2028 LA Summer Olympics kick off with mad rush for early tickets

LOS ANGELES — Let the games begin.

The ticket lottery for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics goes live Wednesday — giving fans their first shot at scoring tickets later this year.

It’s a massive moment for California — firing a starter gun ahead of the games, which open in July 2028.

By making fans pre-register before tickets go on sale, organizers say they’re ensuring seats are affordable.

Tickets for all sports will start at $28, with at least one million seats priced at that level and roughly a third of all tickets under $100.

“We’re thrilled to welcome fans from around the world to what will be the greatest Games in history and to celebrate the energy and spirit of Angelenos on the world’s biggest stage,” Casey Wasserman, chairperson and president of LA28, exclusively told The Post.

Ahead of the launch, the committee hosted more than 300 Olympic and Paralympic athletes — including speedskating champ Apolo Ohno and gymnastics legend Nadia Comăneci — at the LA Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday.

It’s one of the largest gatherings of athletes ever held outside of competition.

“To come outside, stand in this incredible place, and light the cauldron with so many amazing athletes — all while celebrating the launch of LA28 ticket registration — was truly special,” Janet Evans, Chief Athlete officer and five time gold olympian, told The Post exclusively. 

Evans, who led the countdown to the cauldron, said she felt “ grateful to have been part of this incredible movement.” 

“Los Angeles is an incredible Olympic city,” she said. “We like to say the Olympics and Paralympics are in the DNA of Los Angeles.”

This will mark LA’s third time hosting the Olympic Games — and the first time hosting the Paralympics.

A schedule has already been released, with some events — including baseball, basketball, hockey and water polo — set to begin July 12, 2028.

These Olympics are expected to be the largest games in history, featuring more than 11,000 athletes across 51 sports.

It will also be the first Olympics where women outnumber men — with the ceremonial lighting was hailed as a “milestone” that brought together Olympians from 28 Games dating back to 1960.

While the games are still two years away, the race for tickets has begun.

Fans can register starting Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST through March 18, but signing up doesn’t guarantee a seat — just a shot. 

Those who enter will be placed into a randomized draw for future ticket access, with purchasing windows rolling out over multiple releases.

The first round of buying opportunities will run from April 9 through April 19, 2026, with fans notified by email between March 31 and April 7 if they’ve been selected. Miss your window, lose your Wi-Fi, or show up late, and you could be shut out — even if you did everything right.

Southern California residents get an added edge. 

Fans in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Ventura and San Bernardino counties who register will be automatically entered into a special locals-only presale in early April 2026 — before tickets open to the general public.

Fans planning to register should have a few basics handy: Their full name, email address and postal code — especially important for those hoping to qualify for the local presale.

No credit card is required at registration, and there’s no cost to sign up.

Fans selected to purchase tickets in April will be asked to confirm their postal code and provide credit card information for verification.

“The reason why we have this process is because we want to give everyone the same opportunity to be eligible to purchase tickets,” Jacie Prito, LA28 spokesperson told The Post.

“For us accessibility and affordability is really important.” 

Attendees only need to register once to be eligible to buy tickets for any sport at the Olympic or Paralympic Games, she confirmed. Those not selected in early rounds will automatically remain eligible for future draws.

Local organizations will also receive free tickets to distribute within their communities, LA28 confirmed. Organizers said they are still finalizing funds raised through the Door Knock initiative — launched in November — as well as the list of participating local organizations. 

The committee plans to release a record 14 million tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, surpassing the 12 million sold at the Paris Olympics.

Evans offered fans a preview of what’s ahead, saying they can expect the world to come together in one of the greatest sports cities on Earth, with top athletes competing in world-class venues at their very best.

“It’s going to be inspiring, it’s going to feel new, and I think people are going to love it,” Evans said. “We’re incredibly proud to be bringing the Games home.”