The organizing committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced on Thursday that it hit a “historic benchmark” with more than 4 million tickets sold in its first round of sales.
According to LA28 officials, tickets were told across 85 countries and all U.S. 50 states with top sales coming from the US, UK, Canada, Mexico and Japan while a half a million of the promised 1 million $28 tickets went to local Los Angeles and Oklahoma residents in a presale before the general session opened.
“The response to our initial on-sale was nothing short of historic. Fans from near and far have spoken: the world wants to be part of the LA28 Games,” LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover said. “The success of Drop 1 is about more than momentum — it reflects LA28’s commitment to delivering a fiscally responsible Games that create a lasting legacy for Los Angeles and its communities.”
The ticket demand more than two years from the Games also shows that interest in the upcoming Olympics is high even as buyers and those looking for deals encountered higher than expected prices and low availability for many events. Some prices reached as high as $5,500 with track and field, basketball and swimming among the events commanding premiums.
Purchases also have 24 percent service fees, which has drawn scrutiny, while what appears to be small inventory in many events had some ticket hopefuls feeling priced out.
Hoover said in early April that more $28 tickets would come in a future release and that the average single ticket price is $200 which is an “accessible ticket.” It is unclear how many of the $28 tickets are still available or if dynamic pricing — which was not used in the first round — would be applied in the duration of sales.
Meanwhile, artistic gymnastics sold faster than any other sport and four of the added sports for the 2028 Games — flag football, lacrosse, softball and squash — sold all of the tickets made available in this session. Nearly all of the tickets for soccer matches in seven venues are gone.
Officials also noted that women’s sessions outsold men’s 93 percent to 88 percent in the first round of sales.
The second drop of tickets will be available in August and registration to be eligible for that sale is now open now through July 22. However, the 12 ticket limit still stands and even if someone purchased tickets in the first release, the total amount anyone can buy is 12 across the entire Olympics if they did not exceed their maximum tally.
