History of LA Sporting Events

Los Angeles has always been a haven for sports fans. For more than a century, Angelenos have been witnessing great sports moments in their own backyard. Some events lasted only a few seasons while others have been around for over one-hundred years.


 Date

 Event
2000  
March 5
15th City of Los Angeles Marathon run
April 6-8
Davis Cup held at the Forum, U.S. beat Czech Republic
April 9
Avengers play first Arena Football game, beat Oklahoma 54-48 at STAPLES Center
May UCLA Men’s Volleyball wins National Championship title 3 to 0 over Ohio State
June Championship boxing returns to LA, Shane Mosley defeats Oscar de la Hoya in welterweight title bout at the Staples Center
June 19
Lakers win NBA title 4 games to 2 over Indiana Pacers
December UCLA Men’s Water Polo Win’s National Championship title 10 to 9 over Stanford
2001  
May UCLA Women’s Water Polo wins National Championship title 5 to 4 over Stanford
June 15
Lakers win 2nd Consecutive NBA title 4 games to 1 
over Philadelphia 76ers
September 1
Sparks win WNBA title 2 games to 0 over the Charlotte Sting
October 27
Galaxy win US Open Championship by defeating the New England Revolution 2-1in overtime at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, CA.
December 10
Sports Illustrated Night of Champions honors Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson as co-Sportsmen of the Year and Jennifer Capriati as Sportswoman of the year.
2002  
January 3
Miami Hurricanes earn the National Championship title by defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 34-14 at the Rose Bowl.
January 6-14 U.S. Figure Skating Championships held at the Staples Center
January Michelle Kwan defeats Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes to win 6 th National title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship at the Staples Center
February NHL All-Star game held at the Staples Center
March First Pac 10 Men’s Conference Basketball Tournament held at the Staples Center since 1990
June Lakers win 3 rd consecutive NBA title 4 games to 0 over New Jersey Nets
July Andrea Agassi defeats Jan-Michael Gambrill for the Mercedes-Benz Cup championship held at UCLA’s Los Angeles Tennis Center
August Sparks win 2 nd consecutive WNBA title 69 to 66 over New York Liberty
September WWE Unforgiven held at Staples Center
September Oscar de la Hoya defeats Fernando Vargas in “Battle of LA” for WBA junior middleweight crown
October Angels win Game 7 over San Francisco Giants 4 to 1 for first-ever World Series title
October Galaxy defeats New England in overtime to win MLS championship
November Kim Clijsters defeats Serena Williams 7-5, 6-3 at the Home Depot WTA Championship, presented by Porche, held for the first time at the Staples Center
December UCLA men’s soccer wins National Championship title 1 to 0 over Stanford
December USC Women’s Volleyball wins National Champion title 3 to 1 over Stanford
2003  
March Pac 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament held at the Staples Center
April 3 UCLA names Ben Howland the new basketball coach, the first time a former national coach of the year has been hired for the position
April – June Anaheim Mighty Ducks make the NHL playoffs for the first time in four years and advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time ever
May UCLA Women’s Water Polo wins National Championship title 4 to 3 over Stanford
June 1 The Home Depot Center opens in Carson with a sellout crowd of 10,094 for the Home Depot Track & Field Invitational
June 21 First heavyweight title fight held in LA in 45 years at the Staples Center, Lennox Lewis defeats Vitali Klitschko
August 14-18 X Games indoor competition held at the Staples Center
October 12 FIFA Women’s World Cup final held at the Home Depot Center, Germany defeats Sweden 2 to 1 in overtime
November WTA Tour Championships held at the Staples Center
December USC Men’s Water Polo wins National Championship title 9 to 7 over Stanford
December USC Football defeats Michigan 28 to 14 to win the AP National Championships and become co-National Champions with LSU
2004  
January 1 USC Football defeats Michigan 28 to 14 at the Rose Bowl and finishes #1 in the AP rankings for its first National title in 25 years, Matt Leinart awarded the Heisman Trophy
February 15 NBA All-Star Game held at the Staples Center, Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal named MVP
March Pac 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament held at the Staples Center
April – June UCLA women’s teams win four NCAA National Championships: golf, gymnastics, softball, track & field
May USC Women’s Water Polo wins National Championship title 10 to 8 over LMU
May 13 Lakers reach NBA Finals for the fourth time in five years
May 16 WWE Judgment Day held at the Staples Center
August X Games indoor competition held at the Staples Center
October 2 Dodgers defeat Giants to win their first division title in 9 years
October 2 Angels capture the American League Western Division title
November 10-15 WTA Tour Championships held at the Staples Center
December 4 USC Football defeats UCLA 29 to 24 to finish the regular season 12-0 and ranked #1 in BCS standings
December UCLA Men’s Water Polo wins National Championship title 3 to 2 over Stanford
2005  
January 4 USC Football defeats Oklahoma in Orange bowl 55 to 10 in BCS title game for second straight national championship
March 5 20th City of Los Angeles Marathon Run
March 10-12 Pac 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament held at the Staples Center
March UCLA Women’s Water Polo wins National Championship title 3 to 2 over Stanford
April 3 WrestleMania 21 held at the Staples Center
April 10 Tiger Woods wins the Masters for the 4 th time
May 7 Pepperdine’s Men’s Volleyball wins National Championship title 3 to 2 over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion
May 24 UCLA Men’s Tennis wins National Championship title over #1 Baylor
June 24-26 Justin Gatlin wins the gold in the sprints, taking the 100m and 200m at the 2005 USA Track & Field National Championships at the Home Depot Center
August X Games indoor competition held at the Staples Center
October 10 Angels defeat Yankees in the Division Series 3 games to 2 to advance to A.L. Championship Series
November 8 Angels pitcher Bartolo Colon wins the Cy Young award
November 8-13 WTA Tour of Championships held at the Staples Center
November 13 Galaxy wins the MLS Cup 1 to 0 over the New England Revolution in extra time
December USC Men’s Water Polo wins National Championship title 3 to 2 over Stanford
December 10 USC Football’s Reggie Bush awarded the Heisman Trophy
2006  
January 4 Texas defeats USC 41 to 38 to claim the National Champion title at the Rose Bowl
March 8-11 Pac 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament held at the Staples Center
May 23 Pepperdine’s Men’s Tennis wins first ever National Championship title over Georgia

 

1992  
April 16
Clippers clinch NBA play-off berth
1993  
January 31
Super Bowl held at the Rose Bowl
May 29
Kings reach the Stanley Cup for the first time
1994  
June 22
USA national men's soccer team defeats Colombia 2-1 in the XV FIFA World Cup game held at the Rose Bowl
1995  
Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission founded by Mayor Richard J. Riordan
April 3
UCLA wins first NCAA men's basketball title in 20 years
April
John R. Wooden Award presented to UCLA's Ed O'Bannon
1996  
April 13
L.A. Glaxy play first MLS game, beat New York 2-1 at the Rose Bowl
1997  
June 21
L.A. Sparks play first WNBA game at the Forum
1998  
June
USC Baseball defeats ASU to win College World Series
July 20-26
U.S. Senior Open held at Riviera Country Club
1999  
March 20, & 22
NCAA Women's Basketball West Regionals held at the Sports Arena
July 10
U.S. Women's National Soccer team wins the FIFA Women's World Cup 5-4 in a shoot out over China, in front of 90,185 at the Rose Bowl
October 17
STAPLES Center opens with Bruce Springsteen concert

 

1980  
May 16
Lakers win NBA title led by rookie Earvin "Magic" Johnson
July 8
MLB All-Star game held at Dodger Stadium, NL wins 4-2
1981  
February 10
NHL All-Star game played at the Forum
October 28
Dodgers win World Series over Yankees
December 5
USC's Marcus Allen wins the school's fourth Heisman Trophy
December
USC wins its first women's NCAA title, in volleyball
1982  
1982
Oakland Raiders move to Los Angeles
June 8
Lakers win NBA championship over Philadelphia
June
UCLA wins its first NCAA women's titles, in softball and track & field
1983  
January 24
Super Bowl held at the Rose Bowl, Washington beats Miami 27-17
March 6
L.A. Express opens play in USFL
1984  
April
USC wins women's NCAA basketball title, led by Cheryl Miller
January 22
Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII over Washington Redskins, 38-9
April 5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sets all-time NBA scoring record
May 15
Clippers move to Los Angeles from San Diego, begin play in the L.A. Sports Arena
July 28
XXIII Olympic games are held in Los Angeles, Mary Lou Retton scores a perfect ten to win the gymnastics all-around, Carl Lewis wins four gold medals
November 10
First Breeder's Cup held at Hollywood Park
1985  
June 9
Lakers beat the Celtics to win the NBA title
1986  
March 19
First L.A. Marathon run, with 10,787 participants
1987  
January 26
Super Bowl held at the Rose Bowl, Giants beat the Broncos
June 14
Lakers win NBA title 4 games to 2 over Boston
1988  
June 22
Lakers repeat NBA title with seventh game win over DetroitV
August 9
Wayne Gretzky traded to L.A. Kings from Edmonton
October 15
Dodgers win the World Series over the A's, beginning in Game 1 with Kirk Gibson's 9th inning home run
October
Kirk Gibson wins NL MVP award and Orel Hershiser wins NL Cy Young award
1989  
October 15
Wayne Gretzky breaks all time scoring record with 1, 852 goals

 

1970  
June
USC wins consecutive College World Series’ (70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
1972  
January 19
NBA All-Star game held at the Forum, Jerry West is named MVP
May 7
Lakers defeat Knicks to claim first NBA title in L.A.
December 2
Anthony Davis scores 6 touchdowns in USC’s win over Notre Dame
1973  
January 1
USC wins Rose Bowl and national title
January 13
Superbowl held at the Coliseum, Dolphins beat Redskins
1974  
October
Dodger Steve Garvey wins NL MVP award
November 30
Trojans score 7 second half touchdowns to beat Notre Dame
1975  
January 1
USC beats Ohio State 18-17 in Rose Bowl
1977  
January 18
First Super Bowl held at the Rose Bowl, Oakland beats Minnesota
April
First John R. Wooden Award presented, recipient is Marques Johnson of UCLA
1978  
March 25
UCLA Women’s Basketball is led by Ann Meyers to win AIAW title
October 20
Los Angeles is awarded the XXIII Olympic Games by the IOC
1979  
January 1
USC shares national title with Alabama, going 12-1
December 3
USC’s Charlie White wins the Heisman Trophy

 

1960  
October 24, 1960
Lakers first home game in L.A., loser 111-100 to New York
November 15, 1960
Laker Elgin Baylor scores a NBA record 71 points against the New York Knicks
1962  
April 10
Dodger Stadium opens with Dodgers playing the Reds
October
Dodger Don Drysdale wins NL Cy Young Award
1963  
January 1
USC wins Rose Bowl 42-37 over Wisconsin
October 6
Dodgers sweep Yankees in World Series
October
Dodger Sandy Koufax wins NL Cy Young Award
1964  
March 21
UCLA Winds its first NCAA basketball title, over Ducke
1965  
March 20
Bruins defend NCAA basketball title, over Duke
June
UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion opens
September 9
Dodger’s Sand y Koufax pitches perfect game against the Cubs
October 14
Dodgers win World Series in seven games over the Twins
October
Dodger’s Sand y Koufax wins second NL Cy Young Award
November 23
Tailback Mike Garret wins USC’s first Heisman Trophy
1966  
January 1
UCLA upsets Michigan State 14-12 in Rose Bowl
October
Sandy Koufax wins third NL Cy Young Award
1967  
January 15
First Super Bowl, held in the Coliseum
March 25
UCLA wins NCAA basketball title, led by Lew Alcindor
October 14
L.A. Kings first game is a win over Philadelphia, at Long Beach Arena
November 28
Quarterback Gary Beban sins UCLA’s first Heisman Trophy
December 30
Forum opens with a 2-0 Kings loss to Philadelphia
1968  
January 1
USC beats Indiana in Rose Bowl 14-3 and wins national title
March
UCLA wins NCAA basketball titles (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
November 26
O.J. Simpson wins Heisman Trophy for USC

 

1950  
May 1950
UCLA wins first ever NCAA title, in tennis
1951  
January 14
First NFL Pro-Bowl held at Coliseum: Americans 28, Nationals 27
December 23
L.S. Rams win first NFL title, 24-17, vs. Brown
1954  
November 20
UCLA wins national football title with a 9-0 record.
1958  
April 18
Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles, beat Giants in first game at the Coliseum
1959  
July 8
Sports Arena opens, with boxing match
August 3
Dodgers host All-Star Game II at the Coliseum, AL wins 5-3
October 8
Dodgers win World Series vs. Chicago in six games

 

1943  
January 1
UCLA’s first Rose Bowl appearance with a 9-0 loss to Georgia
1946  
January 12
Cleveland Rams move to Los Angeles, play in the Coliseum
1947  
April 15
Dodger Jackie Robinson breajks the color barrier as the first African-American to play major league baseball
1948  
May
USC baseball wins its first national title, under Rod Dedeaux
June 12
Ben Hogan wins U.S. Open at Riviera Country Club, with a record score of 276

 

1931  
January 1
USC wins national football championship with 21-12 Rose Bowl win over Tulane
1932  
January 2
USC defends national football title going 10-0 and winning the Rose Bowl
July 30
Games of the X Olympiad are held in Los Angeles
1939  
January 2
USC wins Rose Bowl 7-3 over Duke

 

1921  
November 21
USC beats Notre Dame for the first time, 16-14
1923  
January 1
USC wins Rose Bowl 14-3 over Penn State
April 8
Los Angeles awarded the X Olympic Games at Rome IOC meeting
May 1
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum opens
October 6
First football game played in the Coliseum with a 23-7 USC victory over Pomona
1926  
May
USC wins its first NCAA title, in track and field
December 4
USC/Notre Dame football series begins with a 13-12 Irish win
1927  
September
First Pacific Southwest International Tennis Tournament, now the Mercedez-Benz Tennis Cup, played at the L.A. Tennis Club
1928  
December 1
USC wins first national football title at 9-0-1

 

< 1920  
January 1, 1886
First Tournament of Roses Parade
November 14, 1888
USC plays its first football game, wins 16-0 vs. Alliance AC
January 1, 1902
First Rose Bowl: Michigan shut out Stanford 49-0
October 3, 1919
UCLA plays its first football game, loses 74-0 vs. Manual Arts HS

 
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