The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies will be shared between the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Stadium in Inglewood, showcasing Los Angeles’ unique blend of history and innovation 

Los Angeles, CA (May 8, 2025) – Today, LA28 confirmed that the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Stadium in Inglewood will serve as the official venues for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Largely consistent with the 2017 bid plan, this announcement follows updates to the Olympic venue plan and precedes updates to the Paralympic venue plan, reflecting a revision to the 2028 Paralympic Closing Ceremony location with all other Ceremonies remaining at their original venue designation.

“The venues selected for the 2028 Opening and Closing Ceremonies will highlight Los Angeles’s rich sporting history and cutting-edge future, showcasing the very best that LA has to offer on the world stage,” said LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman. “These two extraordinary venues will create an unforgettable experience, welcoming fans from across the globe to an Olympic and Paralympic Games like never before and concluding what will go down as one of the most incredible Games in history.”

“Today’s announcement marks a proud milestone as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will become the first venue in history to host three Olympic Games,” said Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles. “For over a century, the Coliseum has been a landmark host to some of the most iconic moments in all of sports history. That story continues in 2028 as our City and our region welcomes the world for what will be the greatest Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

“As a proud LA28 Venue City, the City of Inglewood is honored to play such a pivotal role in the 2028 Games,” said Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. of Inglewood. “Our stadium is one of the most impressive in the world and will deliver an incredible experience for thousands of in-person fans, with millions more watching from home, as we come together to celebrate the Opening Ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

“The University of Southern California is excited to welcome the world to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Carol L. Folt, President of the University of Southern California. “Our Trojan football stadium is a national landmark featuring the iconic 1932 and 1984 Olympic torch, and in 2028 will once again make history as the first stadium to host events for three Olympic Games. It’s an honor for us to contribute to the Olympic Opening celebration and host both the Olympic and Paralympic Closing Ceremonies in 2028.”

“Sports has the power to inspire and unite people of all backgrounds, generations, and experiences, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games serve as a model for how this unparalleled platform of sport can bridge the world,” said E. Stanley Kroenke, Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman.  “When we built our stadium, it was with the vision of transforming Los Angeles and bringing the biggest global events in sports and entertainment to our region. We are honored that the world will come together at our venue and celebrate the Opening Ceremonies for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

On July 14, 2028, the Olympic Opening Ceremony will be shared between the LA Memorial Coliseum and the Stadium in Inglewood, creating an unprecedented dual-venue celebration that will earn the Coliseum the unique distinction as the first venue in history to host events for three Olympic Games while also marking the Stadium in Inglewood’s Olympic debut. The use of both venues strategically aligns with their respective roles as competition venues for Athletics and Swimming, accommodating the unique scheduling adjustment for the 2028 edition of the Games, with Athletics moved to the first week and Swimming to the second. Both venues will feature artistic elements that will capture the rich culture of Los Angeles, with the specific activities to be identified through the creative development process leading up to the LA28 Games.

The Olympic Closing Ceremony will take place on July 30, 2028, at the LA Memorial Coliseum, an iconic venue that will once again shine as the world’s greatest athletes come together for one final, unforgettable celebration. The Olympic Closing Ceremony will be a powerful tribute to the spirit of the Games, further solidifying the Olympic Movement into the history of Los Angeles forever.

The Paralympic Opening Ceremony will ignite in the Stadium in Inglewood on August 15, 2028. This incredible venue will set the stage to showcase the spectacular scale and magnitude of the limitless possibilities for LA’s first Paralympic Games in one of the most modern and impressive stadiums in the world.

On August 27, 2028, the Paralympic Closing Ceremony will be hosted at one of the most storied Games venues of all time, the LA Memorial Coliseum. This presents an opportunity for the Paralympic Games to write a new chapter in the venue’s history, cementing its place in Los Angeles’ history and creating an impact that will be commemorated for generations to come. The Paralympic Closing Ceremony marks the final moments of the LA28 Games, creating an unforgettable legacy that will forever connect the Olympic and Paralympic Movement to Los Angeles.

Additional information regarding the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies will be identified and shared at a later date. All confirmed Olympic sports and venues announced to date are available for reference on www.la28.org. The updated Paralympic venue plan will all be announced at a later date following review and approval by the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board.

ABOUT THE LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES

The LA28 Games will mark Los Angeles’ third time to host the Olympic Games, previously hosted in 1984 and 1932, and first time to host the Paralympic Games. Los Angeles will host the world’s most elite athletes in 2028 as it welcomes Paralympians and Olympians from around the world to compete on the biggest stage in sports. The LA28 Games are independently operated by a privately funded, non-profit organization with revenue from corporate partners, licensing agreements, hospitality and ticketing programs and a significant contribution from the International Olympic Committee.

Building the track will take 3-4 months

The USC Trojans may need to find a place to play its home football games when Olympic track and field comes to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2028, as the stadium will undergo the installation of a track after the original was removed decades ago.

Coliseum General Manager Joe Furin said hosting the Olympics will be a huge milestone for a facility that’s seen plenty of them in its 100-year history, which includes the 1932 summer games of the tenth Olympiad.

The Coliseum will host USC football in 2027, but that will be the last event before the facility is turned over to the Olympics, Furin said.

“The Olympics’ crew will come in and work with the Coliseum’s team to start building the track, which is anticipated to take 3-4 months,” he said. “There may be some sort of pre-competition event held at the Coliseum before the actual Olympic Games to break in the track and stuff, though the details are not finalized yet.”

The Coliseum will also the Paralympics after the main event.

“After the Olympics and Paralympics, all of the track and field equipment and infrastructure will need to be removed,” Furin said. “There is still uncertainty around whether USC football will be able to host any games at the Coliseum in 2028 during the Olympic preparation and event timeline.”

The process will likely take the entirety of 2028.

The Coliseum celebrated its centennial in 2023. The building was constructed in 1921 and completed in 2023. It hosted the first USC football game in October 1923.

“The centennial celebration was extended beyond a year, bridging past achievements to future milestones, such as the 2028 Olympics,” Furin said.

“The Coliseum is fortunate to still be in business, the century old, with an incredible legacy,” Furin said. “The university made a nearly 100-year commitment to keep managing it, so it’s going to be around for another century, and we hope to keep that legacy of great events going.”

Managing a 100-year-old building, however, comes with its own set of challenges.

Furin acknowledged the lack of storage, infrastructure issues, and the challenges in adopting new technologies like Wi-Fi and internet capabilities, but he takes pride in the Coliseum’s resilience, unlike other historic venues that have fallen victim to the wrecking ball.

“Los Angeles is fortunate to have a building like the Coliseum,” he said. “And me, personally, I’m humbled to be a steward at this moment in time of this building, to see it from one generation going on to the next.”

The seven-story Scholarship Club Tower, with its luxury suites and club seats, complements the Coliseum’s timeless grandeur.

The concourse outside the stadium walls serves as circular food court. The stadium and its concessions and catering partner Legends recently launched a “Battle of the Burgers” promotion featuring burgers based on each visiting Big 10 school, as USC is a freshman member of the mega conference of 18 teams across the country.

The Coliseum hosts a variety of concerts and large-scale events beyond just USC football games, Teresa Guy, vice president of booking, who remarked that the Coliseum has a “huge and very healthy private event business,” hosting around 300 events a year.

The stadium’s peristyle area can be configured in various capacities, but “anytime the Coliseum transforms from a football stadium into a full concert venue, it is a marvel to see,” she said.

There are multiple shows in the books, including plans for “big rock concerts and big hip hop shows and big EDM concerts.”

The Torch, a smaller venue within the Coliseum has grown to host around 25 events per year. Sophie Tucker is booked to play the space.

Originally published in Venues Now by by James Zoltak