THERE ARE MANY CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD WHICH CAN LAY CLAIM TO BEING THE GREATEST SPORTS CITY ON EARTH.
LONDON HAS WEMBLEY, THE LONDON STADIUM & QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK, EMIRATES STADIUM, TWICKENHAM, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM AND STAMFORD BRIDGE AMONG MANY SPECTACULAR STADIUMS, AS WELL AS THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB AT WIMBLEDON, LORD'S CRICKET GROUND, THE O2, EARLS COURT, THE YORK HALL AND WEMBLEY ARENA.
LONDON HAS HOSTED 3 OLYMPIC GAMES, THE 1966 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL, THE 1996 AND 2020 UEFA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS, THE 2017 WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE 1991 AND 2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL, THE 1995 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1999, 2019 CRICKET WORLD CUP FINALS, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1992, 2011, 2013 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS AND WILL HOST IT AGAIN IN 2024.
THE LIKES OF MELBOURNE, PARIS, TOKYO, BEIJING, JOHANNESBURG AND MUNICH COULD ALSO CLAIM TO BE A GREAT SPORTS CITY, BUT SIMPLY PUT, NO CITY OTHER THAN LONDON CAN COMPETE WITH LOS ANGELES WHEN IT COMES TO THE GREATEST SPORTS CITIES ON EARTH.
LONDON HAS WEMBLEY, THE LONDON STADIUM & QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK, EMIRATES STADIUM, TWICKENHAM, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM AND STAMFORD BRIDGE AMONG MANY SPECTACULAR STADIUMS, AS WELL AS THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB AT WIMBLEDON, LORD'S CRICKET GROUND, THE O2, EARLS COURT, THE YORK HALL AND WEMBLEY ARENA.
LONDON HAS HOSTED 3 OLYMPIC GAMES, THE 1966 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL, THE 1996 AND 2020 UEFA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS, THE 2017 WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE 1991 AND 2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL, THE 1995 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1999, 2019 CRICKET WORLD CUP FINALS, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1992, 2011, 2013 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS AND WILL HOST IT AGAIN IN 2024.
THE LIKES OF MELBOURNE, PARIS, TOKYO, BEIJING, JOHANNESBURG AND MUNICH COULD ALSO CLAIM TO BE A GREAT SPORTS CITY, BUT SIMPLY PUT, NO CITY OTHER THAN LONDON CAN COMPETE WITH LOS ANGELES WHEN IT COMES TO THE GREATEST SPORTS CITIES ON EARTH.
THIS SUNDAY'S SUPER BOWL LVI WILL BE THE NINTH TO TAKE PLACE IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA, AND IT WAS THE ICONIC LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM WHICH HOSTED THE VERY FIRST AFL-NFL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN JANUARY 1967, WHICH WOULD BECOME KNOWN AS THE SUPER BOWL.
BACK THEN THE HALF-TIME SHOW CONSISTED OF A COUPLE OF MARCHING BANDS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT A SHOW WHICH BEGAN IN LA WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT SPORTS EVENTS.
THE LOS ANGELES AREA HAS STAGED 7 SUPER BOWLS SINCE 1967 INCLUDING 1973, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1987 AND 1993 AT THE LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM, THE ROSE BOWL AND STANFORD STADIUM.
LOS ANGELES ALSO HAS TWO NFL FRANCHISES - THE LA RAMS AND THE LA CHARGERS, WHO BOTH PLAY AT THE SOFI STADIUM, THE HOST OF THE TODAY'S SUPER BOWL LVI.
BACK THEN THE HALF-TIME SHOW CONSISTED OF A COUPLE OF MARCHING BANDS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT A SHOW WHICH BEGAN IN LA WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT SPORTS EVENTS.
THE LOS ANGELES AREA HAS STAGED 7 SUPER BOWLS SINCE 1967 INCLUDING 1973, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1987 AND 1993 AT THE LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM, THE ROSE BOWL AND STANFORD STADIUM.
LOS ANGELES ALSO HAS TWO NFL FRANCHISES - THE LA RAMS AND THE LA CHARGERS, WHO BOTH PLAY AT THE SOFI STADIUM, THE HOST OF THE TODAY'S SUPER BOWL LVI.
THE STADIUM WAS FUNDED BY STAN KROENKE IN PARTNERSHIP STOCKBRIDGE CAPITAL GROUP, SHOWING HIS COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF THE RAMS, AND THE COMMUNITY THEY WERE GOING TO PLAY IN.
THE SOFI STADIUM IS BUILT PARTIALLY UNDER GROUND DUE TO HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OF THE NEARBY LAX AIRPORT, AND IT HAS A SEATED CAPACITY OF 70,240 WHICH CAN BE EXPANDED TO OVER 100,000 FOR MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS THE SUPER BOWL AND THE CEREMONIES OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES, AND MAKING IT THE LARGEST STADIUM BY CAPACITY IN THE NFL.
A FAMOUS FEATURE OF THE STADIUM IS THE VIDEO SCREEN MANUFACTURED BY SAMSUNG, an ovular, double-sided 4K HDR video board, the first of its kind, that is suspended from the roof over the field. Formerly known as "the Oculus" before a name change, the structure weighs 2.2 million pounds and displays 80 million pixels. The Infinity Screen also houses the stadium's 260-speaker audio system, as well as 56 5G wireless antennas.
THE BREATHTAKING SOFI STADIUM WILL HOST SUPER BOWL LVI AND IS SET TO HOST GAMES AT THE
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP (TO BE CONFIRMED) AS WELL AS THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LA 2028 OLYMPIC GAMES
THE SUPER BOWL IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SINGLE DAY SPORTS EVENT, BUT WITHOUT QUESTION THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SPORTS EVENT IS THE OLYMPIC GAMES, AND INCREDIBLY IN 2028 THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES WILL HOST THE GAMES FOR A RECORD-TYING THIRD TIME. LA FIRST HOSTED THE GAMES IN 1932, and then in 1984 they hosted for a second time. the la games are a good barometer to show the growth of the olympics.
IN 1932 1,332 ATHLETES REPRESENTING 37 COUNTRIES TOOK PART, IN 1984 6,829 FROM 140 NATIONS CAME TO LOS ANGELES, AND IN 2028 IT IS ANTICIPATED OVER 10,500 ATHLETES FROM OVER 205 COUNTRIES WILL SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS ON THE WORLD'S GREATEST STAGE IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST SPORTS CITY.
THE LA MEMORIAL COLISEUM, A VENUE FOR MANY SPORTS, WILL HOST THE ATHLETICS EVENTS IN LA 2028, ALONG WITH SELECTED FOOTBALL GAMES AND IS WHERE THE OLYMPIC TORCH WILL BE LIT, THOUGH THE CEREMONIES WILL TAKE PLACE AT SOFI STADIUM IN INGLEWOOD.
IN 1932 1,332 ATHLETES REPRESENTING 37 COUNTRIES TOOK PART, IN 1984 6,829 FROM 140 NATIONS CAME TO LOS ANGELES, AND IN 2028 IT IS ANTICIPATED OVER 10,500 ATHLETES FROM OVER 205 COUNTRIES WILL SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS ON THE WORLD'S GREATEST STAGE IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST SPORTS CITY.
THE LA MEMORIAL COLISEUM, A VENUE FOR MANY SPORTS, WILL HOST THE ATHLETICS EVENTS IN LA 2028, ALONG WITH SELECTED FOOTBALL GAMES AND IS WHERE THE OLYMPIC TORCH WILL BE LIT, THOUGH THE CEREMONIES WILL TAKE PLACE AT SOFI STADIUM IN INGLEWOOD.
ARGUABLY LOS ANGELES MOST ICONIC SPORTS TEAM OTHER THAN THE LA LAKERS IS THE LA DODGERS OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.
THE DODGERS WERE FOUNDED AS THE BROOKLYN DODGERS AND THE CLUB IS FAMOUS FOR THE ICONIC JACKIE ROBINSON, WHO THEY SIGNED IN 1947 AS THE FIRST BLACK PLAYER IN THE MLB. THE DODGERS MOVED TO LOS ANGELES IN 1958 AND HAVE SINCE CONTINUED THE LEGENDARY HISTORY OF THIS IMPORTANT BASEBALL TEAM.
THE DODGERS HAVE WON 6 WORLD SERIES DURING THEIR TIME IN LA AND THE DODGER STADIUM IS ONE OF THE ICONIC STADIA IN THE UNITED STATES. THE STADIUM HAS ADDITIONALLY HOSTED MANY CONCERTS INCLUDING THE ICONIC 3 TENORS CONCERT PRIOR TO THE 1994 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL.
THE DODGERS WERE FOUNDED AS THE BROOKLYN DODGERS AND THE CLUB IS FAMOUS FOR THE ICONIC JACKIE ROBINSON, WHO THEY SIGNED IN 1947 AS THE FIRST BLACK PLAYER IN THE MLB. THE DODGERS MOVED TO LOS ANGELES IN 1958 AND HAVE SINCE CONTINUED THE LEGENDARY HISTORY OF THIS IMPORTANT BASEBALL TEAM.
THE DODGERS HAVE WON 6 WORLD SERIES DURING THEIR TIME IN LA AND THE DODGER STADIUM IS ONE OF THE ICONIC STADIA IN THE UNITED STATES. THE STADIUM HAS ADDITIONALLY HOSTED MANY CONCERTS INCLUDING THE ICONIC 3 TENORS CONCERT PRIOR TO THE 1994 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL.
28 YEARS AGO LOS ANGELES PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE HOSTING OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP, THE FIRST WORLD CUP TO BE PLAYED OUTSIDE EUROPE OR SOUTH AMERICA. USA 94 REMAINS THE BEST ATTENDED FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT IN HISTORY, AND THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP IN 1999 ALSO HOLDS THAT DISTINCTION IN WOMEN'S FOOTBALL.
THE LA AREA HAD TWO VENUES, THE ROSE BOWL AND STANFORD STADIUM, HOSTING A COMBINED 14 GAMES INCLUDING THE WORLD CUP FINAL BETWEEN BRAZIL AND ITALY, THE FIRST TO BE DECIDED BY A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT. THE FINAL WAS ATTENDED BY JUST OVER 94,000 PEOPLE AND THE LOWEST ATTENDANCE DURING THE TOURNAMENT WAS STILL OVER 50,000, MAKING A STUNNING AVERAGE OF 69,174 per match.
THE 1994 FIFA WORLD CUP LED TO THE CREATION OF THE MODERN PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MLS (MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER). THE LEAGUE HAS DEVELOPED MASSIVELY OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS AND NOW MOST CLUBS HAVE A SOCCER SPECIFIC STADIUM, AND THE MLS IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE PREMIER FOOTBALL LEAGUES OUTSIDE OF EUROPE.
LOS ANGELES HAS TWO CLUBS - THE LA GALAXY AND LAFC. THE GALAXY CAME TO WORLDWIDE PROMINENCE WITH THE SIGNING OF DAVID BECKHAM IN 2007.
THE LA AREA HAD TWO VENUES, THE ROSE BOWL AND STANFORD STADIUM, HOSTING A COMBINED 14 GAMES INCLUDING THE WORLD CUP FINAL BETWEEN BRAZIL AND ITALY, THE FIRST TO BE DECIDED BY A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT. THE FINAL WAS ATTENDED BY JUST OVER 94,000 PEOPLE AND THE LOWEST ATTENDANCE DURING THE TOURNAMENT WAS STILL OVER 50,000, MAKING A STUNNING AVERAGE OF 69,174 per match.
THE 1994 FIFA WORLD CUP LED TO THE CREATION OF THE MODERN PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MLS (MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER). THE LEAGUE HAS DEVELOPED MASSIVELY OVER THE LAST 28 YEARS AND NOW MOST CLUBS HAVE A SOCCER SPECIFIC STADIUM, AND THE MLS IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE PREMIER FOOTBALL LEAGUES OUTSIDE OF EUROPE.
LOS ANGELES HAS TWO CLUBS - THE LA GALAXY AND LAFC. THE GALAXY CAME TO WORLDWIDE PROMINENCE WITH THE SIGNING OF DAVID BECKHAM IN 2007.
THE LOS ANGELES AREA IS A MECCA FOR GOLF, HAVING HOSTED MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL FOR MEN AND WOMEN, AND ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING PGA TOUR EVENTS OF ALL, THE LOS ANGELES OPEN (NOW KNOWN AS THE GENESIS INVITATIONAL).
RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB WAS THE SITE OF BEN HOGAN'S COMEBACK AFTER HIS LIFE-THREATENING CAR ACCIDENT, AND WAS KNOWN AS HOGAN'S ALLEY DUE TO HIS SUCCESS IN THE LA OPEN. THE CLUB HOSTED THE US OPEN IN 1948, and the pga championship in 1983 and 1995, and has been the main site for the la open since 1926.
LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB HOSTED THE FIRST EDITION OF THE LA OPEN IN 1926 AND WILL STAGE THE US OPEN IN 2023, THE FIRST MEN'S MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE AREA SINCE 1995. THE CLUB ALSO HOSTED THE 2017 WALKER CUP.
THE LA AREA HAS ALSO BEEN A PRODIGIOUS BREEDING GROUND FOR SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST EVER GOLFERS WITH TIGER WOODS, COLLIN MORIKAWA, ED FIORI, RICKIE FOWLER, HUNTER MAHAN AND GARY MCCORD AMONG OTHERS BEING BORN IN THE AREA.
LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB HOSTED THE FIRST EDITION OF THE LA OPEN IN 1926 AND WILL STAGE THE US OPEN IN 2023, THE FIRST MEN'S MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE AREA SINCE 1995. THE CLUB ALSO HOSTED THE 2017 WALKER CUP.
THE LA AREA HAS ALSO BEEN A PRODIGIOUS BREEDING GROUND FOR SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST EVER GOLFERS WITH TIGER WOODS, COLLIN MORIKAWA, ED FIORI, RICKIE FOWLER, HUNTER MAHAN AND GARY MCCORD AMONG OTHERS BEING BORN IN THE AREA.
PERHAPS THE FLAGSHIP TEAM OF LOS ANGELES SPORTS IS THE LA LAKERS, THE TEAM WERE FOUNDED AS THE MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS IN 1947 BEFORE MOVING TO THE LOS ANGELES AREA IN 1960.
THE 16-TIME NBA CHAMPIONS HAVE HAD SOME OF THE MOST LEGENDARY BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME INCLUDING THE LATE KOBE BRYANT, Shaquille O'Neal AND MAGIC JOHNSON.
THE LAKERS MOVED TO THE CRYPTO.COM ARENA (FORMERLY STAPLES CENTRE) IN 1999, AND THE VENUE IS ALSO HOME TO THE LAKERS RIVAL LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS AND THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE'S LA KINGS.
THE 16-TIME NBA CHAMPIONS HAVE HAD SOME OF THE MOST LEGENDARY BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME INCLUDING THE LATE KOBE BRYANT, Shaquille O'Neal AND MAGIC JOHNSON.
THE LAKERS MOVED TO THE CRYPTO.COM ARENA (FORMERLY STAPLES CENTRE) IN 1999, AND THE VENUE IS ALSO HOME TO THE LAKERS RIVAL LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS AND THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE'S LA KINGS.
LOS ANGELES IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT AREAS FOR COLLEGE SPORT IN THE WHOLE OF THE UNITED STATES WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGLES (UCLA) AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BASED IN THE AREA.
LOS ANGELES IS HOME TO TWO SIGNIFICANT BOWL GAMES - THE LA BOWL AT SOFI STADIUM AND THE WORLD FAMOUS ROSE BOWL GAME PLAYED AT THE ROSE BOWL EVERY NEW YEAR'S DAY.
THE ROSE BOWL HAS A CAPACITY OF 90,888 BUT ITS RECORD ATTENDANCE IS A REMARKABLE 106,869 AND IN 2022 IT CELEBRATES ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY.
LOS ANGELES IS HOME TO TWO SIGNIFICANT BOWL GAMES - THE LA BOWL AT SOFI STADIUM AND THE WORLD FAMOUS ROSE BOWL GAME PLAYED AT THE ROSE BOWL EVERY NEW YEAR'S DAY.
THE ROSE BOWL HAS A CAPACITY OF 90,888 BUT ITS RECORD ATTENDANCE IS A REMARKABLE 106,869 AND IN 2022 IT CELEBRATES ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY.
THE LOS ANGELES AREA ALSO HOSTS INDYCAR WITH THE GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH EACH YEAR
THE CITY HAS TWO NHL FRANCHISES, THE LA KINGS AND THE ANAHEIM DUCKS
