The 2028 Olympics are coming to Los Angeles, with tickets advertised for locals starting at $28. Yet, securing a ticket might be harder than it sounds. Despite the promise of “affordable” LA28 tickets, limited availability, high demand, and hidden costs are making the Games inaccessible to many local fans.
Before the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics ended in February, thousands of people registered for the LA28 ticket draw. Organizers promoted the event as an affordable and inclusive event with a wide range of prices starting at $28 and early access for local communities throughout Los Angeles, according to the LA28 website.
On paper, the event was advertised as something that everyone could attend. But since time slots to purchase tickets have opened, many are upset by the results, with the majority finding that prices and availability don’t match what was expected.
Despite Los Angeles locals receiving priority time slots earlier than most, many found that tickets were either extremely expensive or simply unavailable. Within minutes of the release of tickets, popular events like the opening ceremonies, gymnastics, diving, and basketball finals were sold out completely, leaving others with later time slots empty-handed. Even for those who were lucky to receive the first round of time slots, hundreds experienced website access errors and were unable to access tickets until hours later.
In addition to the lack of general tickets, there were also very few tickets that were actually priced at $28 due to the high 24% service fees, according to the Los Angeles Times. Many tickets were priced at hundreds or thousands of dollars per person. As a result, what was advertised as an inclusive and accessible system began to feel like an experience catered more towards those with more financial flexibility.
In response to the widespread disappointment regarding the recent sales, LA28 organizers responded, saying nearly 50% of the tickets were priced at under $200, but premium seats for major events would exceed $5,000, according to People. However, not only did the high prices raise concerns for guests, but the lottery-style system added another layer of uncertainty to the ticket process. Instead of allowing fans to simply purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis, access was determined by assigned time slots and random selection. This meant even interested buyers had no guarantee they would be able to purchase tickets.
Many people who signed up for the ticket draw in January found themselves denied time slots. This unpredictability left many frustrated, as planning to attend specific events became nearly impossible. Rather than being a simple purchase of tickets, the experience felt more like a gamble, further reinforcing the idea that gaining access to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games is not only limited but also inconsistent and unenjoyable.
Beyond the purchase of tickets and availability, many are beginning to question what kind of Olympics LA28 is set to host. While the event is being hosted in Los Angeles to bring people together, the reality of limited availability is changing how inclusive the Games will truly feel once they arrive. With prices beyond $5,000 and time slots opening during working hours, it’s being viewed as a luxury experience that many feel challenges the idea of whether global events can still genuinely serve the communities that host them.
The Olympics may be returning to Los Angeles, but for many residents, the return does not feel as special as expected. Instead of a shared city-wide experience, the reality of the LA28 ticket draw suggests that attending will be out of reach for a large portion of the community. For many in the city, the biggest moments of LA28 will not be experienced in person, but instead at home through TV screens, watching an event happening in their backyard from afar.
