| CITY OVERVIEW
Stay in Los Angeles
|
The City of Angels is an enigma for sports and travel lovers. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world because of Disneyland and other huge theme parks, its movie stars and studios, and its beaches and opulent suburbs. However, it is also very difficult for sport fans to get around this sprawling polluted mass of highways and roads, and the city does not currently host a NFL franchise. In traveling the large distances from one attraction to another, it is actually hard to tell where you actually are – the sense of placenessness in this city is mind-boggling. This is accentuated when trying to get around by public transit. However, there are some gems to be found in LA that are worth checking out. Santa Monica is as close to a ‘normal’ place to base yourself that you may get in LA. It is actually a walkable place that has a popular beach, a shopping mall to get all your sports, Gap and Old Navy gear before hopping back on the plane, and the world famous Santa Monica entertainment pier. It is also a great place to start your walk to the eye-popping Venice Beach, stocked full of musclemen and women, implants, skaters, palm readers, tourist gear, greasy food and just about everything that is fake about the good old US of A. Other guide books will fill you in with how to get to some of the more renowned attractions like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Rodeo Drive etc but there are less costly places worth visiting that enables you to get a better feel for LA. Malibu Beach (home to many of Hollywood’s rich and famous and containing some of LA’s most extravagant residential beachside architecture); Melrose Street (it is the closest thing to a New York style shopping and dining experience you’ll get); Pasadena (with its restored main street of shops and cafes and home to the famous Rose Bowl parade on New Years Day); Long Beach (home to LA’s boating and fishing fraternity) and – surprise, surprise – the Downtown area, which is finally finding its feet once again after years of neglect. Actually, if you can find it, it may be worth taking the relatively new Red, Blue or Green train lines – just for the novelty of it. |
| GETTING THERE
Fly to Los Angeles Within USA
|
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX to most) is a gargantuan airport that connects with all US cities and many other world cities. One tip when alighting from here if you can afford it is to stay at a nearby airport hotel, which is probably cheaper than most other hotel locations, and use it, with the aid of a rental car from one of the many nearby surrounding car rental places, as your base whilst in LA. This means that you are close to the airport when you are ready to go home or on to elsewhere, thereby avoiding the inevitable all-day traffic and public transit snarls that can frustrate any timetable you may be thinking of sticking too. If you are arriving by Amtrak and Greyhound stay near these terminals as well. The beautifully restored art deco Union Station in downtown LA at North Alameda Street and East Cesar E Chavez Avenue is an accessible way to arrive. Union Station also connects to the Gateway Transit Plaza, which provides MTA bus transit service to many parts of the LA area, as well as the Metrolink rail network. The Greyhound terminal is also located here. |
| MLB
LOS ANGELES DODGERS |
The
LA
Dodgers are one of the many teams in the MLB with an extensive history. The LA
Dodgers go way back to 1884 where they were the Brooklyn Atlantics. They
stayed in Brooklyn until 1957, under the many imaginative names of the
Grays, the Bridegrooms, the Grooms, the Superbas (whatever that is!), then
the famous Dodgers between 1911 and 1957, and finally on to Los Angeles
– to the eternal sadness of many Brooklynites in New York. Including the
Brooklyn days, the Dodgers have won 6 World Series, 20 Pennants and made
23 playoff appearances. The Dodgers last World Series win was in 1988
under one of the most famous managers of the Majors – Tommy Lasorda, who
managed the Dodgers from 1976 to 1996, winning them 2 World Series. |
| MLB
ANAHEIM ANGELS |
Previously
known as the California Angels and then the Los Angeles Angels, the Anaheim
Angels first season was 1961. The Angels finished the 1961 season with a 70-91
record - a .435 winning percentage that still stands as the best of any
expansion team in major league history. The Angels had had limited
success since then, only making the playoffs 3 times in their history,
until they came from nowhere to get on an amazing winning roll from
mid-year to win the 2002 World Series. For some, 2002 was even made more
famous for the rise of the 'Rally Monkey', which became the symbol of the
run to World Series glory. |
| NBA
LOS ANGELES LAKERS |
The LA Lakers are the second most successful team behind the Celtics in the NBA and one of the most globally recognisable sporting teams in the USA. The Lakers have won 13 titles since their inception in Minnesota in 1948. The Lakers moved to LA in 1960 and have won 8 titles there. They were considered near unbeatable when they had their two superstars, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant on the court in harmony and injury free. These two were largely the reason why the Lakers had one three straight titles from 2000 to 2002 until their chance at a fourth was surprisingly cut short by San Antonio in the Western Conference final in 2003 and by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Final in 2004. This type of success has always been expected by the Lakers. From the George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers teams of the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Kareem Abdul Jabar era of the 1970’s and 1980’s to the "Showtime" era of the Earvin "Magic" Johnson teams in Los Angeles during the late 1980s, one thing has been consistent about the Lakers: winning. |
| NBA
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS |
From the LA sublime to the LA ridiculous, the LA Clippers have become one of the poorer teams in the NBA. The Clippers franchise first started out as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 before moving to San Diego in 1978 and becoming the Clippers (in reference to San Diego’s penchant for boating). The Clippers moved to Los Angeles in 1984. If there has been one constant in the Clippers history it is mediocrity. Two second-place division finishes in the mid-1970s is as close as it has come to the top. In their first 25 seasons the Clippers played at or above .500 only six times. |
| NHL
LOS ANGELES KINGS Ticket information through NHL
|
Renowned more for the record money they paid Wayne Gretzky to leave Canada, the LA Kings started life in the NHL in less auspicious times in 1967. The Kings have consistently failed to deliver the Stanley Cup, even with Gretzky in the team between 1988 and 1996. However, this period was also their most successful, as they made the playoffs most of these years, culminating in their first Stanley Cup finals appearance in 1992-93. The Kings have struggled ever since Gretzky left to go to the New York Rangers. |
| NHL
ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS |
The Disneyland supported Mighty Ducks of Anaheim started life in 1993-94 and had been living up to their comical appearance in the NHL until they started making the playoffs in 1997 and repeated the dose again in 1999 and 2003. The seriously contended in 2003, when they won the Western Conference title and made the Stanley Cup final, where they were ultimately beaten by the New Jersey Devils 4-3. |
| WNBA
LOS ANGELES SPARKS |
The LA Sparks began in 1997 and finally won the first title not to be won by Houston in 2001. The Sparks have been highly popular, especially because the Sparks are the home of the most famous US Basketball player of her generation – Lisa Leslie. |
| MSL
LOS ANGELES GALAXY |
The LA Galaxy are one of the original teams of the MSL and also one of the most successul. They were finalists in 2001, won the MSL Cup in 2002 and made the playoffs in 2003. |
| THE STAPLES CENTER |
The Staples Center is the downtown home for indoor sports in Los Angeles and hosts the NBA’s Clippers and Lakers, the WNBA Sparks and the NHL’s Kings. It is located at 11 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. Opened in 1999, the Centre has a capacity of 20,000 for basketball and 18,500 for ice hockey. It replaced the famous Great Western Forum in Inglewood next to Hollywood Park Race Course. Although a shortish walk from the Downtown area, most of the popular Los Angeles tourist accommodation is located in other areas, such as in Santa Monica, around LAX Airport, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and around Disneyland in Anaheim. As the Staples Centre is located near Downtown, however, there are several good bus and rail transit options for getting there. The MTA Blue Line provides direct rail access to the Centre. |
| DODGER STADIUM |
Dodger Stadium hosts the Dodgers and is located south of the Downtown area at 1000 Elysian Avenue Los Angeles. Opened in 1962, Dodger Stadium has a capacity of 56,000. The stadium is actually located on a hill that looks over downtown LA, called Chevez Ravine. For those with a Howard Hughes complex, the Stadium is renowned as being the cleanest baseball stadium in the League. By public transit, from 7th & Broadway in LA downtown, take the MTA bus line 1 (to Hollywood Boulevard); 2 or 3 (to Sunset); or 4 (to Santa Monica) to the intersection of Sunset and Innes, which is adjacent to Dodger Stadium. From Union Station (Gateway Transit Centre) take bus 4 (to Santa Monica) and get off at Sunset and Innes. |
| ARROWHEAD POND |
The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim hosts the Mighty Ducks and is located in the ‘Disneyland’ section of Los Angeles in south-west Los Angeles in Orange County next to Edison Field. Although
many of the larger hotels in Anaheim may provide Disneyland style shuttle
services to the Arrowhead Pond, there is also a public transit service
from Downtown Los Angeles. A Metrolink commuter rail service from Union
Station in Los Angeles goes to Anaheim Station. The station is located
within walking distance of the Arena in the parking lot at Edison
International Field. |
| EDISON INTERNATIONAL FIELD |
Edison
International Field
hosts the Anaheim Angels and is located adjacent to Arrowhead Pond in
Orange County and has a capacity of 45,000 people. The ballpark is one of
the oldest currently in existence – opened in 1966 – although a major
renovation in1979 changed it to a fully rounded stadium. The main feature
of the Field is Outfield Extravaganza area. It resembles the California
coastline and comes to life with a 90-foot-high geyser, fireworks and
pyrotechnics to celebrate great plays on the field. |
| HOME DEPOT CENTER |
The Home
Depot Center is the home of the LA Galaxy MLS team, which
formerly played at the Rose Bowl. The soccer stadium, with a capacity of
27,000 is part of one huge athletics and training complex and caters to
tennis, track and field, cycling, volleyball, baseball, softball,
basketball and other sports. Designated as an 'Official U.S. Olympic
Training Site', the Home Depot Center now claims to be the nation’s most
complete training facility for Olympic, amateur and professional athletes.
The Center is located at 18400 Avalon Boulevard Carson right next to University of California Dominguez Hills, some 25km south of downtown Los Angeles on the way to Long Beach. From downtown take the Blue Metro Line south to Artesia Station and then take Bus Route 130 from the Station that goes directly past the Center on Victoria. |
| THE ROSE BOWL |
The Rose Bowl once hosted the Galaxy but it might be worth a trip to Pasadena just to go to this huge stadium. In fact, it is one of the most famous stadiums in the US, which can cater to over 100,000 spectators and has hosted the World Cup Soccer Final. Opened in 1922, the stadium is more commonly used for college football matches, including the famous Rose Bowl. From Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, catch the MTA 401 bus going to Altadena and get off at the intersection of Allen and Walnut. From here, catch the MTA 177 bus going to Glendale and get off in Pasadena at Seco and Lincoln, which is at the Rose Bowl. |
| TENNIS
Late July - Early August ATP Tennis Mercedes Benz Cup at Los Angeles Tennis Centre, UCLA Campus, Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles. Ticket and Event information from www.atptennis.com |
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is located on Westwood Boulevard, just north of Westwood Village in west/central LA. UCLA is a major transit point for many services from downtown LA. Routes 2, 21, 302, 305, 561 and 576 from various points across Los Angeles all access the UCLA transit centre. From Union Station and the Gateway Transit Centre, catch the MTA Railway Red Line to Wilshire/Vermont Station. From there catch the MTA Route 720 Santa Monica bus to the corner of Wilshire Boulevard/Westwood Boulevard. From there catch the Culver City Bus Line Route No 6 to the UCLA transit centre. The Santa Monica Big Blue Bus routes 1, 2, 3, 8, 12 and C6 also access the UCLA transit centre. The Tennis Centre is a short walk from the Transit Centre. |
| TENNIS
Early August - WTA JP Morgan Chase Open, Manhattan Country Club, 1330 Park View Avenue, Manhattan Beach, California Ticket and Event information from www.wtatour.com |
The Manhattan Country Club is located to the south of LAX airport, some 25 km south-west of downtown LA. The best access to the Country Club is the MTA Bus 232 from the LAX transit centre - get off at Sepulveda and Rosecrans and walk east along Rosecrans and turn south down Village Drive to Park View Avenue. To get to the LAX transit centre from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, take the MTA Bus 42. |
| TENNIS
Early November - WTA Tour Championships, Staples Center Ticket and Event information though WTA Tour Championship Site |
See Staples Center above |
| GOLF
Mid February - US PGA Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club, www.pgatour.com |
Pacific Palisades is located just inland on the Los Angeles coastline towards Malibu Beach, some 5km north-west of Santa Monica. The Riviera Country Club is located just off San Vicente Boulevard (although the Club House is located on the other side of the course). If in Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Route 4 (Carlyle) goes to Brentwood via San Vicente Boulevard and Carlyle Av. The bus turns off at 26th Street/San Vicente, so its best to get off before this stop and walk to the course from here. From South Los Angeles, Beverley Hills and UCLA, an irregular 576 service goes to Pacific Palisades via Sunset Boulevard West. If this is all too difficult, a taxi from nearby Santa Monica may be the best bet. |
| GOLF
Early March – Champions
Tour SBC Senior Classic at Valencia Country Club, Valencia. Ticket and Event information from www.pgatour.com |
Valencia is located about 60km north west of downtown Los Angeles near the city of Santa Clarita. Valencia Country Club is located between Route 5 and Magic Mountain Parkway in Valencia. From the Santa Clarita Metrolink Station, which accesses downtown Los Angeles Union Station, catch the Santa Clarita Valley Area Route 501, which goes along Tourney Road, right through Valencia Country Club. The Metrolink and Route 501 primarily operates during weekdays, with some services on Saturday. |
| GOLF
Early April – LPGA The Office Depot Championship at El Caballero Country Club, Tarzana. Ticket and Event information from www.lpga.com |
Tarzana is located in the San Fernando Valley, some 35km north west of downtown Los Angeles just north of the Santa Monica Mountains. The El Caballero Country Club is located about 1km south of Ventura Boulevard, off Mecca Av. Routes 150 (from Universal City Red Metro Line), 240 (from Universal City Red Metro Line) and 750 (Ventura Boulevard Rapid Transit) travel along Ventura Boulevard. Getting off at the intersection of Mecca Av is the closest you’ll get public transit to the course. A taxi from here might be the best bet. |
| HORSE
RACING
Hollywood Park, 1050 South Prairie Avenue, Inglewood (from late April to late July and early November to late December) Tickets
available at course
|
Inglewood
is located approximately 15 km south west of downtown Los Angeles.
Hollywood Park is located just north of West Century Boulevard at 1050
South Prairie Avenue next to the Great Western Forum. From downtown Los
Angeles, the bus routes are quite convoluted and not recommended. The best
way is to somehow get to the Green Line and get off at Hawthorne Station.
From there you can catch the Metro Bus 212 north up Prairie Avenue and get
off at Hardy Road, which is across from Hollywood Park. |
| HORSE
RACING
Santa
Anita, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia (season from early January 1 to
April 2 and the Christmas period) Tickets available at course |
Santa
Anita is located some 25km to the east of Los Angeles, just beyond Pasadena and
north of the San Bernardino Freeway. Foothill Transit Route No. 184
travels from Arcadia to Duarte past the Santa Anita Racecourse. To get to
Arcadia, catch the Los Angeles MTA Route 79 from the Gateway Transit
Centre to Arcadia. |
| HORSE
RACING
Los Alamitos, 4961 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos (Thoroughbred season: early January to late December and Quarter Horse Season rest of the year Thursday through Sunday). Tickets
available at course |
Los
Alamitos is located some 45km south from downtown Los Angeles, just to the
north-east of Long Beach. The racetrack itself is located to the east of
Los Alamitos on Katella Avenue. Transit access from Los Angeles can be
best achieved by catching the Metrolink from Union Station downtown to the
Anaheim Metrolink/Amtrak station and catching the Orange County Transit
Association Route 50 bus from Orange to Long Beach. The bus goes straight
past Los Alamitos Race Track. However, as most meetings are at night, it
may be best to arrange car or taxi access from where ever you are based. |
| HORSE
RACING
Fairplex Park, Pomona
(season from mid September to late
September) Tickets available at course |
Fairplex
Park at Pomona
is located to the west of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley Region,
some 50 km from downtown Los Angeles. Fairplex Park is located at 1101 W
McKinley Av, Pomona, just north of Route 10. The Metrolink San Bernardino
Line provides access from downtown Los Angeles to Pomona. The lightly used
racecourse is some 4 km away from the Station. Foothill transit provides
bus services from the Station that go to Fairplex but these are infrequent
so a taxi may be the best bet in getting to the racecourse from here. |
| MOTOR
RACING
Late April - Nascar Racing Winston Cup NAPA Auto Parts 500 and the Busch Series Auto Club 300 at California Speedway, 9300 Cherry Ave, Fontana Ticket information through Nascar Early September - Nascar Nextel Cup Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway Early September - Nascar Busch Series California 300 at California Speedway Ticket information through Nascar Late September - Indy Racing League Fontana 400 at California Speedway. Ticket information through Indy Racing League Early November - CART California Grand Prix at California Speedway, Fontana |
California Speedway is located in sprawling east LA in the San Bernardino Valley beyond Pasadena, some 75 km from downtown LA. Although a fair distance away, the track is only a short taxi or bus ride from Fontana railway station on the Metrolink San Bernardino Line. From Fontana Station (in Santa Fe Park) catch Omnitrans Route 21 from the Station that goes past the Speedway. Unlike many other Metrolink services, the San Bernardino line operates on weekends, although services are limited. |
| MOTOR
RACING
Mid April – CART Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach at the Long Beach Road Circuit, Downtown Long Beach near the Long Beach Entertainment and Convention Center (encompassing Pine Ave., Seaside Way, Aquarium Way and Shoreline Dr.) |
Long Beach is a popular tourist destination some 45km south of downtown LA. Thankfully for LA tourists, Long Beach is connected to the new LA Metrorail system, in this case the Metro Blue Line that goes all the way from Long Beach to 7th Street/Metro Centre near the Staples Centre downtown. The best station to get off in Long Beach is the Transit Mall, which is located close the temporary road circuit. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
UCLA Ticket information through UCLA Bears
|
The
University of California has
campuses dotted all over California. Los Angeles is represented by the University
of California Los Angeles (UCLA) which
has teams in most sports, with its main campus located on Westwood
Boulevard, just north of Westwood Village in west/central LA. Pauley
Pavilion is home to basketball, volleyball and gymnastics and is located
on the campus at 555 Westwood Boulevard. To get to the campus, follow the
same directions as listed above for the UCLA Tennis Centre. The football
team, however, uses the humungous Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Another bus route
alternative from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to the Rose Bowl is
to catch the MTA 401 bus going to Altadena and get off at the intersection
of Allen and Walnut or the 487 going to Sierra Madre and get off at the
intersection of San Gabriel and Foothill. From both locations, catch the
MTA 177 bus going to Glendale and get off in Pasadena at Seco and Lincoln,
which is at the Rose Bowl. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
USC |
The
University
of Southern California (USC) is
located across the road from Exposition Park, about 6 km south west of
downtown. USC has teams in most sports. The football team plays in the
nearby LA Coliseum, site of the Summer Olympics Games. With LA currently
having no NFL team, this is your only chance in LA to see this famous
stadium. The LA Coliseum is reached by MTA Metro 40 going to South Bay
Center, which goes straight past the Coliseum – just get off at King and
Hoover. Basketball is played on the campus. From
Union Station downtown, you can take the MTA Railway Red Line to
Westlake/Macarthur Park station. From here you can take MTA Route 200 bus
heading to the LA Coliseum and get off at the corner of Jefferson
Boulevard and Hoover Street. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
PEPPERDINE |
Pepperdine
University has
teams in most sports except football, with a major focus on men’s and
women’s basketball. Pepperdine
has campuses spread throughout Los
Angeles, but the main campus and sporting facilities located in Malibu,
some 15km further along the coast from Santa Monica. Pepperdine's home
men's and women's basketball games and volleyball matches are played at
Firestone Fieldhouse. From Union Station downtown, it takes well over an
hour to get to Malibu on the MTA 434 bus. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
CSU FULLERTON |
California State University Fullerton has teams in many sports, including Men’s and Women’s Basketball. The campus at Fullerton is located North Orange County, some 50 km south of downtown Los Angeles and near attractions like Disneyland. There is a Metrolink Orange County Line and Riverside Line Station located at Fullerton. The campus is located a short walk north of the station on East Wilshire Av. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
CSU NORTHRIDGE |
California State University Northridge has teams in several sports, including Men’s and Women’s Basketball. They play in the smallish Matadome, on campus. The campus is located some 40 km north-east of downtown Los Angeles at Northridge, which is near Mission Hills in the San Fernando Valley. Take the Metrolink Ventura County Line from Union Station to Northridge and walk to the campus (about 1km) or catch the University shuttle bus. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
CSU LONG BEACH |
California State University Long Beach has teams in several sports, including Men’s and Women’s Basketball. The 49’ers home court, The Pyramid – an 18 storey big blue pyramid building, is located on campus in Long Beach at 1250 Bellflower Boulevard. The MTA’s Metro Blue Line Light Rail from downtown Los Angeles goes near to the campus – get off at the Pacific Highway stop and catch the Long Beach Transit 171 bus going to Seal Beach and get off at the corner of State University Drive and Bellflower. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT |
Loyola Marymount University has teams in several sports, including Men’s and Women’s Basketball. Loyola is located between Santa Monica and Venice to the north and LAX Airport to the south in the Marina Del Ray area. From Union Station downtown, you can get to Loyola’s Page Stadium by taking MTA bus 345 going to Figueroa St/Harbour Station. Get off at the corner of Broadway and Manchester and catch the MTA 115 going to Playa Del Ray. This will drop you at 80th Street and Loyola Boulevard, right out the front of the campus. From nearby Santa Monica, you can take the Big Blue Bus Route 3 (to and from the MTA Green Rail Line) and get off at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Hughes Terrace or 83rd Street, which both have entrances to the campus. |
| NCAA
SPORTS
TOURNAMENT OF THE ROSES |
The Tournament of the Roses - Each New Year's Day, the US focuses its attention on Pasadena, home of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Historically, the Rose Bowl game hosts the champions of the NCAA Pac-10 and Big Ten Conferences, but recent changes has resulted in a rotation with other conferences that alternates where top rating bowl games end up playing. The game itself is preceded by one of the most famous street parades in the world, so it may be worth getting early to Pasadena to take in all the pageantry, as the Rose Bowl Game is a contractual sell-out each year with the majority of the tickets distributed by the participating teams and conferences. |
