Guide to San Francisco: The Sports Report

Bay Area Sports Take the Gold

Whether you're a fan or a player, San Francisco offers you phenomenal sporting opportunities. The metro area hosts a full range of mainstream pro sports, such as baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, and tennis, as well as diverse indulgences like rugby, lacrosse, horse racing and roller derby. And that doesn't even take into consideration the plethora of area college teams and recreational sporting opportunities.

Take yourself out to the ballgame, and catch MLB action with the AL West's Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum or the NL West's San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Are you ready for some football? Paint on your game-face and head to Monster Park to catch a San Francisco 49ers game or take in the Oakland Raiders action, also at the newly renovated McAfee Coliseum. Get your basketball fix at ORACLE Arena cheering on the NBA's Golden State Warriors.

Cheer and Jeer in San Jose

Do you know the way to San Jose? If you don't, you should — if you are a pro hockey, lacrosse or tennis fan. San Jose's HP Pavilion is home to the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks and the National Lacrosse League's San Jose Stealth, with its beautiful bevy of Spy Girl cheerleaders. HP Pavilion also hosts the SAP Open, the nation's second oldest men's professional tennis tournament. Past winners include some of the hottest names in the sport, such as Conners, McEnroe, Sampras and Agassi.

Go Global: International Sports

If you prefer sports with international appeal, Kezar Stadium hosts professional soccer action with the newly established California Victory, the first USL club to be owned and operated by Europeans. Rugby aficionados can indulge their passions with the San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club, which competes in America's premier rugby union and regularly feeds players to the USA Eagles national team.

From refined sporting events, like an afternoon of pari-mutuel wagering at Bay Meadows, to baser activities, like ogling your favorite scantily-clad Bay City Bomber, the San Francisco Bay Area can fulfill all your sporting desires.

Sources:
ESPN Sports Travel
Bay City Bombers
Golden State Warriors
San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club
San Jose Sharks