#1 Sports Event
With a relatively new sightseeing-friendly course known as “stadium to the sea,” the Asics-sponsored race goes from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier. This year, the marathon was expected to draw more than 25,000 runners from around the world as it becomes ever more of a destination race. And a dramatic nighttime light show illuminated the race route earlier in the big weekend. Next year, the event will move up a month to February to correspond with the Olympic team trials for men’s and women’s marathons, which will be hosted by the L.A. Marathon L.L.C. Next: February 13, 2016
#2 Sports Event
The event is the most-attended tennis tournament in the world after the four grand slams, with attendance figures topping out around 430,000. The event, formerly known as the Pacific Life Open, takes place each year in Indian Wells near Palm Springs with a 16,100-seat main stadium. Next: March 2016
#3 Sports Event
Toyota sponsors the race, which covers nearly two miles on a circuit on the streets of downtown Long Beach. It attracts more than 170,000 spectators over three days, making it one of the largest paid spectator events in Southern California. In 2014, the event celebrated its 40th anniversary. Next: April 17-19, 2015
#4 Sports Event
The buzzy holiday season college football game drew nearly 56,000 in 2014. The game is televised each year from its home in San Diego, which also hosts the smaller Pointsettia Bowl. Next: December 2015
#5 Sports Event
Amgen sponsors the annual Tour de France-style road race, created and presented by AEG. Billed as the largest cycling event in the country, the event traces a course through a broad stretch of California roadways, highways, and coastlines each year in the spring. Next: May 10-17, 2015
#6 Sports Event
The event dates back in various forms to 1959. IMG has owned it since 2000 and bills it as the largest surfing competition in the world. With title sponsorship from Vans, the open draws a crowd of about 500,000 people to Huntington Beach annually. Next: July 27-August 2, 2015
#7 Sports Event (new to the list)
One of the longest-running tournaments on the P.G.A. Tour, the event began as the Los Angeles Open in 1926 and was staged at various courses throughout the city before permanently settling at the Riviera Country Club in 1973. This year’s event marked its 89th, with a list of past champions that includes 25 World Golf Hall of Famers. Next: February 2016
#8 Sports Event
Known as one of the more scenic races in the state, the marathon’s path starts in downtown Long Beach and runs past the Queen Mary and along the Pacific Ocean. There’s also a half marathon, a run/walk, a bike tour, a health and fitness expo, and a finish line festival. Next: October 11, 2015
#9 Sports Event
Last year’s Sports Spectacular gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza benefitted the new Sports Spectacular Health & Wellness Center at Cedars-Sinai. The event brings together big names in sports and entertainment and raises more than $1 million each time—bringing in $24 million since the event’s inception. Next: May 2015
#10 Sports Event
The big P.G.A. Tour tournament in La Quinta was formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. Since its inception, Desert Classic Charities, the charitable entity that organizes the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, has contributed more than $56 million to a range of Coachella Valley charitable organizations and the Eisenhower Medical Center. Next: January 18-24, 2016
#11 Sports Event
Each summer, the sports channel hosts its award show at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live. Drake hosted last year’s event and Capital One was the presenting sponsor. The honors also attract satellite pre- and after-parties around the city, plus suites and lounges for athletes, celebrities, and media. Next: July 15, 2015
