LA's professional sports teams have had their ups and downs. Despite LA's size, they do not boast an American football team! In the past, both the Rams and the Raiders called Los Angeles home, but in 1995 both teams relocated. Attempts to secure another NFL franchise have thus far failed.
Luckily, there are a variety of other sports to enjoy. The Clippers and the Lakers are both popular basketball teams. The baseball team is called the Dodgers and have their own stadium. The hockey team, the Kings, also play in this sunny city. Women's sports are also prominent with the popular Women's National Basketball League team, the Sparks. If soccer or "football" is your sport, the Galaxy and David Beckham call LA home.
Collegiate sports are also prominently represented by UCLA and USC with championship caliber teams in football, basketball, soccer, and many other sports. The annual Rose Bowl is held here to crown the best of college football.
Arenas or stadiums:
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Capacity: 92,500. USC Trojans football.
- Dodger Stadium. Capacity: 56,000. Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Staples Center. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Los Angeles Avengers (AFL).
- Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. University of Southern California.
- Pauley Pavilion. UCLA.
The summer Olympic Games have also been held in Los Angeles in 1932 and 1984. The 1932 event was only the tenth Olympic games ever and prompted the growing city to re-name 10th Street as Olympic Boulevard. The 1984 event also had lasting events in inspiring the Los Angeles Marathon. Other big events include Super Bowls I and VII and the 1994 World Cup.
Outside of professional sports, the climate and geography of Los Angles pair to make a sun worshipper's paradise. It was on Los Angeles's sandy beaches that beach volleyball was first played and in its shimmering surf that adventurous souls first took on windsurfing. On less competitive days the beaches are overrun with surfers, swimmers and simply sun bathers. On dry ground, particularly Venice (also known as Dogtown), the sports of skateboarding and roller skating were popularized. Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park are also nationally known thoroughbred racing facilities.
Update 26/03/2008
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