5 San Diego Sports Events to Watch: January 2025

New year, new San Diego sports. Not only does San Diego FC finally take the pitch this month, but also an innovative and interactive golf league with deep San Diego roots tees off. The changing of the calendar also brings some familiar events. The annual Farmers Insurance Open takes over Torrey Pines Golf Course, and Viejas Arena echoes with the sound of college basketball—but it’s just not the men’s team making waves this season. With so much going on already, it’s not a stretch to say 2025 might be one of the biggest years ever in San Diego sports. 

Monster Jam

January 4-5, 11-12 | Snapdragon Stadium

After the new year, a few things go like clockwork. The holiday decorations are put away, the rest of the country gets jealous of our weather, and Grave Digger comes to town. Monster Jam may seem like a minor event, but it sells millions of tickets each year and in San Diego it fills two weekends of events and competitions at Snapdragon Stadium. Tickets start at $44, and festivities kickoff early with a Pit Party, where fans can see the massive trucks up close and meet the drivers and crews. 

Tomorrow Golf League presented by SoFi

Tuesday, January 7 | 6:00 p.m. | SoFi Center, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Where to Watch: ESPN

Two notable San Diegans are connected to TGL, the interactive, 3-on-3 golf league founded by some of golf’s biggest names, which starts play this month. Agustín Pizá’s San Diego-based design studio created eight of the holes for the new league, which plays on a massive indoor simulator in Florida. And world No. 2 golfer and Scripps High alum Xander Schauffele leads the New York Golf Club, one of six teams competing in the made-for-TV competition.

“I think it’ll be a lot of fun. Hopefully, people enjoy the entertainment that comes out of it,” Schauffele told San Diego Magazine. Schauffele and his teammates kickoff TGL on January 7 at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN.

San Diego FC First Training Session

Monday, January 13 | San Diego

San Diego FC’s first training session won’t be televised and it isn’t open to the public, but it’s an occasion worth celebrating. After nearly two years of press releases, roster moves, and fan events, San Diego’s newest major sports team is at long last hitting the pitch. It’s the first step toward finalizing its inaugural roster and preparing for its Major League Soccer debut on February 23, in Los Angeles against the LA Galaxy. 

2025 Farmers Insurance Open

January 22-25 | Torrey Pines Golf Course

Where to Watch: CBS

The field isn’t finalized for the annual Farmers Insurance Open, but last year’s champion and world No. 30 Matthieu Pavon will tee off at Torrey Pines Golf Course to defend his crown. Several top golfers will join Pavon, including Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama, and Justin Rose. So far, the field includes ten players in the top-50 of the Official World Golf Ranking, six major championship winners, and five past winners of the Farmers. But San Diego’s Xander Schauffele will no doubt be the fan favorite if he joins the field. Schauffele has won two majors, an Olympic gold medal, and a Ryder Cup, but one thing missing from his résumé is a victory in his hometown. If he joins the field at this year’s Farmers, then Schauffele will try to become the seventh San Diegan—following Phil Mickelson, Scott Simpson, Craig Stadler, Greg Twiggs, Billy Casper, and Gene Littler—to hoist the trophy.

SDSU Women’s Basketball vs. UNLV

Saturday, January 25 | 1:00 p.m. | Viejas Arena

Where to Watch: Mountain West Network

At 12-2 on the 2024-25 season, the San Diego State women’s basketball team has more wins and fewer losses than the celebrated men’s team, and recently opened their Mountain West Conference schedule with a resounding win over Boise State. Adryana Quezada led the team with 19 points on 9-for-12 shooting, a performance that resulted in the senior forward winning the Mountain West Player of the Week. Quazada’s Aztecs wrap up January with a game against another conference foe in UNLV, and great basketball isn’t the only thing they’re offering. The first 1,000 fans get a free replica jersey.