Not only is California home to the largest number of major league sports teams of any state, it also boasts the country’s finest collection of arenas and stadiums. Thanks to world-class facilities for baseball, football, hockey, basketball, and soccer, California lets you watch games in both comfort and style.
Today’s cutting-edge venues are part of a tradition that dates to such renowned athletic venues as Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, which opened in 1922, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum—the only stadium to have hosted two Summer Olympics (with a third coming up in 2028), two Super Bowls, and the World Series. And California’s stadium and team rosters continue to grow, with the Los Angeles Clippers moving into the new Intuit Dome starting in the 2024–25 season and the WNBA’s expansion Golden State Valkyries and the MLS San Diego FC both set to begin play in 2025.
From south to north, here’s a look at California’s top arenas and stadiums—and what makes each of them unique.
San Diego
Petco Park
One of the best retro-revival baseball stadiums in the country, Petco Park is as San Diego as its Gaslamp Quarter-adjacent location. With a stucco-and-sandstone cladding that recalls the cliffs of Torrey Pines, the San Diego Padres’ ballpark features Mission-style towers and incorporates the historic Western Metal Supply Company building along the left field line. The Padres recently spent $20 million renovating the playground-like Gallagher Square, providing pickleball players, parents, and dog owners with an alternate way to enjoy America’s pastime.
Snapdragon Stadium
As the home of San Diego State Aztecs football, the NWSL’s San Diego Wave, Major League Rugby’s San Diego Legion, and the MLS San Diego FC (starting in 2025), 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium is definitely a multitasker of a stadium. But unlike some other multipurpose stadiums, Snapdragon keeps the fun in functional. It channels the spirit of Padre great and SDSU legend Tony Gwynn, whose words are immortalized in a stadium mural: “Remember these two things: Play Hard & Have Fun.” Eating well is also a priority as the venue features an all-star lineup of San Diego favorites, including burgers from Hodad’s, The Crack Shack’s fried chicken, and AleSmith Brewing Company’s IPAs.
Orange County
Angel Stadium
Affectionately known as “The Big A,” this 45,603-seat stadium in Anaheim has been the home of the Los Angeles Angels since 1966. Located less than four miles from Disneyland Resort, the ballpark is notable for California Spectacular, a faux boulder formation beyond the outfield fence that launches home run–celebrating fireworks and was designed by Disney imagineers with real trees and fountains. Now the fourth-oldest major league ballpark, Angel Stadium was also once home field for the Los Angeles Rams before being converted back into a baseball-only facility.
Honda Center
While this 17,174-seat Anaheim arena is best known as home ice for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, the Honda Center has also played an outsized role in the sports world beyond professional hockey. In addition to two Stanley Cup Finals (including the clinching game in 2007), the Honda Center has hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball West Regionals multiple times. And during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the Honda Center will serve as the indoor volleyball venue—which is fitting, because Orange County is considered a volleyball hotbed.
Los Angeles
BMO Stadium
A beautiful venue for the beautiful game, 22,000-seat BMO Stadium set a new standard for American soccer facilities when it opened in 2018. This home pitch for LAFC and Angel City FC is shaded by graceful, translucent canopies and offers views of downtown Los Angeles. The stadium in Exposition Park offers seats within 12 feet of the pitch, as well as such oh-so L.A. luxuries as a lap pool on the premium Sunset Deck.
Crypto.com Arena
It’s no idle boast when 19,079-seat Crypto.com Arena gets touted as “the sports and entertainment center of the world.” Glitzy and glamorous like Los Angeles itself, “The Crypt” is home to the Lakers, the WNBA’s Sparks, and the NHL’s Kings, teams that have won 11 championships since the arena’s 1999 debut. It’s a see-and-be-seen kind of place: Hollywood stars have long flocked here to watch their beloved teams, which have included such all-time greats as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, and Candice Parker.
Dodger Stadium
A midcentury marvel, 56,000-seat Dodger Stadium still feels modern and new, even though it’s now Major League Baseball’s third-oldest ballpark. Towering palm trees sway beyond the bullpens and there’s no more magical moment in baseball than when a sunset paints the stadium’s mountain backdrop a fiery red. Lushly landscaped with drought-tolerant plants, Dodger Stadium is baseball’s only ballpark with an accredited botanical garden. Take a selfie by the Jackie Robinson statue on the recently added Centerfield Plaza and come hungry—a Dodger Dog (or two) is a must.
SoFi Stadium
Since opening in 2020, Inglewood’s 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium has already hosted a Super Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship, with 2026 FIFA World Cup matches and the 2028 Summer Olympics coming soon. Both Los Angeles NFL teams, the Rams and Chargers, play in this absolutely world-class stadium, which is notable for its indoor/outdoor design, curving polymer plastic roof canopy, and a dual-sided video board that stretches for 120 yards. Especially dramatic at night, SoFi Stadium emits an otherworldly glow visible for miles.
San Francisco Bay Area
Chase Center
Drawing inspiration from San Francisco’s maritime past and the Bay Area’s prominence as the center for the world’s tech industry, the 18,604-seat Chase Center is as gorgeous as a Stephen Curry jump shot. Home court for the Golden State Warriors, the Chase Center is sleek and sophisticated, with its own art collection and views out to the Bay Bridge. There’s a bayfront park and Chase Center is adjacent to Thrive City, a dining and retail complex that includes the 10,000-square-foot Warriors Shop.
Levi’s Stadium
Home of the San Francisco 49ers, 68,500-seat Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is as high-tech as its Silicon Valley surroundings. With 400 miles of data cable, you’ll always be connected, but the real connection here is to the rich history of the five-time Super Bowl champion 49ers. Eleven galleries at the stadium’s 49ers Museum tell the team’s story, and you’ll have the chance to see the Niners’ five Vince Lombardi Trophies and life-sized statues of such Hall of Famers as Joe Montana.
Oracle Park
With spectacular San Francisco Bay views and “splash hit” home runs into McCovey Cove, Oracle Park takes full advantage of its waterfront location—the ballpark is even accessible by ferry from Oakland and Solano County. Oracle Park is very much integrated into the city and passersby can even catch San Francisco Giants game action for free through a fence along the right-field wall. Go for the full San Francisco experience and chow down on a Crazy Crab’z Sandwich—Dungeness crab between buttery slabs of sourdough.
PayPal Stadium
An intimate, soccer-specific venue with a capacity of just 18,000 (smallest in MLS), PayPal Stadium puts you close to all the San Jose Earthquakes and Bay FC action. The steeply pitched grandstand enhances the intimate atmosphere and guarantees outstanding sightlines from every seat. The u-shaped stadium opens to views of jets taking off and landing at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, and you can toast the squad at North America’s largest open-air bar.
Sacramento
Golden 1 Center
No doubt a few Sacramento Kings purists miss the raucous atmosphere of the team’s hangar-like former home. But decibels notwithstanding, it’s tough to beat 17,608-seat Golden 1 Center, the Kings’ solar-powered downtown arena. It’s a unique indoor-outdoor arena with giant doors that can let in the Delta Breeze and an environmental commitment that includes a most Sacramento focus on farm-to-fork foods at the concession stands. In fact, Golden 1 is the first indoor sports arena to earn LEED platinum status for sustainable design.
