Angelinos Love Sports, Museums Not So Much

It seemed like a cool idea, a museum of sports memorabilia in the heart of Los Angeles.

Then again nobody we know went to see it. So maybe we shouldn’t be shocked that the Los Angeles Sports Museum is closing its doors to the general public, less than four months after it opened.

The museum announced this week that low attendance prompted it to only offer tours by reservation for groups of at least 15.

The museum showcases founder Gary Cypres' personal collection, valued at more than $30 million. It includes Babe Ruth's 1934 All-Star uniform, Joe DiMaggio's record-breaking ball from his 56-game hitting streak and a collection of notable NFL jerseys.

Cypres spent $1 million bringing the building up to city code during five years of developing the museum. It opened Nov. 28 with a big splash, including stories in the Los Angeles Times and elsewhere.

But apparently we in Los Angels don’t like museums. Unless there was a drive-through museum.

Los Angeles is not alone. In February, the Sports Museum of America in New York City closed after just nine months, citing financial problems.