LA28 Olympics Tickets Frustrate Southern California Residents Despite Early Access

Locals near Olympic venues say ticket prices are too high, keeping them from attending the games in their own backyard.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:42am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting an Olympic stadium scene broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the frustration and exclusion felt by local residents over ticket prices.The high cost of LA28 Olympic tickets threatens to price out local residents, even those living closest to the games' venues.Los Angeles Today

Southern California residents, particularly those in Inglewood near Olympic venues like SoFi Stadium, are voicing frustration over the high cost of tickets for the LA28 Summer Olympics. Despite being promised more affordable options, many say the prices are out of reach, leaving them unable to attend events happening in their own neighborhoods. Local leaders are also concerned about the impact the games will have on public safety and small businesses.

Why it matters

The LA28 Olympics were touted as an opportunity to engage the local community, but the high ticket prices are pricing out many residents, especially those living closest to the venues. This raises equity concerns and could undermine the games' goal of being accessible to the broader public.

The details

Residents like Tracy Dworsky and Yolanda Davidson say the ticket prices, which can cost hundreds of dollars plus a 24% service fee, make attending the Olympics unaffordable. They feel the games are being catered to the 'super rich' rather than the local community. Small business owner Esaul Martin is also worried about the impact of increased crowds and traffic on public safety and his business.

  • LA28 organizers provided early ticket access to Southern California residents last week.
  • Recent high-profile events at SoFi Stadium and the Intuit Dome, like a Kanye West concert, have already caused major traffic and congestion issues in Inglewood.

The players

Tracy Dworsky

A Southern California resident who had set aside $2,000 for Olympic tickets, but found the actual prices to be far out of reach.

Yolanda Davidson

A lifelong Inglewood resident who lives just blocks from the Olympic venues and is concerned about the burden the games will place on the local community without providing access.

Esaul Martin

A small business owner in Inglewood who is worried about the impact of increased crowds and traffic on public safety and his business during the Olympics.

LA28

The organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which has promised more affordable ticket options.

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What they’re saying

“I wasn't expecting the tickets to be inexpensive; I wasn't that naive. It felt like these were being made available for the super rich, honestly. I didn't buy anything. Disappointed.”

— Tracy Dworsky

“We shouldn't just have to bear all of the burden of the Olympics; we should be able to participate.”

— Yolanda Davidson, Inglewood Resident

“It's important for us to make sure they understand the city is safe. It's safe and a great city. It's a growing city, we're gonna have some roadblocks and things, we're gonna have to continue to learn as a city and a business. But, I think we're doing just fine.”

— Esaul Martin, Small Business Owner

What’s next

LA28 organizers have promised more affordable ticket options in future sales, and local leaders are pushing for increased public safety measures like body cameras for law enforcement officers ahead of the games.

The takeaway

The high cost of LA28 Olympic tickets is pricing out many local residents, especially those living closest to the venues, raising concerns about equity and community engagement. Local leaders are also worried about the broader impact the games will have on public safety and small businesses in Inglewood and other host neighborhoods.