REPRINT FROM DOWNTOWN FALL 2024 ISSUE
As quickly as this year’s spectacular Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremonies wrapped, all eyes turned to Los Angeles. The second largest city in the United States, with 3.82 million people, must now begin the process of preparing to host the LA28 Olympics and Paralympics. The game dates are scheduled for July 14, 2028- August 15, 2028.
According to LA28’s official web site, la28.org, this will mark the third time Los Angeles is hosting the Olympic Games;
it’s their first time hosting the Paralympic Games.
This past July, the Los Angeles City Council voted to move forward with the Los Angeles Convention Center expansion project, which has a billion dollar budget. It must be completed well before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to handle the influx of visitors. The Convention Center, which was used at the 1984 Games, will host five Olympic sports in 2028- Fencing, Judo, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Wrestling.
The project will bring together efforts from global sporting and entertainment presenter AEG Worldwide, Plenary, the architect Populous, and PCL and Webcor (general contractors.) It’s a boon for the city that will help create thousands of jobs for locals, as well as draw in new visitors and generate revenue.
Across the street from the Convention Center, the Theater in Downtown Los Angeles will host the Weightlifting competition. The Los Angeles Convention Center is one of many locations throughout Los Angeles where events will be taking place. Other venues include SoFi Stadium, the Kia Forum, the Rose Bowl, and the Long Beach Arena.
“We want a contiguous exhibition space,” says Doane Liu, Chief Tourism Officer and Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles’ Tourism Department.
The LA28 logo designed by snowboarder Chloe Kim.
“Right now we’re in two different halls, largest hall is 350,000 square feet; the [expansion will be] connecting two buildings, one large hall of 750,000 square feet is desirable for larger conventions, so we don’t have to break it up.”
While the City Council has green lit the billion dollar budget for the project, it now has to give “final approval” to drawings. “The expansion would include roughly an additional half a million square feet exhibition space, that will include “50,000-square-feet meeting space, 95,000 multi-space, three stories, and take roughly three years to complete.”
DTLA’s Grand Park. Photo by Korak Taylor.
“Last year, LA had 50 million visitors,” Liu continues. “We expect by the time the Olympics roll around, 70 million,” says Liu. “With this expansion, the Los Angeles Convention Center will become a premier destination that is able to pursue larger events that bring visitors to LA who spend money at our local hotels, restaurants, and attractions—adding additional revenue to the city’s general fund.”
According to a press release on the LA28 web site, “The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will reflect all that the Los Angeles area has to offer, and with these venue assignments, we’re very proud to bring the Games to many of our vibrant and diverse communities,” said LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans.”
In keeping up with the digital age, the LA28 logo, has nearly three dozen variations. While the “L” and the “28” stay the same, the “A” is interchangeable, designed by a multitude of athletes and artists, including snowboarder Chloe Kim, singer Billie Eilish, actress Reese Witherspoon, artist Steve Harrington, and others.
It was also recently announced that Cedars-Sinai will be the official medical provider of the LA28 Olympics and Paralympics. DTM