LA28's first Olympic ticket drop is a major flop for locals

Key Points:

• The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games ticket presale for local residents faced widespread criticism due to extremely high prices and limited availability of popular events, contradicting earlier promises of affordable access starting at $28.
• Many sought-after events like artistic gymnastics, opening ceremony, and men's basketball were quickly marked unavailable, while remaining tickets for swimming and track events started at over $1,100 per seat.
• Some lower-priced tickets were available only for events held outside California, such as women's soccer in St. Louis and canoe slalom in Oklahoma City, making affordable in-person attendance difficult for locals.
• LA28 organizers suggested volunteering as a free alternative for locals to attend events, but this was seen as shifting the cost burden onto residents rather than providing genuine affordable access.
• General public ticket sales are scheduled for April 9-19, but skepticism remains about whether sufficient affordable tickets will be available to local fans, fueling concerns that the majority of accessible seats may be reserved for out-of-town or international buyers.