While Los Angeles is known for its movies and romance, it should also be known as a sports city. Legendary teams play in historic venues and the energy from the stands is often as great as the action on the field. When visiting Los Angeles, going to a sporting event is more than a tourist activity; it’s the best way to experience the competitive and sporting culture of LA.
If you enjoy professional basketball, the Crypto.com Arena is a must-see. Opened in 1999, it was known as Staples Center for many years before being renamed. Along with the Lakers, the arena is home to the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. It’s also an internationally recognized venue.
For Lakers fans, the building is filled with memories of victories, losses, and the reinvention of the team. The list of legends who have played there includes Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Jeremy Lin. Even on days with no games, the team store is open for fans to buy jerseys, keyrings, and basketballs. \nKobe Bryant jerseys and murals dedicated to him that are scattered across downtown LA are a tribute to the work ethic known as the Mamba mentality.
You can find the Crypto.com Arena at 1111 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. You can check the event schedules and tickets at the arena’s website or the NBA’s website. Tickets for popular Lakers and Clippers games usually sell out before the season even starts, so travelers planning on attending a game without tickets may have to settle for resale tickets from large ticket-selling websites like Ticketmaster or StubHub.
SoFi Stadium is located in Inglewood and has been described as Los Angeles at its most ambitious. It opened in September 2020 and has one of the most extraordinary designs of any stadium. It will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and it will host games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, it is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
SoFi Stadium is one of the largest and most expensive stadiums in the world at a reported cost of $5.5 billion and seating capacity of around 70,000. An NFL game at SoFi Stadium is a perfect introduction to American football: the choreography, noise, power, and spectacle combine into an event that feels much larger than the game itself. The stadium also hosts major concerts and music events, while premium suites are available for visitors seeking a more private viewing experience.
You can do a lot more at SoFi Stadium than just go to a game. Behind-the-scenes tours of the SoFi Stadium last 60 minutes and allow you to see the VIP entrance and suites, the press area, and the player locker rooms. You can even make an on-field player entrance with a simulated crowd cheer. If there is an NFL game the next day, fans can participate on Rally Day tours, which are much more exciting.
The address is 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood, CA. The easiest way to get there is to drive. If you start in the downtown area, you can take the Metro J Line to Harbor Transitway/Manchester and then switch to bus 115. Event tickets and tour reservations can be made directly from the stadium's website. They have tours suppposed to be $39 for adult weekend tours and $49 for adult tours on Rally Days.
While you are there, check out the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum next to the University of Southern California. It is the site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games and is a National Historic Landmark. It is one of the most important sporting structures in Los Angeles.
Dodger Stadium is the best in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the most iconic teams in the city and their four World Series titles have given the city a sense of pride. Finished in 1962, The stadium is the biggest in Major League Baseball at 56,000 and at that time, it was the only stadium in major league baseball to have a capacity of over 50,000. Watching a game here captures the pure magic of baseball: the nervousness of every pitch, the atmosphere of the jam-packed stadium, and the long summer evenings.
Part of the charm of the stadium is how unique it is. Its one of a kind look has attracted large audiences to multiple social media posts. In addition to baseball games, it has hosted concerts, musicals, and motorsports. There are also guided tours for fans who do not get to see a game. The 90 minute standard tour lets you see the ballpark and the rich history of the Dodgers. The 45 minute pregame tour gives fans the opportunity to see batting practice or warm-ups.
Dodger Stadium is located at 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles. You can take Bus 4 from the downtown area to the stadium. You can purchase tickets for games and activities through the stadium's official website. The standard tour costs $25 and the pregame tour costs $40.
SoFi’s futuristic design, the Dodgers’ old-fashioned ballpark, and the Lakers’ historic court all provide different interpretations of the American sporting experience in Los Angeles. Instead of using these venues as just background attractions, plan an event around a game, become part of the stadium’s atmosphere, and experience the city in all of its glory.
