Los Angeles is emerging as a hub of sports tourism in Los Angeles, fueled by the arrival of Son Heung-Min at LAFC and the chance to see stars like Shohei Ohtani and Hye-Sung Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jung-Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants, and LeBron James and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers. Travel agencies are launching “in-person game tour” packages that combine live sports with sightseeing, making the city a focal point for international fans.
The Korean American travel sector in LA is moving quickly. Young-Im Shin, Vice President of Samho Tour, said, “We are developing Son’s LAFC game packages linked with West Coast sightseeing for travelers from Korea. We also plan to sell soccer tickets for Korean Americans.” Steve Jo, Director of Aju Tour, explained that sports tourism products are being arranged around September and October, with packages to see Jung-Hoo Lee, Shohei Ohtani, and Son Heung-Min. He added that, with the NBA season opening in October, Lakers tour products are already selling well, drawing about 30 participants per game.
In Korea, advertisements for “direct-viewing” packages are spreading on Instagram and YouTube. Traveling, a theme-tour company, is promoting a trip from August 28 to September 2 that includes the Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game on August 30 and the LAFC vs. San Diego FC match on August 31, priced at 4 million won (about $2,850). The biggest draw is the “LA K-Sports Super Week” from September 18 to 21, featuring three Dodgers vs. Giants games from September 18 to 20 and Son’s LAFC home match against Real Salt Lake at BMO Stadium on September 21. Within one week, visitors can see Hye-Sung Kim, Jung-Hoo Lee, and Son in action.
Most packages are set at six days and four nights, costing in the mid-5 million won range with airfare, accommodations, and sightseeing included. Some include stadium tours and premium seating, with MLB tickets averaging more than $200 and LAFC seats valued around $250. Agencies are adding distinctive touches: Modetour provides game commentary and fan interaction with a former baseball analyst, while WeTravel assigns two sports-specialist producers to accompany the entire trip for added immersion.
Not all attempts have succeeded. A Chuseok holiday package called the “Heung-Min Direct-Viewing Expedition” was heavily promoted but later withdrawn after clashing with the Korea national team’s A-match (national team match) schedule. An LA industry insider warned that “poorly prepared products can appear at times like this. Because securing large blocks of tickets is difficult, travelers should verify the credibility of agencies before purchasing.” As sports tourism in Los Angeles expands, both fans and operators face growing pressure to deliver authentic, reliable experiences.
BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
