Tickets for the 1984 Olympics in L.A. Were $3. Could It Happen Again?

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As the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics get underway, Angelenos Sarah Dunlay and Dennis Kissick reminisce about attending the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, where tickets were just $3. The post-1984 Olympics era saw ticket prices skyrocket, leading to questions about whether affordable Olympic tickets could ever return.

Why it matters

The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics are remembered fondly by many as a time when the Games were accessible to the average person, in contrast to the high-priced tickets that have become the norm in recent decades. As cities consider hosting future Olympics, the issue of ticket affordability is an important factor in evaluating the long-term impact and legacy of the Games.

The details

Dunlay and Kissick recall the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles as a time of great excitement, with the city's normally congested traffic clearing up and the U.S. team's medal count steadily rising. Tickets for those Games cost just $3, making them affordable for many Angelenos. In the decades since, Olympic ticket prices have soared, pricing out many fans and raising questions about the accessibility of the Games.

• The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics started earlier this month.
• Dunlay and Kissick attended the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.