Pico Rivera Sports Arena

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The Pico Rivera Memorial Sports Arena is a multipurpose arena located in Pico Rivera, California, United States. It can seat a range of 5,000 to 6,250 patrons, depending on the event configuration. the Pico Rivera Sports Arena is a popular recreation spot for the Los Angeles area Hispanic community and is known for its Mexican charreadas, jaripeos and Latin entertainment. The arena is used for concerts, rodeos, professional wrestling and boxing.

Contents

Background

This facility was built in 1979 and is reputed to be the largest Mexican rodeo ring in the country. The arena used to host Circus Vargas during their tour of the West Coast as well as many presentations of Antonio Aguilar, a regional Mexican singer, and his family. [1] An average of 25 shows, preceded by a traditional Mexican rodeo, are held at the Sports Arena every year. Today, it hosts some of the largest jaripeos, bailes, and charreadas in the country as well as music events. [2] [3] [4] [5] Colloquially termed as "Picolandia", these jaripeo events hosts around 5,000 to 6,250 people per event making it a popular site for Latinx people to congregate and engage in community and culture. [6] Pico Rivera hosts PicoPride during the month of June where queer Latinx folks can go and engage in their cultural traditions whilst celebrating their sexual and gender identities.

As a concert venue, the Pico Rivera Sports Arena can seat up to 6,250. With a 132 ft (40 m) diameter arena floor, the arena is modeled after a Mexican rodeo ring. The arena, located at Bicentennial Park, is dedicated to Pico Rivera residents who fought for and served the United States during every war up to the Vietnam War. [7]

In 2024, the arena was threatened with closure due to ongoing repairs at nearby Whittier Narrows Dam. [8]

In January 2025, the arena was used to house livestock that were affected by the 2025 California wildfires. [9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ "How Pico Rivera Became the Epicenter of Charrería and Mexican Ranch Life in L.A." PBS SoCal. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  2. ↑ Dazed (2024-01-31). "In photos: LA's Mexican-American teens' rodeo dance scene". Dazed. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  3. ↑ Zatarain, Ana Karina (2022-05-13). "The Style and Swagger of Charrería, Mexico's National Sport". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  4. ↑ Riano, Sandra (2022-12-08). "Inside 'Tierra Del Sol': How Carlos Jaramillo Captured the Strength and Beauty of Mexican Charreadas". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  5. ↑ Valdes-Rodriguez, Alisa (2000-08-31). "Keeping It Real at the Pico". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  6. ↑ Davies, Cerys (2024-09-19). "Headed to a música Mexicana concert? Here's where you can get your fit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  7. ↑ "Pico Rivera Bicentennial Park". locator.lacounty.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  8. ↑ "Whittier Narrows Dam repairs put Pico Rivera Sports Arena at risk of closure". ABC7 Los Angeles. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  9. ↑ "Pico Rivera Partners With La Noria Entertainment Using the City's Sports Arena to Offer Free Boarding of Animals Affected by Fires". Los Cerritos Community News. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  10. ↑ "Column: The shrine to Mexican horse culture that's now a sanctuary from the fires". Los Angeles Times. 2025-01-17. Retrieved 2025-06-05.

34°01′33″N118°02′43″W / 34.02582°N 118.04534°W / 34.02582; -118.04534


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