More details emerge in updates to LA28 venue plans

More details around changes to LA28 site planning emerged following the report from SBJ's Rachel Axon on Friday, including how the changes made "thousands of additional tickets available to fans," according to David Wharton of the L.A. TIMES. IOC leaders have “conditionally approved the proposal,” pending a vote by the L.A. City Council. One element of L.A.’s plan -- which includes the 2028 Paralympics -- has been “untouchable from the start.” The Coliseum, a historical centerpiece for the 1932 and 1984 Summer Games, will be “modified with a raised floor to host track and field.” Almost everything else has been “subject to review.” The opening of the Intuit Dome later this year “affords the opportunity to shift basketball from Crypto.com Arena to the sport’s newest venue.” It also allows for “moving another marquee sport, gymnastics, from the older Forum to Crypto.com.” LA28 estimates the Intuit and Crypto.com changes will “result in a net budgetary gain” of $38M. SoFi Stadium’s luxury suites, restaurants and estimated 38,000 capacity for swimming could bring an additional $106M in revenue (L.A. TIMES, 6/21). In N.Y., Draper & Vrentas noted the organizers expect to generate about $1.2B in Olympic ticket revenue, with $56M of it "coming from the swimming events." Moving swimming could “significantly increase the dollar amount” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/21).

USING WHAT YOU'VE GOT: In Oklahoma, Steve Lackmeyer wrote LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman “hopes to avoid building new venues that will not be used after the games" after unveiling Oklahoma City as the host of canoeing and softball for the L.A. Games. The canoeing competition at Oklahoma City's Riversport Rapids and softball competition at Devon Park “aligns with the sustainability policy” adopted by the IOC in 2019 that allows hosts to locate competitions in other cities to avoid costly construction of new venues that are later abandoned. Wasserman added Oklahoma City has “demonstrated their ability to rally around sports to the nation through hosting the Women’s College World Series and investing $35 million in upgrades to their softball facility.” Lackmeyer noted Friday capped a “years-long series of discussions and cooperative efforts” between Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. Wasserman indicated that athletes in Oklahoma City will be “treated to world-class venues and still get to experience part of the Olympics in Los Angeles” (OKLAHOMAN, 6/21). The AP’s Cliff Brunt noted the 13,000-seat Devon Park will give the American team “even more of a hometown advantage,” as it sits on the grounds of USA Softball’s headquarters and the USA Softball HOF. No facility in the L.A. area seats more than 2,000 fans (AP, 6/21).