Fans eager to buy tickets for the LA28 Summer Olympics are facing unexpected fees, with some seeing charges rise by hundreds of dollars during checkout.
The first batch of advance tickets for locals was released on Thursday, and many Angelenos were shocked to find a hefty 24% service fee included in their final purchase price.
While the starting price for tickets is just $28, certain tickets can reach up to $2,000, depending on the event. For example, packages for the track and field gold medal events range from $2,350 to $8,250 for premium seating.
Lori Rovner from Manhattan Beach experienced difficulties when buying tickets, encountering multiple “Access Denied” alerts before finally securing her order. She ended up spending $2,604.63 on 16 tickets, which included a ticket price of $2,100 and a service fee of $504.63.
“That’s insane,” Rovner remarked, expressing confusion over the nature of the service fee.
In a Reddit discussion, a user shared their experience of purchasing 10 tickets to various events, including swimming and soccer, totaling over $11,000. The surprise came when they noticed the service charge was a staggering $1,038.22.
Many users labeled the high fees as nothing more than a “money grab.” One commented, “Almost 25% is outrageous. It’s out of my league, but I’m still shaking my head.” Another pointed out the fee is calculated as a percentage of the ticket price, encouraging complaints about the additional charges.
Frustration was palpable among commenters, with one stating, “Are you kidding????? 24% service charge? I just hate this country so much sometimes.”
Another user compared ticket prices for the upcoming LA games to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, noting a shocking 400% increase. “I thought it would be more expensive in LA… but was it really 400% more expensive?” they said, laying out the price differences they experienced.
- LA Athletics (Group B) Tickets $2,050 (includes $510 service charge)
- Paris Athletics (Group B) Tickets $550 + Service Fee $16
Despite some sharing outrage over ticket costs, others boasted about cheaper options, with one user stating, “I got 18 tickets for 9 events and paid just over $550. I used all my $28 tickets.” They mentioned that their events included soccer, gymnastics, and volleyball.
Another commenter reflected on traditional service fees, comparing Ticketmaster’s charges, which are usually 15% to 20%, to these Olympic ticket prices.
An LA28 representative confirmed that the fees are based on a percentage of the ticket price. They indicated that the pricing structure results from extensive market analysis, stating, “LA28’s ticket program takes into account various factors, including historical demand and fan feedback.”
They emphasized that most tickets are affordable, with roughly 75% priced under $400, and nearly half being less than $200. However, they acknowledged that select premium tickets do push into the thousands.
The advance ticket sale opened Thursday for qualifying residents, but the process was immediately marred by glitches that left many users frustrated, seeing error messages and facing access issues.
A spokesperson later reassured that the problems were not widespread and had been addressed. They added that fans would have a 48-hour grace period to finalize their purchases and could reach out for assistance if needed.
The Olympic Games are set to kick off with the Opening Ceremony on July 14, 2028, running through to July 30, 2028. The LA28 Paralympic Games will follow from August 15 to August 27, 2028.
