LA 2028 Olympic Tickets: What It’s Actually Like After the First Ticket Drop

A first look at LA 2028 Olympic ticket prices and availability after the opening ticket window.

I’ve just been through the first LA 2028 Olympic tickets window after being selected — and if you’re trying to understand how Olympic tickets actually work, there are a few things worth knowing straight away.

This isn’t a full guide. It’s a field report.

What prices look like, what availability really means, and what this first drop actually tells us.

Of course, if you were hoping to get LA28 tickets but didn’t register before the March 18th, 2026 deadline, your options will be more limited — although further ticket phases and resale opportunities could happen as we move towards 2028.

LA 2028 Olympic Ticket Prices: What I Actually Saw

The headline is simple:

Olympic ticket prices are high — even at entry level

The lowest ticket prices I saw started at around $93 for a 1st round women's cricket match.

And once you move beyond that, things climb quickly:

• Athletics sessions: $1600 +

• Football and baseball: often well into the $100s

• Canoe slalom and other events: over $500

• Opening and Closing Ceremonies: $4,000+ at the top end

  
  

If you remember London 2012, there were affordable tickets available, often around £20.

Availability: You Don’t See Everything

One of the biggest surprises is this:

Even when you get access, you’re not seeing the full picture

There were entire sports and sessions saying that tickets were no longer available.

Missing sessions doesn’t mean sold out

For example:

• Squash showed messaging indicating no availability

• Certain athletics sessions weren’t visible

• Some sports had only a handful of sessions available

  
  

This doesn’t necessarily mean tickets are “sold out" — unless the pre-sale that was open to local LA residents depleted the entire ticketing allocation.

It means:

They haven’t been released yet

The system only shows you what’s available in that specific window — not the full Olympic schedule inventory.

What This First Drop Actually Is

This is where expectations need to be reset.

This is not the main sale.

It’s the first phase of a staggered release system.

A phased release, not full access

The Olympics use multiple ticket windows to:

• manage demand

• spread access across different groups

• keep inventory for later phases

  
  

So this first drop is more like: a controlled opening rather than a full release

There will be more opportunities — and likely with broader availability.

Important Insight: If You Didn’t Get Selected

If you registered before the March 18th deadline but didn’t get selected for this window, that’s completely normal.

You are still in the system

You don’t need to do anything

You’ll be eligible for:

• future ticket drops

• additional sales phases

• potentially different allocation methods

  
  

This isn’t a one-shot process.

It’s designed to run over time.

And equally, if you were selected for the first ticket drop but didn't buy any tickets (perhaps due to the costs), or didn't use your full allocation of 12 — you will still be the system to be selected for future ticket windows.

What This Means for Planning a Trip

Right now, it’s too early to lock anything in around tickets alone.

What this first phase tells us is:

You need patience.

Think in phases, not one moment

If you’re planning a trip to LA for the Olympics:

• Don’t panic if you missed this window

• Don’t assume prices will come down significantly

• Don’t assume availability is gone

  
  

Instead, think in phases:

• Tickets will continue to be released

• Different sessions will appear at different times

• Opportunities will come in waves

  
  

From a travel perspective, it also reinforces:

This will be an expensive trip overall.

Flights, accommodation, and tickets will all sit at a premium.

Is It Worth It?

At this stage, the answer is:

It depends on what you’re expecting

If you’re looking for:

• cheap access

• easy ticket availability

• full control over your schedule

  
  

Then the LA28 doesn't look like it will deliver.

But if you’re looking for:

• a global sporting event

• a chance to see multiple sports in one trip

• a unique atmosphere you don’t get anywhere else

  
  

Then it still holds its value.

What this first ticket drop shows is that:

You need to approach it with a plan, not impulse

Understand the system. Be patient. And be realistic on price.

I’ll keep updating this as more ticket windows open.