Why 2028 LA Olympics Tickets Are So Hard to Buy — And So Expensive

If you tried—and failed—to buy tickets for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, you’re not alone. The experience was a lot like being lectured by a wealthy friend about their favorite hobbies: fencing, cricket, badminton. And just like that friend, the Olympics tested your financial limits. How much would you pay to watch elite athletes sword fight? Could you learn to love cricket for $100? Would you take on mild credit card debt to see a less glamorous version of tennis?

For many, the answer was no. The entire ticket-buying process—email registration, a glitchy website, strict time slots, and unclear inventory—left potential spectators frustrated. Despite organizers’ promises of affordability, including $28 tickets for locals, nearly 50% of all tickets costing less than $200, and only 5% exceeding $1,000, the reality was far different. Prices soared as high as $5,000 for some events.

I experienced the chaos firsthand: a broken website, a missed time slot, and sticker shock. I eventually gave up, though not before considering spending money to watch javelin—a sport I’d never paid attention to before.

The Chaotic Rollout of LA 2028 Olympic Tickets

How the Ticketing Process Worked

The road to disappointment began on January 14, 2026, when organizers opened registration for the first ticket drop, scheduled for April. Fans were invited to submit their email addresses until March 18. Residents of Los Angeles and Oklahoma City—hosting softball and canoe slalom—had a locals-only presale option.

Selected entrants received a random time slot between April 9 and April 19 to purchase tickets. LA and OKC residents who were chosen got an earlier window, starting on April 2.

Tickets were organized into an alphabetical tier system, with Tier A being the most expensive and Tier J the least. But the system was anything but straightforward. There was no standard pricing across events—Tier A tickets for swimming could cost thousands more than Tier A tickets for badminton. Some venues didn’t even offer all tiers, meaning a smaller stadium might only go down to Tier D, while a larger arena offered tiers all the way to J.