California is positioning itself as a major destination for sports tourism, offering fans a wide range of experiences centered around its 24 professional sports franchises and renowned stadiums. The state’s climate and variety of teams make it possible to plan trips focused on attending games throughout the year.
In Los Angeles County, visitors can watch baseball at Dodger Stadium or Angels Stadium in Anaheim. Basketball enthusiasts have the option to see the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, or Sparks play at Crypto.com Arena or Intuit Dome. Hockey fans can attend Los Angeles Kings games at Crypto.com Arena or Anaheim Ducks games at Honda Center. Football supporters can visit SoFi Stadium for Rams and Chargers games, while soccer followers have several options including L.A. FC and Angel City FC matches at BMO Stadium and LA Galaxy games at Dignity Health Sports Park.
For those seeking alternative experiences, Cosm Los Angeles offers immersive sports viewing with advanced LED screens near SoFi Stadium. Dodger Stadium features an accredited botanical garden where guided tours are available on select Fridays. Elysian Park provides hiking opportunities with views of Chavez Ravine before Dodgers games. In Anaheim, participants in the annual Angels Stadium 5K receive tickets to future Angels games, with proceeds supporting the Angels Baseball Foundation.
San Diego’s professional sports scene includes MLB’s Padres at Petco Park and MLS’s San Diego FC at Snapdragon Stadium. Gallagher Square outside Petco Park hosts events such as pickleball theme nights for fans before Padres games.
The San Francisco Bay Area will host the 2026 Super Bowl and international soccer matches that year. The region is home to teams like the San Francisco Giants (Oracle Park), Golden State Warriors and Valkyries (Chase Center), San Francisco 49ers (Levi’s Stadium), and San Jose Sharks (SAP Center). Unique activities include kayaking in McCovey Cove during Giants games, ice skating outside Chase Center each December with skate rentals supporting charity, and taking ferries directly to Oracle Park from various locations around the bay.
Sacramento currently has two professional teams: NBA’s Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center and MLB’s Athletics playing through 2027 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Fans can bike along the American River Bike Trail to reach Sutter Health Park or explore Old Sacramento Waterfront—a historic district—before attending a game.
These offerings reflect California’s effort to combine sporting events with local attractions and outdoor activities, providing visitors with more than just game-day experiences.
