Sports in Orange County, California facts for kids
Sports in Orange County, California includes a number of sports teams and sports competitions. Within Orange County, the city of Anaheim currently hosts two major league sports teams — MLB's Los Angeles Angels and the NHL's Anaheim Ducks — and used to host two others.
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Competitions
Huntington Beach annually plays host to the U.S. Open of Surfing, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball and Vans World Championship of Skateboarding. It was also the shooting location for Pro Beach Hockey. USA Water Polo, Inc. has moved its headquarters offices to Huntington Beach. Orange County's active outdoor culture is home to many surfers, skateboarders, mountain bikers, cyclists, climbers, hikers, kayaking, sailing and sand volleyball.
The Toshiba Classic, the only PGA Champions Tour event in the area, is held each March at The Newport Beach Country Club. Past champions include Fred Couples (2010), Hale Irwin (1998 and 2002), Nick Price (2011), Bernhard Langer (2008) and Jay Haas (2007). The tournament benefits the Hoag Hospital Foundation and has raised over $16 million in its first 16 years.
Several cities and venues were used throughout the 1984 Los Angeles XXIII Summer Olympic Games. Including the running of the Olympic torch throughout the county as it made its way up to Los Angeles for the games.
- Mission Viejo, Orange County, California – cycling (individual road race)
- Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, Rancho Santa Fe, California, California – equestrian sports (eventing endurance)
- Titan Gymnasium, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California – handball
- Coto de Caza, Orange County, California – modern pentathlon (fencing, riding, running, shooting)
- Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California – wrestling
Former and defunct sports teams
Baseball
Professional baseball made a brief appearance in Orange County during the post World War II boom in minor league ball when the Anaheim Valencias of the Class C Sunset League played the 1947 and 1948 seasons with La Palma Park as their home field. Future Fullerton High School baseball coach Bud Dawson was the Vals' shortstop.
The Orange County Pioneers and California Mariners/Sharks/Storm of Irvine and Newport Beach, were semi-pro collegiate baseball teams in the 1990s and 2000s.
Basketball
The Anaheim Arsenal were an NBA D-League team from the 2006 to 2009. They played their home games at the Anaheim Convention Center. The team would later relocate to become the Springfield Armor in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Anaheim was also the home of the prior American Basketball Association franchise known as the Anaheim Amigos in the mid-sixties. They played their home games at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The county was home of the Southern California Surf American Basketball Association (ABA) basketball team from 2001 to 2002 in Anaheim. The Orange County Crush/Orange County Buzz American Basketball Association basketball team played in Orange County from 2004 to 2006. The Crush/Buzz played their home games at the Fairgrounds Grandstand Arena in Costa Mesa.
The Orange County Gladiators were also an American Basketball Association (ABA) expansion team starting in November 2007 until 2009. The team also played in the West Coast Pro Basketball League. They played their home games at Fieldhouse Gym at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano and at Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo, California.
The Newport Beach Surf played in Anaheim at the American Sports Centers from 2008 to 2013 in the West Coast Pro Basketball League.
The California Dreams played in the Women's Professional Basketball League from 1979 to 1980 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Football
In the late 1950s (c.1957-59) the Orange County Rhinos, a semi-pro football team, played their home games at La Palma Park in Anaheim.
The Anaheim Piranhas were an Arena Football League team in 1996–97, but folded due to team board financial problems.
The Southern California Sun was an American football team based out of Anaheim that played in the World Football League in 1974 and 1975. Their records were 13–7 in 1974 and 7–5 in 1975. Their home stadium was Anaheim Stadium.
The Orange County Ramblers were a professional football team that competed in the Continental Football League from 1967 to 1968. The Ramblers played their home games in Anaheim (Anaheim Stadium). The team was coached both seasons by Homer Beatty, who had won a small college national title at Santa Ana College in 1962.
The Santa Ana Winds, a women's professional football team played in Santa Ana College and later Chapman College in Orange in the 2000s.
Soccer
The California Surf played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. The club called Anaheim Stadium home.
Another soccer franchise, the California Sunshine of the American Soccer League in the late 1970s played games in Orange and Anaheim (Anaheim Stadium). Their team office was in Villa Park.
The Los Angeles Salsa played at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium in 1993–94 in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL), at the time the top soccer league in the U.S. The Salsa, whose general manager was former Cosmos star Ricky Davis and its coach former Brazil star Rildo Menezes, also played some games at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, California, and Trabuco Hills High School, Mission Viejo, California attempting a season in Mexico's second-tier Primera A Division. That attempt was cancelled after several games when FIFA and CONCACAF ruled a club could not play in two leagues in separate countries. The Salsa lost to the Colorado Foxes in the 1993 APSL final at Cal State Fullerton.
The Orange County Blue Star, affiliated with MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy, played soccer at Santa Ana Stadium (also known as Santa Ana Bowl) and Orange Coast College from 1997 to 2000.
The Anaheim Splash was a soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.
A semi-pro Mexican Soccer franchise, the Santa Ana-Anaheim Aztecas played in Santa Ana College in the 2000s.
Other sports
The Anaheim Storm was a member of the National Lacrosse League. They folded in 2005 due to low attendance.
The Anaheim Bullfrogs were a Roller Hockey International team that lasted from 1993 to 1999 and were briefly revived in 2001.
Former and defunct sports teams
Football
In the late 1950s (c.1957-59) the Orange County Rhinos, a semi-pro football team, played their home games at La Palma Park in Anaheim.
The Anaheim Piranhas were an Arena Football League team in 1996-97, but folded due to team board financial problems.
The Southern California Sun was an American football team based out of Anaheim that played in the World Football League in 1974 and 1975. Their records were 13–7 in 1974 and 7–5 in 1975. Their home stadium was Anaheim Stadium.
The Orange County Ramblers were a professional football team that competed in the Continental Football League from 1967-68. The Ramblers played their home games in Anaheim (Anaheim Stadium). The team was coached both seasons by Homer Beatty, who had won a small college national title at Santa Ana College in 1962.
The Santa Ana Winds, a women’s professional football team played in Santa Ana College and later Chapman College in Orange in the 2000s.
Soccer
The California Surf played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. The club called Anaheim Stadium home.
Another soccer franchise, the California Sunshine of the Major League Soccer in the late 1970s played games in Orange and Anaheim (Anaheim Stadium). Their team office was in Villa Park.
The Los Angeles Salsa played at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium in 1993–94 in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL), at the time the top soccer league in the U.S. The Salsa, whose general manager was former Cosmos star Ricky Davis and its coach former Brazil star Rildo Menezes, also played some games at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, California, and Trabuco Hills High School, Mission Viejo, California attempting a season in Mexico's second-tier Primera A Division. That attempt was cancelled after several games when FIFA and CONCACAF ruled a club could not play in two leagues in separate countries. The Salsa lost to the Colorado Foxes in the 1993 APSL final at Cal State Fullerton.
The Orange County Zodiac, affiliated with MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy, played soccer at Santa Ana Stadium (also known as Santa Ana Bowl) and Orange Coast College from 1997 to 2000.
The Anaheim Splash was a soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997.
A semi-pro Mexican Soccer franchise, the Santa Ana-Anaheim Aztecas played in Santa Ana College in the 2000s.
Basketball
The Anaheim Arsenal are an NBA D-League expansion team for the 2006–2007 season. They play their home games at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The Orange County Gladiators are an American Basketball Association (ABA) expansion team starting in November 2007. They played their home games at Fieldhouse Gym at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano.
The county was also the home of the Orange County Buzz basketball team of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Both the Buzz and Gladiators have ceased operations.
Anaheim was also the home of the prior American Basketball Association franchise known as the Anaheim Amigos in the mid-sixties.
Baseball
Professional baseball made a brief appearance in Orange County during the post World War II boom in minor league ball when the Anaheim Valencias of the Class C Sunset League played the 1947 and 1948 seasons with La Palma Park as their home field. Future Fullerton High School baseball coach Bud Dawson was the Vals' shortstop.
The Orange County Pioneers and California Mariners/Sharks/Storm of Irvine and Newport Beach, were semi-pro collegiate baseball teams in the 1990s and 2000s.
Other sports
The Anaheim Storm was a member of the National Lacrosse League. They folded in 2005 due to low attendance.
The Anaheim Bullfrogs were a Roller Hockey International team that lasted from 1993–99 and were briefly revived in 2001.
