#1 Sports Event
The event is the largest two-week combined ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier professional tennis tournament in the world. Held each year in March, it features the top men and women professional players in competition, and offers more than $10 million in prize money. Located in Indian Wells near Palm Springs, it is considered a premiere destination event. In 2016, more than 438,000 people attended, and more than 350 media from all over the world covered it. Next: March 2018
#2 Sports Event
The race course for the Skechers-sponsored event runs from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier, a scenic route that makes the marathon a destination for traveling athletes. About 25,000 runners participate in the race, which just wrapped up its 2017 edition. Next: March 2018
#3 Sports Event
The open-wheel car race takes place each spring in Long Beach, with the 43rd incarnation set for this year. About 180,000 spectators come out to watch the racing event, which covers nearly two miles over closed streets in the city. The whopping draw over three days makes this one of the area’s biggest paid-spectator events. The Toyota-sponsored race is also televised. Next: April 7-9, 2017
#4 Sports Event
Minnesota’s Golden Gophers upset the Washington State Cougars in the latest edition of the December event. It was the 39th annual version of the post-season college football game, which has drawn as many as 65,416 attendees. The game is televised each year from San Diego. The city also hosts the smaller Poinsettia Bowl game. Next: December 2017
#5 Sports Event
The Tour de France-style cycling road race known as the Amgen Tour of California is created and presented by AEG. Top pros in men’s and women’s categories from around the world compete along a demanding course along hundreds of miles of California highways, byways, and coastlines each spring. This year marks the 12th edition of the race. Next: May 11-20, 2017
#6 Sports Event
Organizers bill the sporting event as the biggest surf competition and lifestyle festival in the world. About a half-million people come out to witness the the world’s top surfers compete at the event each summer over the span of nine days. As well as surfing, events include skateboarding and BMX competitions, plus other fan event programs. Next: July 29-August 6, 2017
#7 Sports Event
The old Los Angeles Open, which was known for the last decade as the Northern Trust Open, has a new name for this year’s event: New sponsor Hyundai Motors (manufacturer of the Genesis sedan), will rename the event Genesis Open. Tiger Woods Foundation is the host organization that will run the event. By any name, the event is among the longest-running tournaments on the P.G.A. Tour, dating back to 1926. Next: February 13-19, 2018
#8 Sports Event
The marathon begins in Downtown Long Beach, and runners head toward the historic Queen Mary and then through Shoreline Village. Participants continue adjacent to the scenic Pacific Ocean on the flat beach path. In addition to the main event, related events also include a half marathon, a run/walk, a bike tour, a kids’ fun run, a health and fitness expo, and a finish-line festival. Jet Blue is the title sponsor. Next: October 8, 2017
#9 Sports Event
This year’s awards, presented by Capital One, will return to the Microsoft Theater. The honors bring together celebrities from sports and entertainment to fete the year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, moments, and performances. The show supports ESPN’s ongoing commitment to the V Foundation for Cancer Research, launched by ESPN with the late basketball coach Jim Valvano in 1993. Next: July 12, 2017
#10 Sports Event
Big names in sports and entertainment come together for the gala, which has raised $25 million for the Medical Genetics Institute, and the new Sports Spectacular Diabetes & Obesity Wellness & Research Center. The long-running event, which brings in about $1 million each go, dates back to 1986. Next: April 3, 2017
#11 Sports Event
The P.G.A. Tour tournament in the Southern California desert area of La Quinta is now known as the CareerBuilder Challenge; it was previously sponsored by Humana, and before that, it went by the name Bob Hope Classic. Desert Classic Charities, the charitable entity that organizes the event in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, has contributed more than $57 million to a variety of Coachella Valley charitable organizations and Eisenhower Medical Center. Next: January 15-21, 2018
#12 Sports Event (new to the list)
Established in three global cities—Los Angeles, Paris, and Hong Kong—the Longines Masters Series is one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world. Created by EEM and inspired by the Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the series developed fast, with the Longines Masters of Hong Kong in 2013 and the Longines Masters of Los Angeles in 2014. In 2015, the intercontinental trilogy became the Longines Masters. These events are broadcast in more than 120 countries and reach up to 550 million homes. Next: Fall 2017
