Los Angeles Residents Face Sticker Shock Over 2028 Olympic Ticket Prices
The Olympic cauldron was lit at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ahead of the launch for ticket registration to the 2028 Summer Games on 13 January 2026, symbolising the approaching excitement. However, since tickets went on sale for local residents on 2 April, that enthusiasm has turned to dismay as many Angelenos report exorbitant prices and unexpected fees.
Presale Lottery Leaves Locals Frustrated
LA28 set aside a wave of slots in the presale ticket lottery for residents throughout southern California, where most events will occur, and in Oklahoma City, which will host canoe slalom and softball. Tickets ranged from $28 to thousands of dollars, but many found the affordable options quickly sold out for popular sports like gymnastics and track and field.
In addition to the ticket price, customers faced a 24% service fee, which LA28 stated covers necessities like customer service during the Games. Los Angeles resident Kathy Dorn shared her experience, noting that most gymnastics tickets sold out during her time slot, leaving her with higher-priced alternatives.
"Overall, I found the prices quite high, and it didn't seem like they released additional inventory for people with later time slots, which made it even more frustrating," Dorn said. She ultimately spent about $1,200 on tickets for rhythmic and artistic gymnastics preliminaries and sailing finals, opting out of swimming due to costs reaching $558 per ticket for a two-hour event.
High Costs and Community Concerns
Another resident reported spending $11,000 on eight tickets for track and field events, with nearly $400 going toward the service fee. Ticket-buyer Tony Anthony remarked, "It's a choice. We didn't go top-tier, but we were in the $1,000 range per ticket. You hear things like: 'Tickets as low as $28' and there were none available."
In response, Reynold Hoover, CEO of the LA Olympics, emphasised that hundreds of thousands of $28 tickets were sold to locals, calling them the lowest-priced Olympic tickets in modern history. Gigi Gutierrez, a spokesperson for LA28, defended the pricing by comparing it to other premiere events like the Super Bowl and upcoming World Cup, stating efforts were made to prioritise affordable options for Angelenos.
LA28 has budgeted over $7.1 billion for the Games, aiming to break even without taxpayer dollars, unlike past Olympics in Greece and Brazil that left cities with debt. However, concerns persist, especially in Inglewood, a majority Black and Latino city within Los Angeles hosting events like the opening ceremony and swimming.
Despite new facilities like SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, some Inglewood businesses struggle economically. Residents fear bearing the brunt of traffic and congestion while being priced out of attending. Inglewood native Yolanda Davidson voiced, "We shouldn't just have to bear all of the burden of the Olympics, we should be able to participate."
