The Los Angeles City Council Friday will consider changes to the proposed venue plan for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games, a move officials said will increase revenue and lower potential risk for the city.
On Wednesday, the seven-member Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games approved the amendments to the plan. Council members requested city staff conduct an economic analysis of the proposed changes.
The committee also recommended that LA28, the private organization responsible for the games, also conduct an independent study to examine the economic impact of the proposed changes, new sports added to the program, and lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Games.
LA28 would have no later than June 30 to submit its report.
If approved Friday, the City Council will direct staff to move forward on these recommendations.
In 2017, the city of Los Angeles approved the current venue plan for the 2028 Games, when it made its bid to host the event in 2024. Paris was the host city in 2024, and LA was picked the host city for the upcoming event.
Revisions to the venue plan were announced during the summer, but any amendments require consent by the city.
Under the adjustments, basketball would move to the Intuit Dome, Olympic swimming to SoFi Stadium and gymnastics to the Crypto.com Arena.
“The Arena in downtown Los Angeles offers more seats with more hospitality facilities for more spectators to watch one of the more marquee sports of the Games,” according to a joint report from the City Administrative Office and Chief Legislative Analyst.
The San Fernando Valley is expected to host multiple events — a first for Los Angeles, which held the games in 1932 and 1984. Under the updated plan, the Sepulveda Basin will host modern pentathlon, BMX, skateboarding and 3×3 basketball.
Some events will not be in the city, such as canoe slalom which will be in Oklahoma City, equestrian to Temecula and para shooting to a venue outside of the city that has yet to be decided.
Additionally, the BMO Stadium will host flag football and lacrosse, and volleyball would move from Pauley Pavilion to Long Beach.
Preliminary soccer rounds will be played in stadiums throughout the county. On Thursday, it was announced that soccer semifinals and finals would be scheduled at the Rose Bowl.
The 2028 Games will debut flag football, squash and cricket. Squash and cricket have yet to be placed into venues. Similarly, a location for baseball is still in the works.
Softball, joining its return alongside baseball, will be played in Oklahoma City.
LA28 and city officials have stated the Olympics will be “no-build,” meaning they would utilize existing venues to host games.
With the updated venue plan, city officials estimate it will gain $162 million in combined revenue increases and cost reductions. It also reflects a 2.35% of the current $6.8 billion budget for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The CAO and CLA’s report estimated that ticket sales would decrease by 5% because they anticipate more tickets will be sold outside of the state.
LA28 is expected to pay for the Olympics through ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, merchandise and contributions from the International Olympic Committee.
According to Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the city is on the hook for $270 million if LA28 and the city suffers a loss due to the games. Some of the debt would be paid by the state, but ultimately in the hands of L.A.
“We absolutely cannot afford that under any circumstance,” Harris-Dawson said Wednesday. “We can’t even afford half of that, much less the full strength.”
“So we have to make sure this is done and done right, and done in a way like 1984, where the city of L.A. is left with assets as a result of the Summer Games, as opposed to debt,” he added.
Following the City Council vote on the updated venue proposal, the International Olympic Committee executive board is scheduled to confirm the final plan April 9.