Opinion: The Best (And Worst) Los Angeles Sporting Events to Attend

Los Angeles is undoubtedly one of the greatest cities in the world. World-class dining options, beaches, mountains, and the woods are all located within 30 minutes of each other, and who can forget the weather? But one of the things that makes LA so special for me is the sports teams. In a market as big as Los Angeles, owners are consistently putting the revenue they make from ticket sales right back into the product on and off the field. But the games are costly for many. Prices can be more than what some spend to go see a Broadway musical or a play in London. In other words, many people can’t just wake up and decide to play a game based on their income. It’s expensive. But in this article, we’ll look at just what sporting events are really worth what they’re asking you to pay and if those memories are, in fact, worth the money.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Of all the events to go see in LA County right now, it’s hard to debate if there's one better than going to pay a visit to the Boys in Blue up in Chavez Ravine. Since signing Japanese megastar Shohei Ohtani in December of 2023 and winning their first full-season World Series championship last fall, Dodgers fever is at an all-time high. And it’s not just what you’ll see on the field, with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and the rest of their four hundred million dollar payroll. It’s the palm trees and beautiful view of the San Gabriel Mountains and the DTLA skyline over the top of the centerfield plaza. Regardless of if you’re a baseball superfan like myself or if you find the game slow and boring, it’s pretty difficult to have a bad time at Dodger Stadium.

That is, of course, when you don’t look at the price and other factors. Parking costs forty dollars, though that can be shaved down to 35 if you buy in advance. It’s also a hassle to get in and out of the stadium. Let’s assume that you’re not going to the game yourself; maybe you’re taking your partner and your two kids or are going with some buddies. The average ticket price for one person right now at a Dodger game is about 175 dollars. I’m not talking about nosebleeds, but you’re not near the dugout either. Oh, and these prices skyrocket exponentially during the postseason. Tickets can become almost 4X as expensive during October. Let’s also assume that you intend to have dinner and a drink at the game. After all, hot dogs and beers are an essential part of going to the ballpark. A Dodger dog right now costs 12.99, and a 16-oz can of beer is 15.99. Let’s multiply that by four for four people, and you’re around another $110. If we add up all the costs, you’re pretty much looking at a thousand dollars to take your family/friends to the game. To put that into perspective, the average Angeleno makes about 65,000 dollars a year. So you’re looking at almost a week’s worth of pay for what’s likely going to be a 2-2.5 hour long game. But hey, if you get to see the greatest baseball talent who’s ever lived (yeah, I said it), maybe it’s worth a pretty penny.

Los Angeles Lakers

How about the Lakers, though? 17 championships is pretty tough to beat. Impossible, if you’re talking about sports teams in Los Angeles. And Staples Center, er, Crypto Arena is an iconic stadium where all-time greats like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and numerous others have donned the purple and gold. Today, if you go see a game, there are two more stars: LeBron James and Luka Dončić, both of whom are arguably top ten players in the NBA right now, carry the show. But let’s not forget about the others, like Austin Reaves, one of the most exciting young players in the league. Rui Hachimura is a fan favorite, and who can forget about Bronny/LeBron James Jr.? There’s no doubt seeing the Lakers (when they’re back in season) is a one-of-a-kind experience.

But how much does that one-of-a-kind experience cost? In comparison to their Major League friends a few miles up the hills, the tickets are more expensive. Why? Part of it’s a capacity problem. Basketball arenas simply have fewer seats than baseball arenas. The other reason, most likely, is because baseball has a 162-game season, while the NBA plays half that. Due to these reasons, the “average” ticket prices fall into about the $300 range. And I get it. Everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, wants to see LeBron James play at least once in their lifetimes. But if you’re taking your family or a smaller group of friends, you’re not looking at a cheap night. Parking and concessions are notably cheaper than those at Dodger Stadium, but the ticket prices more than make up for that, in a bad way. Still, come on. It’s the Lakers. Like the Dodgers, it’s something every Angeleno should see at least once in their lifetime.

Los Angeles Rams

Ah, the Rams. Once the golden treasure of Los Angeles, then St. Louis, and now back to Hollywood. And they’re a pretty darn good show as well. I mean, look at the offense. Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, newly added Davante Adams, Kyren Williams, and more. They’re electric and are a Super Bowl contender as it stands right now. They’ve got an exciting coach in Sean McVay and a GM that never sleeps in Les Snead. And SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is one of the most expensive sporting arenas in the world, let alone the continental United States. In terms of your pricing, it’s going to be pretty similar to the other two arenas/teams I’ve talked about. An incredible 70,000 people can fit in SoFi Stadium, but if you’re hoping to see the Rams in action, you’ve only got seventeen (regular season) games. The average ticket price is about $230, and with the drive, parking, concessions, and other trivial costs, you’re probably staring at upwards of a grand in credit card charges. But you’re going to get an atmosphere that can’t be rivaled by almost any other team on this list. After all, Americans love football more than any other sport, and the fervor that’ll be inside of the stadium on every third down is an unmatched energy.

Los Angeles Chargers

Once San Diego’s crown jewel, the Chargers now find themselves firmly beneath the Rams on the LA football totem pole. Sure, they won eleven games last year and made the playoffs before Justin Herbert imploded in that game against CJ Stroud and the Texans, but Dean Spanos and the Chargers have a long way to go to earn the adoration of the Los Angeles community. The Chargers, who share SoFi Stadium with the Rams, still garner an impressive attendance. However, this is often from opposing fanbases. The AFC West has the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, and fans of both teams travel extremely well. But the Chargers are still a football team in Los Angeles, and there are benefits there that can’t be denied. With Jim Harbaugh at the helm, it’s a pretty good bet that the Chargers will only continue to get better as the years pass. The ownership team spends money. And of course, there’s still a lot of love from those 120 miles down the I-5 that support the Chargers from home every Sunday. Regarding costs to go to the games, seeing the Chargers in action is slightly cheaper than the Rams, though you’re probably still looking at around 150 dollars a person. Every other factor is the same as the Rams. For those diehard Los Angeles football fans, the ones who support both teams, it’s pretty cool to see a home game almost every weekend. 

Los Angeles Angels

Oh, Angels. You guys had it all. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on the same team, and you couldn’t even muster a single playoff appearance. Now, Trout’s hurt, you’ve got a resentful Anthony Rendon wasting away on the injured list, and Shohei living his best life at Chavez Ravine. Sure, there are some interesting young players in Anaheim like Zach Neto and Logan O’Hoppe and likely All-Star Taylor Ward situated in left field (before he’s inevitably dealt in July), but the Angels competing for a Wild Card spot this year seems far-fetched. The owner, Arte Moreno, is far more focused on his wallet than the on-field product, and unless the Dodgers or Yankees or some other interesting franchise is in Orange County for a series, more seats than not are empty. But if you’re looking for BOAB (baseball on a budget), the Angels are the team for you. You can find seats for under twenty dollars on some days, and sitting behind a dugout is only slightly more expensive than the average Dodgers ticket. The food, also, is pretty darn good. They’ve got plentiful options and a multitude of cuisines to choose from. The vegetarian and gluten-free options aren’t that disappointing. In all honesty, however, I’d advise you to skip seeing the Angels, unless you want to see your hard-earned money fund another one of Moreno’s ludicrous real estate investments.

Los Angeles Kings

Now THIS is getting back on the right track! Going to see the Kings is a great time. They’ve got a good team, and even though they’ve lost to the Edmonton Oilers four, yes, FOUR consecutive years in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they’re still a really good regular season team. Plus, hockey is objectively awesome to watch. The Kings have won 2 Stanley Cups in the last fifteen years and have retired a good deal of jerseys up in the rafters. Additionally, it’s much cheaper than the other games around (Dodgers, Lakers, Rams, etc.). With a get-in price of only eighty dollars, seeing the Kings in action doesn’t put too much pressure on the purse strings. Because they share the Crypto Arena with the Lakers, the same food, service, and atmosphere elements carry over from one game to the next. The fan support is terrific, as the Anaheim Ducks don’t steal away many viewers with their rebuilding tendencies. Seeing the Kings is affordable and fun for the entire family, and hey, you may even see a fight on the ice break out.

Los Angeles Clippers

Lastly, the good ol' Clippers. They could win thirty consecutive NBA championships, and fans of the Lakers would still be two-fold those of the Clippers. But alas, the Clippers have started to separate away from their older brother and build a legacy of their own. The two billion dollar Intuit Dome in Inglewood drew massive crowds this year, particularly for the “Wall,” a section of the stadium that’s blocked off to Clippers fans, and Clippers fans only. They’ve got a jersey for every high school in the state of California, including our very own Geffen Academy. There are outdoor basketball courts for the fans to play on before, during, and after the games. And they’ve been competitive the last fifteen years or so, too. From the Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan “Lob City” era to this current brand of Clippers basketball with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden at the forefront, the Clippers took the Denver Nuggets to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Tickets on the wall are only thirty-five dollars, but elsewhere, they’re more expensive, closer to two hundred dollars. But if you can get to Inglewood, the Intuit Dome and the Clippers are pretty awesome to see. (Or so I’ve been told).

RANKINGS

As you can see, sports in Los Angeles aren’t cheap. At all. And you’re going to have to break out the big bills. But which events are worth the money, and which ones aren’t? Of course, you should formulate your own opinions from my article and any other research you decide to do. But if you want it, here’s my list of what’s worth it and what’s not.

WORTH THE MONEY, 100%:

Kings

WORTH THE MONEY IF YOU’VE GOT CASH LYING AROUND:

Kings

Dodgers

Lakers

Rams

Clippers

NOT WORTH THE MONEY:

Chargers

Angels

WORTH THE MONEY IF YOU’RE A FAN:

Kings

Dodgers

Lakers

Rams

Chargers

Clippers

Angels

Or all seven teams, in other words. 

So, what is the best sporting event to go to in Los Angeles, factoring in experience, price, atmosphere, team quality, and most fun? Well, as it turns out, the Kings are the Kings of Los Angeles sports.