World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Los Angeles  - Sport
Sport

With several top professional teams, Los Angeles offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy spectator sports. Baseball is America's favourite summer pastime, and Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Avenue (tel: (323) 224 1448), just north of downtown, is the place to see the Los Angeles Dodgers in action. The season suns April-October; tickets cost US$6-11 (tel: (213) 224 1448). Staples Center, 1111 South Figueroa Street (tel: (213) 742 7100; website: www.staplescenterla.com), is a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment arena and the new home of the LA Lakers (tel: (310) 419 3131) and LA Clippers (tel: (213) 745 0500) basketball teams, as well as the LA Kings (tel: (888) 556 4752) ice hockey team. Tickets cost US$15-50. The winter sports season runs October-April.

LA has not had a resident National Football League team since 1995. But Angelenos are passionate about supporting their collegiate teams, which are top performers. UCLA football games are played at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena (tel: (626) 577 3101), famous venue for the New Year's Day parade and college football tournament. The Los Angeles Coliseum, 3911 South Figueroa Avenue (tel: (213) 747 7111), is the home venue for UCLA's football rival, USC.

Fitness centres: Fitness is huge in LA. Fitness centres that allow day visitors include: 24-Hour Fitness (tel: (310) 652 7440), Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills locations; Gold's Gym (tel: (310) 392 6004), Venice Beach and Hollywood locations; and Bally Total Fitness (tel: (800) 258 2006), downtown and Hollywood locations.

Golf: There are numerous public golf courses in the Los Angeles area. A list can be obtained from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Green fees start from US$20, although upmarket courses, such as Malibu, will be much higher.

Horseracing: Santa Anita Park, 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia (tel: (818) 574 7223; website: www.santaanita.com), is LA's historic thoroughbred race course.

Tennis: The City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department (tel: (213) 473 7055) maintains over 100 public tennis courts around the metro area. Many of these are free, on a first-come, first-served basis.



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