Fans Eagerly Await 2028 LA Olympics Ticket Pre-Sale

Lottery registration for the first wave of ticket sales has closed, leaving many hopeful fans waiting to see if they were selected.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:03pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a crowd of enthusiastic Olympic fans and the iconic Los Angeles skyline, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant blue, yellow, and red colors.The highly anticipated ticket pre-sale for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has fans buzzing with excitement and anticipation, despite the challenges of securing coveted event passes.Los Angeles Today

Fans in Los Angeles are anxiously awaiting the results of the initial ticket lottery for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which are set to be held in the city. The first round of the lottery closed on March 18, and those selected are being notified between March 31 and April 7, with a ticket purchasing window from April 9 to April 19. While some fans like Gary Friedman were disappointed to miss out on this first round, they remain hopeful for future opportunities as preparations continue across LA venues to host the global event.

Why it matters

The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are expected to draw massive global attention and interest, making tickets highly coveted. The initial lottery system is an attempt to provide fair access, but it has left many eager fans disappointed in the first round, raising questions about how equitable the process will be overall.

The details

The first round of the Olympic ticket lottery opened in January, marking the initial wave for would-be spectators hoping to attend the Games. Registration for that round closed on March 18, with fans like Gary Friedman and Bobby Chua signing up for a chance to purchase tickets. Those selected in the initial lottery are being notified between March 31 and April 7 and will have a ticket purchasing window from April 9 to April 19. Fans who miss out on this first round will have additional opportunities in future ticket sales windows.

  • The first round of the Olympic ticket lottery opened in January 2026.
  • Registration for the initial lottery round closed on March 18, 2026.
  • Fans selected in the first lottery are being notified between March 31 and April 7, 2026.
  • The first ticket purchasing window for selected fans runs from April 9 to April 19, 2026.

The players

Gary Friedman

A fan who attended the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as a child and is hoping to return for the 2028 Games, but was disappointed to miss out on tickets in the initial lottery round.

Bobby Chua

Another hopeful fan who is anxious about the ticket lottery process and fears being rejected, but remains determined to try to secure tickets for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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What they’re saying

“It's terrible getting rejected. It's terrible. I'm super scared I'm going to get rejected, I'm just hoping I can get tickets to see the Olympics.”

— Bobby Chua, Hopeful Fan

“You said you recently got an email - what did the email say?”

— Reporter

“It said my name wasn't chosen for this first group.”

— Gary Friedman, Hopeful Fan

What’s next

Fans who were not selected in the initial lottery will have additional opportunities to try to purchase tickets in future sales windows leading up to the 2028 Olympics.

The takeaway

The high demand and limited availability of tickets for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has created a frustrating experience for many eager fans, highlighting the challenges of providing equitable access to such a globally anticipated event. As preparations continue, the ticket lottery system will continue to be scrutinized to ensure a fair process for all.