Venue Adjustments and Approvals

The agreement between Pasadena and the LA28 Organizing Committee​ coincided with the resolution⁤ of agreements⁣ between ⁤Los⁢ angeles and ⁤LA28 regarding headquarters,including the search for locations for new Olympic sports.

An ad ​hoc committee ‌of the ⁤Los Angeles ⁤City council approved updated venue plans presented by LA28, the organization ⁢responsible for managing the 2028 Games. ‌These modifications aim to increase revenue and mitigate potential risks.

while the ‌revised venue plan was initially released last summer, the City Council had yet to approve the changes to the original agreement established when Los Angeles secured⁢ the right to​ host the 2028 ⁢Olympics.

Key Venue Changes

The updated Games Agreement includes several notable changes:

• Basketball will be moved to ‍the Intuit Dome.
• Olympic swimming⁤ will be held at SoFi Stadium.
• Gymnastics will take place⁢ at⁣ Crypto.com Arena.
• Flag football and⁢ lacrosse will be⁤ played at BMO Stadium.
• Sitting volleyball will move from​ Pauley ‍Pavilion to‌ the Long Beach Arena.

These revisions were presented by LA28 on⁤ March 14, following an initial review of plans last July.

Financial Considerations

The relocation of basketball to Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, which was not⁤ yet ​built when the initial bid was submitted, will allow​ artistic gymnastics‍ to ​be showcased ‌before an estimated 20,000 spectators, compared ⁣to the Forum’s capacity of 17,000. The⁤ Intuit Dome also offers a larger⁢ footprint than the Forum,which was‌ originally‍ slated to host gymnastics ‍competitions.

Originally, a temporary pool⁣ was planned for the ⁣USC campus to ⁢host Olympic swimming. ⁣However, ⁣the university has since begun construction of a football facility.Inspired by the success of ⁢the⁣ 2024 U.S.swimming trials at Lucas ⁢Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, ⁣LA28 proposed moving Olympic swimming to SoFi Stadium, ‍which ‌will also host a Super Bowl in 2027.

Utilizing existing sports facilities ⁢to minimize costs and maximize ⁢ticket sales is a priority‌ for LA28, which has‌ pledged to cover the estimated $7 billion cost of the ​Olympic‌ Games through ticket sales,‍ corporate sponsorships, merchandising, and contributions‍ from the International Olympic Committee.​ Though, ⁣city and state legislators‍ have agreed to provide financial support. The city could be liable for up to $270 ‌million in Games-related debt, with the remaining expenses possibly ⁢falling on the state and Los Angeles taxpayers.

We cannot ‌afford it ⁣under any​ circumstance. ⁢We cannot even afford half of that,​ much less the whole. So ⁣we have to⁤ make ⁢sure‍ that it is done ⁤well⁢ and⁤ in a way like in 1984, in​ which the city of los angeles stays ‌with ⁤assets as a result of ‍the summer games,⁤ instead⁤ of with debts.
A city official

Games Expansion ⁣and Venue Distribution

While ‌the 1984 Games generated ⁤over‍ $250 ‌million⁢ in profit, the scale ⁣of the Olympics has grown significantly ‌in‍ the past four‌ decades. Los Angeles will host 36 Olympic sports in 2028, compared to 21‌ in 1984, as ⁣well as the first United States Paralympic Games. The increased size of the Games has necessitated the relocation of some events ⁣outside⁢ of Los Angeles, ⁣including to Inglewood, Long Beach, and the San‌ Fernando Valley for the first time.

The Sepulveda Basin will host the modern pentathlon, BMX, skateboarding, and 3×3 basketball. Canoe slalom events have ⁢been moved to an existing facility in Oklahoma City, while equestrian events ⁣and shooting sports will be held at locations yet to be determined‍ outside of the city.

New sports and Venue Savings

The original Games plan, proposed before the construction of BMO Stadium, had the venue hosting ⁢preliminary soccer matches. Though, qualifying ‌matches will now be held in stadiums across the country, as is customary ‍in recent Olympic Games.

The rose Bowl⁤ was long ⁤expected to host the men’s and women’s‍ soccer ‍semifinals and finals, a ⁢plan officially confirmed. ⁤The​ stadium has previously hosted events during two Olympic Games⁢ and‍ several World Cup⁤ matches.

Further agreements are expected to be‌ negotiated and signed before 2027, detailing the organization and financing of the 2028 Olympic events.

Flag football,making​ its⁢ Olympic debut,and lacrosse,which⁢ has not been a medal sport since‌ 1908,will share BMO Stadium,adding more competition days and medal events to the city center. These ⁣sports were added to the Olympic programme in October 2023 and were not⁣ included‌ in the initial venue plans released last summer.

squash and cricket, ⁤other newcomers to the Olympic Games, have yet to‌ have their venues finalized for 2028. LA28‍ has also not yet determined the locations for baseball or the soccer finals. Softball, which⁤ was reinstated to the Olympic program in conjunction​ with baseball, will be⁤ held in Oklahoma ⁢City, home of the Women’s College World Series.

LA28 estimates that the⁤ updated venues will⁢ save ⁤approximately $156 million. While the total‌ number ​of tickets available for events within the city will ‌increase, the‍ new plan will ⁣also reduce the percentage‍ of tickets sold by 5%, according to a joint report by city ⁢officials dated ‍nov. 12, 2024.

The report also requested that LA28 conduct an ⁢autonomous economic impact study to highlight⁣ the anticipated effects of the​ 2028 Games on the city and region, incorporating the venue changes, ⁢added sports, and lessons ⁤learned from the Paris 2024⁤ Games.‌ The report is due to the city of Los angeles by june 30.

Looking Ahead

Los angeles ‍continues its Olympic planning while also focusing on recovery efforts following recent wildfires.

I know firsthand the energy ​and inspiration‌ that Los ⁣Angeles brings ‍to the world.Look, the 2028 Olympic Games is about ensuring that our city, the creative capital of the world,⁣ is in the heart of this global experience. ​We will continue focused on our recovery⁢ work while investing intelligently and opens doors to our communities. We are not only preparing for the world to visit us: we‌ are preparing​ the stage to inspire the world, as only angels can do ‍it.
A city official

With the Games set to begin‌ in less ⁣than four years,finalizing the venue plan is a priority⁣ before addressing other key issues,such as⁣ transportation ​and event operations. The City Council is scheduled to vote‌ on the updated venue plan, with final confirmation expected after review and approval by the International‍ Olympic⁢ Committee Executive Board on April ‍9.