Los Angeles Sports & Outdoors Tips by marinarena Top 5 Page for this destination

See Soccer and More in Carson (Greater L.A.)

Home Depot Center

Ok, I say the worst thing upfront - I hate the name of this arena. Home Depot is a major retail giant and so it has to keep up with the modern-day B.S. corporate practice to use the company name into that of an arena. Urgh! This whole idea ruins originality to shreds!! But, oh well!

This is the premier place to see the L.A. Galaxy and other special soccer games in the U.S. The MLS finals were held here in November '04. Besides sport games, there have been concerts here as well. The Dave Matthews Band has performed to tens of thousands packing in capacity crowds. Check website for schedules.

Equipment: A sun visor and a pair of glasses for day events and a jacket for the night.

Oh, and also $10-20 for parking!!

Address: 18400 Avalon Blvd Carson, CA

Theme: Sports Watching

Go to Staples for NBA action and more! Staples Center Review

Ok, so you want to see a fine basketball arena. Here is one, in fantastic downtown L.A.!! The Staples Center is in the heart of the city. Since its development, the surrounding area of the venue has been revitalizing. The once depressingly ugly streets of Pico and Figueroa are now nicer and promising. Of course, with this urban development comes higher rents for residents and store owners. It's a "catch 22" indeed, but in the end, the Staples Center is a positive thing for downtown.

Staples Center is home to the NBA Clippers and Lakers, the WNBA Sparks, NHL Kings plus several concerts by big name artists and other entertainment acts as well.

Here's a warning: Parking is terribly steep at Staples, about $20-$30 near the entrance doors, $ 10+ a block away! There are some lots nearby that are about $8-$10 but further away. A good suggestion is to come early to give time for finding a place to park. Don't be so fashionably late like the locals!

It's very convenient to leave the car at home or at a lot near a Metro Stop (i.e. at Union Station or Hollywood & Highland) and take the Metro Blue Line, stopping at the Pico/Chick Hearn Station. Staples is about 5 blocks away (about a steady 15 min walk) from the Red Line downtown stop at 7th and Metro/Julian Dixon. Several buses, such as the Dash buses C and F, stop close to the arena. Many Metro buses will run late, after the sports games usually commence.

Address: 1111 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90015

Directions: South Park, downtown L.A.

Theme: Sports Watching

Website: http://staplescenter.com

Think, See Dodger Blue! Dodger Stadium Review

Your Los Angeles or So Cal experience lacks if you haven't been to a Dodger game. You don't even have to like baseball to attend. Come for the historical part of it, come to see fun L.A. people having a good time, come because it is one of a few ball parks that doesn't have a
ca-ca corporate name, come to see how nicely it has been remodeled, and if not any of these, come to eat the legendary Dodger dog in its original settings.

The home of the L.A Dodgers (the "blue" crew) first opened in 1962 and has since been a popular summertime hang out in Los Angeles. Situated on the Chavez Ravine, it is a fine piece of property overlooking downtown and other surrounding parts of the city. In the past year, the park has been remodeled to reveal itself vividly. Throughout the park is particularly clean and well-maintained.

True blue baseball fans can appreciate this park particularly because it is a "good pitcher's par, thus favoring a competitive game. When I first went, I could barely call myself a baseball fan but I did feel something special here just looking around. People were animated as they cheered for the team and to each other, and were just comfortable as they unwinded. Overall, there was a warm feeling and there continues to be so. 2006 has another highly attended year with the team drawing about 45,000 for most nights.

For public transit to arrive here, the park is near Sunset/Innis. Use Metro Bus #2, which is off Pershing Square downtown. Expect an uphill walk though, so you may want to consider a taxi, especially for night games.

Equipment: if you are along the sides of the field in the field sections, you may want to consider bring a glove to catch a potential fly ball.

Address: 1000 Elsyian Park

Directions: overlooking downtown LA, Echo Park area; from the 110 fwy, exit Alvarado and head north; from 5 fwy, exit Stadium Way and follow signs;

Theme: Sports Watching

Website: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com