Los Angeles expects traffic nightmare with sports, entertainment armageddon

The sports world is converging on Los Angeles on Friday night, causing a traffic nightmare for drivers. 

A half dozen big events, including Game 1 of the World Series, will take place in the city within hours of each other, prompting teams to warn attendees of potential disaster on the roads nearby. 

“Traffic Advisory: Due to multiple sporting events taking place near the arena today, heavy traffic is expected before and after the game,” the Lakers, who play the Suns on Friday night, wrote on X. “Please take into consideration when planning your trip to and from the arena.”

The Lakers will take the court at Crypto.com Arena at 7 p.m. local time — just two hours after first pitch between the Yankees and Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, which is just a few miles to the north. 

An hour after tip-off at Crypto.com Arena, USC and Rutgers will kick off less than three miles away at LA Memorial Coliseum. 

On the other side of town in Inglewood, three more big venues will be welcoming fans and concert-goers at essentially the same time. 

Jeff Lynne’s ELO will take the stage at the Kia Forum at 8 p.m. 

Just steps away, Roosevelt and Garfield high schools will face off in the 89th East LA Classic at SoFi Stadium. 

And if that wasn’t enough going on in the neighborhood, David Gilmour will perform at the Intuit Dome, which is a block south of SoFi, at the same time. 

Los Angeles public officials have strongly encouraged those headed out in the notoriously traffic-heavy city on Friday night to take public transit and even urged World Series attendees to walk to Chavez Ravine for the game.