What to expect from the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics: Venues, new sports, and NFL stars

With just over two years remaining until the Olympic flame returns to Southern California, the Los Angeles 2028 organizing committee has officially transitioned from conceptual planning to operational readiness. The LA28 Games, scheduled to run from July 14 to July 30, 2028, will mark the third time the city has hosted the Summer Olympics, following historic runs in 1932 and 1984.[1][2]

The sheer scale of the upcoming Games is already coming into focus. As of early June 2026, organizers reported that more than four million tickets have been sold to buyers across 85 countries and all 50 U.S. states. The robust early demand underscores the global anticipation for the first Summer Olympics on American soil since the 1996 Atlanta Games.[1][2]

Central to the LA28 strategy is a strict "no-build" philosophy. Rather than constructing expensive, single-use white elephants, Los Angeles is relying entirely on its sprawling network of existing and already-planned stadiums. This approach aims to avoid the crippling debt that has plagued other recent host cities, leaning instead on the region's unparalleled sports infrastructure.

The historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will become the first stadium in history to host track and field events across three different Olympiads. Meanwhile, the newly opened Intuit Dome in Inglewood—the state-of-the-art home of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers—will host the basketball tournaments, bringing the sport to one of the most technologically advanced arenas in the world.

But the crown jewel of the venue plan is SoFi Stadium. The $5.5 billion home of the NFL's Rams and Chargers will undergo an unprecedented transformation to host the swimming competitions. By building a temporary pool over the football field, organizers expect to accommodate up to 38,000 spectators—nearly double the modern attendance record for a swimming meet.[4]

To make the SoFi Stadium conversion possible, LA28 had to rewrite the traditional Olympic schedule. Swimming, which typically anchors the first week of the Games, will be pushed to the second week. This allows SoFi to co-host the Opening Ceremony before crews rapidly transition the stadium into a colossal aquatics center.

The commitment to existing infrastructure has also pushed the Games well beyond California's borders. In a move that surprised some Olympic purists, LA28 announced that softball and canoe slalom events will be held 1,300 miles east in Oklahoma City. The decision leverages Oklahoma City's existing 13,000-seat softball stadium and world-class whitewater rapids center, saving tens of millions of dollars in temporary construction costs.[4]

Beyond the venues, the LA28 sports program is undergoing a distinctly American makeover. The International Olympic Committee approved the addition of five sports for the 2028 program: flag football, cricket, lacrosse, squash, and the combined bid of baseball and softball.[3]

The debut of flag football has generated massive domestic buzz, largely driven by the National Football League's aggressive lobbying. The non-contact, five-on-five format offers a safer, highly accessible version of America's most popular sport, and the NFL views the Olympics as the ultimate vehicle to grow the game internationally.[3]

The stakes for the flag football tournament skyrocketed in May 2025, when NFL team owners officially voted to allow active roster players to compete in the LA28 Games. With superstars like Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts serving as global ambassadors, the prospect of an NFL "Dream Team" competing for gold has become one of the most anticipated storylines of the upcoming Olympics.

Cricket's return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900 is equally monumental, albeit for a different audience. Played in the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format, the inclusion of cricket is a strategic play by the IOC to capture the attention of the sport's 2.5 billion global fans, particularly in the lucrative South Asian broadcasting market.[3]

Lacrosse will also return to the Olympic stage, honoring its roots as a sport invented by North American Indigenous peoples. It will be played in the rapid-fire "Sixes" format. Squash will finally make its Olympic debut after decades of failed bids, while baseball and softball return after being left off the Paris 2024 program.[3]

Despite the excitement surrounding the venues and new sports, significant financial anxieties loom over the host city. LA28 operates on a privately funded budget currently estimated at $7.2 billion, relying heavily on corporate sponsorships, broadcast rights, and ticket sales rather than taxpayer dollars.

However, Los Angeles city officials are increasingly nervous about potential cost overruns, particularly regarding public safety. The security bill for the Games is projected to exceed $1 billion. While organizers expect the federal government to cover the lion's share by designating the Olympics a National Special Security Event, firm federal funding commitments have yet to materialize.

In response, the Los Angeles City Council has pushed for binding agreements requiring LA28 to reimburse the city for any extraordinary municipal services, such as enhanced sanitation, transit, and local policing. City leaders are demanding strict contracts to ensure that taxpayers are not left holding the bag if revenue falls short, insisting that "bankruptcy cannot be the legacy" of the 2028 Games.

As the 771-day countdown continues, organizers must balance these financial realities with the monumental logistical task of hosting the world. The coming year will bring further milestones, including the unveiling of the official LA28 mascot, the design of the Olympic torch, and the routing of the nationwide torch relay.[2]

For now, the blueprint is set. By blending iconic American sports with a sprawling, pragmatic venue plan, Los Angeles is betting that it can deliver a spectacular, profitable Olympics that reshapes how the Games are hosted for decades to come.[1]