1. City of Los Angeles Marathon
After a move to May in 2009, the 2010 Honda L.A. Marathon, presented by K-Swiss, moved back up to March 21. The course began at Dodger Stadium and continued west through the city to Santa Monica and Ocean Boulevard. The marathon drew a capacity 25,000 registrants—the first time in the race’s 25-year history that it sold out and a 45 percent increase over 2009.
2. The Indian Wells Tournament
The BNP Paribas Open, formerly known as the Pacific Life Open, is the fifth most-attended tennis tournament outside the Grand Slams. The March 8 to 21 event again took place at the 16,000-seat Indian Wells Tennis Garden, attracting more than 300,000.
3. Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
The 36th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach took place April 16 to 18. In addition to six racing series through downtown Long Beach, the weekend’s festival of entertainment included free Friday and Saturday night Tecate Light concerts, the Lifestyle Expo, and action sports demonstrations.
4. Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Last year, the bowl pitted the 20th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers against the Arizona Wildcats in the 32nd annual event, on December 30 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Each year, this football game grows in attendance and is broadcast by the ESPN networks.
5. Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular
The 25th annual fund-raiser for the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute took place May 23 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, drawing about 1,800 guests. In its history, the event, which honors sports legends, has raised more than $19 million.
6. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
This weeklong multicourse golf tournament took place January 18 to 24 at PGA West, Bermuda Dunes Country Club, and La Quinta’s SilverRock Resort. Queen Latifah was the headlining performer at the Classic Ball.
7. Pacific Life Pac-10 Men’s Basketball Tournament
The 2010 tournament took to the Staples Center March 10 to 13, when the 10 schools in the conference competed for a guaranteed spot in the N.C.A.A. tournament. The Pac-10 tournament draws about 80,000 for three days of games.
