LA28 Ticket Sales Launch with Mix of Affordable and Premium Pricing

Organizers aim to raise $2.5 billion from ticket sales to fund $7.145 billion Olympics budget

Apr. 4, 2026 at 10:51pm

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The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee has launched ticket sales, with a mix of low-cost and high-priced options to help fill a $2.5 billion budget line. While some tickets for popular events like track and field, swimming, and basketball are priced in the thousands of dollars, the organizers have promised that one million tickets will be available for just $28 and that two-thirds of all tickets will be under $200.

Why it matters

The LA28 ticket pricing strategy is a delicate balance between generating sufficient revenue to cover the games' $7.145 billion budget and making the events accessible to a wide range of fans. The high-priced premium tickets are aimed at capturing the secondary market value, while the low-cost options aim to fulfill the organizers' promise of affordability. The success of this approach will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for future Olympic host cities.

The details

The ticket prices for various events at LA28 vary widely, with some sessions costing over $2,000 per ticket. For the 16 July afternoon track and field session at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, prices range from $104.19 to $2,460.76. Swimming events at SoFi Stadium are also priced high, with the 30 July finals session ranging from $104.19 to $1,860.45. In contrast, wrestling events at the Los Angeles Convention Center are more affordable, with the 30 July session costing between $74.42 and $682.17. Team sports like basketball and football also have a wide range of prices, with some sessions not yet on sale.

  • Ticket sales for LA28 began with a pre-sale to Southern California residents on 4 April 2026.
  • Sales to the general public will start on 9 April 2026.

The players

LA28

The organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, responsible for managing the $7.145 billion budget and ticket sales.

Casey Wasserman

The chair of the LA28 organizing committee, who has reiterated the goal of making one million tickets available for $28 and two-thirds of all tickets priced under $200.

City of Los Angeles

The financial guarantor for the LA28 Olympics, along with the State of California, requiring the organizing committee to avoid a budget deficit.

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What they’re saying

“One million tickets will be available for $28 and two-thirds of all tickets will be priced under $200.”

— Casey Wasserman, Chair, LA28 Organizing Committee

“For pricing at these levels, the organizing committee will be expected to offer a seamless and satisfying fan experience.”

— Rich Perelman, Author

What’s next

The LA28 organizing committee will continue to monitor ticket sales and make adjustments as needed to balance revenue goals and fan accessibility. The success of this pricing strategy will be closely watched as a potential model for future Olympic host cities.

The takeaway

The LA28 ticket pricing approach highlights the challenge of generating sufficient revenue to fund the Olympics while also making the events accessible to a wide range of fans. The mix of high-priced premium tickets and low-cost options aims to strike a balance, but the organizers will need to deliver a top-notch fan experience to justify the steep prices for some events.