Is anyone else going to the X Games later this month? I'd like to compare notes on where to stay, etc. as the venues are split btwn. the Staples Center downtown and Home Depot Center outside the city.

We live here, but will be out of town that weekend. DS is going the the Maloof Money Cup this weekend in OC instead.

The area between HDC and Staples is not very attractive. If I were you, I would either choose a place in downtown L.A. or in the Torrance area, around 190th Street, close to the 110 freeway. Since both areas cater to business travelers, you should be able to get decent weekend rates. The Torrance hotels would only be about 15 minutes from the beach.

Have a great time!

You'd find more to do downtown.

Hey did anyone hear about this???
I know I'm new, but....there's a contest happening for the X Games Movie. Apparently you just sign up at the link below, plus everyone who enters gets a free download of The Crystal Method's "Drown in the Now (featuring Matisyahu)" WHAT!!!
The Winner receives:
Round trip coach airfare for two from anywhere within the continental US to Los Angeles.
Three nights hotel accommodation
Roundtrip ground transportation to and from the airport;
Two tickets to the X Games on Thursday, July 30th & Friday July 31st
Two passes to attend the premiere of the X Games 3D: The Movie
Two passes to attend the afterparty for X Games 3D: The Movie
Two passes to attend a meet and greet with The Crystal Method
Here's the Link:

http://www.thecrystalmethod.com/?utm...nners%20XGames

I am definitely gonna enter and thought I'd pass along the info!

PalomaZ, THANKS for that link. Very cool of you to share it. Hope one of us wins.

I spend a lot of time in L.A. and the surrounding areas and I never find much to do downtown, esp. at night. I much prefer the surrounding areas. I think we will stay in Santa Monica. That way we can be at the beach in our off hrs. and have the shopping and restaurants there at night. I commute into L.A. when I stay in SM and it is not bad, and it will be an easy drive out to HDC going against traffic on those days. I thought about Manhattan beach but then it is a longer drive into L.A. to Staples.

I think that you would find that the traffic from Manhattan Beach into downtown is much easier via the 105 to the 110 than the east-west traffic on the 10 out of Santa Monica. You would be much closer to the Home Depot Center as well.

cheer on Kyle loza! His Mom is a friend

Too bad you've never found much to do downtown. When you're there pick up a copy of the free Downtown News and have a browse.

If you haven't had a cocktail at Rivera, that's a good start.

Driving between Santa Monica and downtown is the pits, especially since you would be going with the traffic and not against it.

You can take the metro train from Manhattan Beach to Staples Center. It takes a little longer than driving, but there are no traffic or parking issues. $5 for an all-day pass.

It's about 10 miles from MB to Home Depot Center. Santa Monica to HDC is 20 miles or more.