Olympics tickets have a 24% service fee - and it's raising eyebrows among Angelenos
LAist • • sports
Key Points:
- Lori Rovner from Manhattan Beach purchased 16 Olympic Games tickets during the initial sales phase but was shocked by service fees amounting to about 24% of each ticket's price, with one ticket totaling $2,604.63 including fees.
- Ticket prices for the Olympics range from $28 to over $5,500, with Opening Ceremony tickets starting at $328.68, and service fees are included in the displayed total cost, though many buyers were surprised by the high fees.
- Service fees on tickets are common but vary widely; a 2018 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found an average fee of 27% on primary ticket markets, but LA28 has not explained the basis for their fee structure.
- Some buyers opted for lower-priced tickets to avoid high costs, while others found the ticket purchasing process complex due to numerous events and scheduling, leading some to limit their purchases.
- Additional ticket sales will occur in future drops and a resale market will open in 2027, with some purchasers already considering reselling tickets shortly after buying them.
