#1 Sports Event
The City of Los Angeles Marathon, also known as the Asics L.A. Marathon, continues to gain momentum as a destination event and recently underwent a significant revamp that changed the course to a new, tourist-friendly route. The 2013 race sold out, new title sponsor Asics signed on, and new C.E.O. Tracey Russell came on board. Next: March 9, 2014
#2 Sports Event
The BNP Paribas Open, formerly known as the Pacific Life Open, takes place in Indian Wells near Palm Springs. The huge tennis event draws more than 382,000 fans (and is growing every year), making it the most-attended tennis tournament in the world behind the four Grand Slams. Next: March 3-16, 2014
#3 Sports Event
The Toyota-sponsored Grand Prix of Long Beach draws about 175,000 people over three days, making it one of the largest-paid spectator events in Southern California. The 2014 event will mark the 40th anniversary, and the organizers revealed a new logo in honor of the milestone. Next: April 11-13, 2014
#4 Sports Event
The Holiday Bowl will enter a new era in 2014: It starts a six-year partnership with the Big Ten Conference and extends its current relationship with the Pac-12 Conference for six years. The event attracts about 55,000 live fans plus a national TV audience. Next: December 30, 2013
#5 Sports Event (new to the list)
The Amgen Tour of California is the largest cycling event in America. The Tour de France-style cycling road race, created and presented by AEG, covers nearly 750 miles of California roadways, highways, and coastlines. This year, the eighth annual event ran south to north for the first time. Next: May 2014
#6 Sports Event (new to the list)
Long Beach International City Bank Marathon expects to draw approximately 25,000 runners and cyclists for a full marathon, half marathon, and the VW Think Blue Bike Tour and 5K, along with 2,000 children taking part in the Aquarium of the Pacific Kids One-Mile Fun Run the day before. An estimated 50,000 people attend the two-day Health & Fitness Expo, and an additional 50,000 attend the Finish Line Festival. The event has raised and donated more than $4 million to its official charities since 2005. Next: October 13, 2013
#7 Sports Event
Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular, now in its 28th year, brings out big names in sports and entertainment to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza to benefit the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The event brings in more than $1 million each go. Next: May 2014
#8 Sports Event
Humana Challenge is a new name for the P.G.A. Tour tournament in La Quinta formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. The revamped event included several format changes beginning last year, and the event is held in partnership with the Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton Foundation. Since its inception, Desert Classic Charities, the charitable entity that organizes the event, has contributed more than $52 million to the Eisenhower Medical Center and surrounding Coachella Valley nonprofits. Next: January 13-19, 2014
#9 Sports Event
ESPN’s ESPY Awards take over the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in the summer. This year, Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame hosted, and the Capital One-hosted show saw the Miami Heat and LeBron James as its biggest winners. And the athlete star power didn't just appear on the Nokia stage: venues around town hosted pre- and after-parties, plus suites and lounges added to the award show's glittering footprint. Next: July 2014
