By JOSE HERRERA
City News Service
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday, March 28, approved changes to the proposed venue plan for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games — but not before two members voiced frustration over some events moving out of Los Angeles.
The City Council voted unanimously in favor of amendments to the proposed venue plan, covering adjustments listed in a joint report from the city administrative office and city legislative analyst. Council members also authorized an economic study of the proposed changes.
They also requested that LA28, the private organization responsible for the games, conduct an independent report, examining the economic impact of the venue changes, new sports added to the program, and lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Games.
LA28 will have no later than June 30 to submit its report.
Under the adjustments, basketball would move to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Olympic swimming to neighboring SoFi Stadium and gymnastics to the Crypto.com Arena downtown.
“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.
Reynold Hoover, CEO of LA28, reported the organization will present the final venue plan to the International Olympic Committee on April 9.
Councilmember Traci Park asked Hoover to share with the City Council a list of new venues LA28 is considering. Hoover declined, but stated LA28 would notify city officials before the IOC makes an official announcement.
“We’ve been working closely with the council and with the ad hoc committee to go through all of the venues, and we continue to do that with Mr. Krekorian and members of staff,” Hoover said.
Mayor Karen Bass appointed former City Council President Paul Krekorian as the executive director of the city’s Office of Major Events where Krekorian is coordinating efforts in preparation for the 2028 Games.
“We’re not ready to go public with all of our lists of all the other venues that we have,” Hoover added. “We’re continuing to do some analysis and some study on that. We will certainly come back to you before that list becomes finalized.”
The City Council also approved further amendments, requesting economic studies related to transportation and security. It also approved a request from City Councilmember Tim McOsker, who is seeking to move the sailing events from Long Beach to San Pedro.
Park noted the 2028 Games will play a significant role in the city’s wildfire recovery. She also recognized that Friday’s vote was a huge step forward, but the council member had concerns.
“We are missing some major opportunities to showcase our city’s unique assets, communities and landscapes,” Park said. “We are being asked to cast our votes when we have an incomplete picture — this is a problem that we have seen as a council again and again. It repeatedly leads to bad outcomes.”
McOsker, who represents the 15th District encompassing the Harbor Area shared Park’s concerns. In an impassioned speech, the council member criticized LA28 for its decision to host sailing in Long Beach rather than San Pedro.
“Instead of some back room where a couple of bros make this decision somewhere, let’s do something for the sport, let’s do something for the Olympic movement, let’s do something for Los Angeles, but most importantly, let’s do something for the spectator,” McOsker said.
According to the council member, the Port of San Pedro is capable of hosting sailing, citing the success of the Sail GP competition and its annual Fleet Week event. He also argued the port has better security and has capacity for 10,000 spectators.
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 Los Angeles was picked the host city for the upcoming event.
Revisions to the venue plan were announced during the summer, but any amendments require consent from the city.
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, among other events.
Some competitions will not be in the city, such as canoe slalom, which will be in Oklahoma City, equestrian events in Temecula and para shooting at a venue outside of the city that has yet to be decided.
Additionally, BMO Stadium will host flag football and lacrosse, and volleyball would move from UCLA’s 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 2.35% of the current $6.8 billion budget for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The report from the City Administrative Office and Chief Legislative Analyst 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 sponsorships, merchandise and contributions from the International Olympic Committee.
According to City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the city is on the hook for $270 million if LA28 and the city suffer a loss due to the games. Some of the debt would be paid by the state, but ultimately it would be in the hands of the city.
“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.