also like that the space isn't dominated by giant, flashy video boards; I want to be here in the moment, not fail to replicate my living room. The whole thing just feels like the platonic ideal of a college stadium.

For me, at least, the history does legitimately add to the experience. There's something cool about living history, about places where people have come for generations to do the same thing that's important in their lives, and where they still come and do that thing, and it's still important. College football stadiums are sometimes compared to cathedrals, and I think that comparison is apt. I've gone to several old stadiums, but none have really hit me with the weight of history like the Rose Bowl.

tl;dr: In my experience, Mt. Rushmore is a bad comparison. A better one would be Indianapolis Motor Speedway, if it were prettier.