Olson Family at the LA28 Olympics

Los Angeles • July 14–30, 2028
Chase + Chad + 4 Kids • Swimming, Gymnastics, Equestrian, Lacrosse
🏅 🏅 🏅 🏅 🏅

🕒 DROP 1 OVER — DROP 2 IS YOUR SHOT

Drop 1 result: No tickets purchased. None of our target sessions (EQU16, LAC11, SWM14/16/17, GAR12/13) had inventory we wanted — saving all 12 for Drop 2.

Drop 2 timeline:

tickets.la28.org → REGISTER FOR DROP 2

Max: 12 Olympic tickets + up to 12 separate Football (soccer) tickets + 4 per ceremony.

📊 What happened in Drop 1 (April 9–19, 2026)

📋 QUICK REFERENCE — Type these codes into the search bar

Purchase in this order. Cart each group, checkout, then start next group.

PriorityCodeEventDateTime (PT)Who
① EQU16 Equestrian Jumping Individual Final Sat Jul 299:00–11:00 Chase + Evelyn (2 tix)
② LAC11 Lacrosse Gold Medal Match Sat Jul 2913:30–16:15 Chad + boys (4 tix)
③ SWM16 Swimming Finals (100m Fly, 50m Back, 800m Free, relay) Sat Jul 29PM Chad + boys (4 tix) ⚠️ MAY BE SOLD OUT
④ SWM17 Swimming Finals LAST DAY (50m Free, 200m Fly, relays) Sun Jul 3015:00–16:30 Backup if SWM16 sold out (4 tix)
⑤ SWM14 Swimming Finals (100m Free Final, 200m Back, Breaststroke) Fri Jul 28PM Alt swimming if Sat/Sun sold out

Flex / Bonus (use remaining tickets)

GAR13 Gymnastics Apparatus Finals (Men's/Women's)Sun Jul 23, 11:00–13:45
GAR14 Gymnastics Apparatus Finals (Men's/Women's)Sun Jul 23, 17:30–20:15
EQU14 Equestrian Jumping Team FinalWed Jul 26, 9:00–11:10
EQU05 Eventing Jumping Final (Team + Individual)Tue Jul 18, 16:30–22:00
LAC09 Lacrosse Qualifying Round (budget option)Fri Jul 28, 11:30–15:00
SWM01 Swimming Heats Day 1 (cheapest swim tickets)Sat Jul 22, AM
⚠️ LACROSSE GOLD MEDAL (LAC11) FULLY SOLD OUT IN DROP 1. Drop 2 is our only realistic shot — LA28 said inventory will be "refreshed" but expect very limited supply on lacrosse.

⚠️ ALSO SOLD OUT IN DROP 1: Flag Football, Softball, Squash, Opening Ceremony, Women's Gymnastics Team Final (GAR09), Track Cycling. Artistic Gymnastics sessions sold quickest of all sports.

⚠️ SWIMMING: Premium finals tickets ran $1,100+ for the cheapest seats; some sessions had reported $5,000+ category-A prices. Backlash means LA28 is under pressure to expand cheaper categories for Drop 2.
🔎 TICKET WATCH ACTIVE — Daily Morning Briefing now scans for LA28 ticket restocks, Drop 2 announcements, and secondary market listings. You'll get an email alert at chase.chasephillips@gmail.com if anything surfaces.

Check these yourself too:
LA28 Official Portal StubHub Vivid Seats SeatGeek Ticketmaster Reddit r/olympics

Drop 2: Registration is OPEN through July 22, 2026. Sale begins August 2026 with refreshed inventory across every Olympic sport. Register at tickets.la28.org to enter the draw.

🎯 Your Ticket Purchase Game Plan

Key Rules to Remember

  • 12 tickets max across all Olympic sessions (ceremonies have a separate 4-ticket limit per ceremony)
  • Tickets are sold by seat category (A-H tiers), not specific seats. Assignments come later.
  • 30-minute cart timer — once you add a ticket, you have 30 min to check out
  • Multiple transactions allowed within your 48-hour window until you hit the max
  • Have your payment method ready before the window opens
  • Use the 5-digit session code to search directly for events you want

Recommended Ticket Allocation (12 tickets + 4 ceremony)

Family of 6 with 12 tickets = smart split. Not everyone goes to everything. Chad + boys hit the big sessions; Chase + Evelyn get the equestrian date. Here's the plan:

  • Swimming Finals x4 (Chad + boys) — SWM16 Sat Jul 29 finals 6PM at SoFi Stadium. Categories C-E ($270-$560) sweet spot.
  • Equestrian Jumping Final x2 (Chase + Evelyn) — EQU16 Sat Jul 29 Individual Final 9-11AM at Santa Anita Park. Mother-daughter dream event.
  • Lacrosse Gold Medal x4 (Chad + boys) — LAC11 Sat Jul 29 Men's Bronze+Gold 1:30-4PM at BMO Stadium. Historic first modern Olympic lacrosse gold.
  • Flex tickets x2 — Gymnastics apparatus finals (GAR12/GAR13) or swimming/equestrian heats. Use for whoever wants more events.

Closing Ceremony x4 (separate limit) — Chad + older kids or whole family rotation. Does NOT count against your 12.

Super Saturday triple-header works! EQU16 9AM → LAC11 1:30PM → SWM16 6PM — all doable with drive times between venues.

Purchase Order Strategy (April 16, 10:00 PM PT / midnight CT)

  • Step 1: Go to tickets.la28.org using the link in your email
  • Step 2: Search by session code for your #1 priority (Swimming Finals or Gymnastics)
  • Step 3: Select the best available category, add to cart
  • Step 4: Immediately check out (don't browse — the 30-min timer is running!)
  • Step 5: Start a NEW transaction for your #2 priority
  • Step 6: Repeat until you've used all 12 tickets
  • Step 7: If you want Opening/Closing Ceremony, that's a separate 4-ticket limit
Lessons from Drop 1 (apply for Drop 2): $28 tickets disappeared instantly across every sport. Lacrosse, Flag Football, Softball, Squash, Opening Ceremony, Women's Gymnastics Team Final, and Track Cycling fully sold out. Plan to spend Cat C–E ($150–$600) for the sessions we actually want. On Drop 2 day, hit LAC11 first (highest sellout risk), then EQU16, then swimming finals. Don't bargain hunt — secure must-haves, then circle back.
🏊 Target Sports & Sessions

Here are the sports you want, when they happen, venues, and estimated pricing. Prioritize your must-see sessions.

🏊 Swimming

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood — 38,000 capacity (largest Olympic swim venue EVER)
Dates: July 22–30, 2028 (Week 2, finals close out the Games)
Prices: $50 (Cat H) – $1,116 (Cat A) per session • 8 price tiers
MUST-HAVE
SWM14 — Fri Jul 28 Finals 6PM
Evening finals session. SoFi Stadium with 38K fans will be ELECTRIC. Budget Cat C-E: $270-$560/ticket.
MUST-HAVE
SWM16 — Sat Jul 29 Finals 6PM
Super Saturday finals session. Pairs perfectly with the EQU16 + LAC11 triple-header day.
NICE TO HAVE
SWM17 — Sun Jul 30 FINAL session 3PM
Last swimming session of the Games. Closing day energy. Great alternative if Jul 29 is sold out.
BUDGET OPTION
SWM13 / SWM15 — Heats (morning sessions)
Qualifying rounds. Cheaper (Cat F-H: $50-$160) and still exciting to see the venue. Good flex ticket option.
Swimming Schedule SoFi Stadium Map

🦞 Gymnastics (Artistic)

DTLA Arena, Downtown Los Angeles
Dates: July 16–25, 2028 (Week 1 — team finals early, mixed team last)
Prices: ~$200 – $3,250+ per session • THE hottest ticket at the Games
⚠️ Artistic Gymnastics sold quickest of all sports in Drop 1. Women's Team Final (GAR09) is fully gone. Apparatus finals (GAR12/13) are the realistic Drop 2 targets.
SOLD OUT IN DROP 1
GAR09 — Women's Team Final
The marquee gymnastics event. Confirmed gone after Drop 1 — resale market only. Expect $1,000+ for decent seats. Have a backup plan.
LIKELY SOLD OUT
GAR11 — Women's All-Around Final
Individual medal event. Nearly as popular as team final. Similar pricing. Also expect instant sellout.
NICE TO HAVE
GAR12 — Sat Jul 22 Apparatus Finals 11:30AM
Individual apparatus finals. More accessible than team/all-around. Great flex ticket option.
NICE TO HAVE
GAR13 — Sun Jul 23 Apparatus Finals
More apparatus finals. Another good flex ticket candidate.
NICE TO HAVE
GAR08 — Mon Jul 17 Men's Team Final
Less demand = lower prices and actually available. Still a medal event.
BONUS
GAR15 — Tue Jul 25 Mixed Team Final
New event format. Should be more affordable and easier to get.
Gymnastics Schedule

🏇 Equestrian

Santa Anita Park, Arcadia — historic racetrack (also hosted 1984 Olympics!)
Full Schedule:
• Eventing: July 15–18 (Dressage, Cross-Country, Finals)
• Dressage: July 20–24 (Grand Prix, Team Final July 22, Individual Final July 24)
• Jumping: July 25–29 (Team Final July 26, Individual Final July 29)
Prices: Likely $50–$400 range • Less demand than swimming/gymnastics = easier to get
MUST-HAVE — FOR EVELYN!
EQU16 — Sat Jul 29 Jumping Individual Final 9-11AM
The signature equestrian event. Show jumping at a legendary racetrack. This is the one Evelyn will remember forever. Chase + Evelyn minimum. Pairs with Super Saturday triple-header!
NICE TO HAVE
EQU15 — Fri Jul 28 Jumping Qualifier
Qualifying round for the individual final. More affordable, great way to see the venue the day before.
NICE TO HAVE
EQU14 — Wed Jul 26 Jumping Team Final
Team medal event. Another jumping option if you want more equestrian.
BONUS
EQU04 — Mon Jul 17 Eventing Cross-Country
The most thrilling equestrian discipline to watch live. Horses galloping cross-country over massive obstacles. Outdoor viewing, festival atmosphere.
Equestrian Schedule Santa Anita Park Map FEI Detailed Timetable
For Evelyn: Santa Anita Park in Arcadia is ~25 min from Pasadena. If you stay in Pasadena, you'll be close to equestrian AND have Metro access to downtown LA venues. The equestrian venue is gorgeous — a proper racetrack with the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop.

🥋 Lacrosse (Sixes)

BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
Dates: Competition dates TBD, Gold Medal matches on July 29 (Super Saturday)
Prices: Likely $28–$300 range • NEW Olympic sport = unique experience
⚠️ Lacrosse fully sold out in Drop 1. Drop 2 (Aug 2026) will have refreshed inventory but expect very limited supply — have a fallback plan ready.
MUST-HAVE
LAC11 — Sat Jul 29 Men's Bronze + Gold 1:30-4PM
Historic first modern Olympic lacrosse gold medal match! USA should be in it. Fits perfectly in the Super Saturday triple-header between equestrian (9AM) and swimming (6PM). Sold out in Drop 1 — pursue aggressively on Drop 2 day 1.
NICE TO HAVE
LAC12 — Sat Jul 29 Women's Bronze + Gold 8:30-11PM
Women's medal matches. Same day, evening session. Could swap for SWM16 if needed.
BUDGET OPTION
LAC01–LAC10 — Preliminaries
Lacrosse returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1908! Sixes format is fast and exciting. BMO Stadium (LAFC's home) is a great venue. Affordable tickets — great for the whole family.
Lacrosse Schedule BMO Stadium Map

🎆 Opening & Closing Ceremonies

Opening: LA Memorial Coliseum + SoFi Stadium (dual venue!) • Closing: LA Memorial Coliseum
Opening: July 14, 2028 • Closing: July 30, 2028
Prices: $329 – $5,519 per ticket • Separate 4-ticket limit per ceremony
CONSIDER
Opening Ceremony — July 14
Unprecedented dual-venue format: LA Coliseum + SoFi Stadium. Once-in-a-lifetime. But VERY expensive ($329+ per seat, good seats $1,000+). 4 tickets = only 4 of your 6 family members. Could do Chase + Chad + 2 oldest?
RECOMMENDED
Closing Ceremony x4 — July 30
LA Coliseum. Usually cheaper than opening. Great way to cap the trip. Same 4-ticket limit. Does NOT count against your 12 sport tickets.
How to find: Search "Opening Ceremony" or "Closing Ceremony" on the ticket portal. These are NOT listed in the competition schedule PDF — they have their own section in the portal.
Budget reality check: 4 Opening Ceremony tickets at mid-tier (~$700 each) = $2,800. That's nearly the cost of your entire equestrian + lacrosse budget. The ceremonies are amazing on TV too. Prioritize the sports experiences?
🏠 Where to Stay (Family of 6)

You want a house — smart call with 4 kids. LA hotel rooms are tiny and you'd need 2+. Here are the best neighborhoods based on your target sports.

Venue Proximity Map

  • SoFi Stadium (Swimming) — Inglewood, south LA
  • DTLA Arena (Gymnastics) — Downtown LA
  • Santa Anita Park (Equestrian) — Arcadia, 25 min NE of downtown
  • BMO Stadium (Lacrosse) — Exposition Park, central LA
  • LA Coliseum (Ceremonies) — Exposition Park, central LA

Best central location: Pasadena or South Pasadena. Close to equestrian (15-25 min), Metro Gold Line to DTLA, reasonable drives to SoFi and BMO.

Recommended: Pasadena / Arcadia Area House

Whole House via Airbnb/VRBO — Pasadena

4-bedroom house in Pasadena is the move for a family of 6 — 2 adults + 4 kids need real space, not cramped hotel rooms. Close to Santa Anita Park (equestrian, 15-25 min) and on the Metro Gold Line for downtown venues. Charming neighborhood, great restaurants, full kitchen for feeding the crew, yard for the kids, parking for the minivan. Book EARLY — Airbnb opens Olympic bookings July 2026.
Estimate: $400–$800/night during Olympics (2-3x normal) • 2 weeks = $5,600–$11,200
Search Airbnb Pasadena Search VRBO

Whole House via Airbnb/VRBO — Arcadia

Right next to Santa Anita Park. Quieter, more suburban. Many large family homes. Slightly farther from downtown but closer to equestrian.
Estimate: $350–$700/night • 2 weeks = $4,900–$9,800
Search Airbnb Arcadia

Whole House — Santa Monica / West LA

Beach vibes! Closer to SoFi Stadium (swimming). Great for a family vacation beyond just the Olympics — beach days, pier, boardwalk. Farther from equestrian though (45-60 min to Arcadia).
Estimate: $500–$1,200/night • 2 weeks = $7,000–$16,800
Search Airbnb Santa Monica

Marriott Bonvoy Hotel Option — Residence Inn or Courtyard Pasadena

If you want Titanium Elite perks and points. Residence Inn has suites with kitchens. You'd likely need 2 rooms. Less space than a house but reliable.
Estimate: $300–$600/night x 2 rooms • 2 weeks = $8,400–$16,800
Search Marriott Pasadena
Booking timeline: Airbnb Olympic bookings open July 2026. Hotels typically open 12-18 months ahead (early-mid 2027). For a house, you might find owners listing sooner on VRBO. Set a reminder for July 2026 to start searching.
💰 Estimated Budget

Rough estimates for a family of 6. Assumes ~10 days in LA, house rental, and a mix of premium + affordable sessions.

CategoryEstimate
Flights (6 people, MSN→LAX) Delta via MSP, book 6-9 months ahead $2,400–$4,200
House Rental (10-14 nights) Pasadena area, 3-4 bedroom $5,000–$10,000
Swimming Finals (4 tickets, Cat C-E) SWM16 evening session, Chad + boys $1,600–$3,400
Flex / Gymnastics (2 tickets) GAR12/GAR13 apparatus finals or heats $1,000–$6,500
Equestrian (2 tickets) EQU16 Jumping Final, Chase + Evelyn $400–$1,500
Lacrosse (4 tickets) LAC11 Men's Gold Medal session $100–$600
Opening/Closing Ceremony (0-4 tickets) Optional — budget buster $0–$4,000
Rental Car (10-14 days) Minivan/SUV for 6, parking will be brutal $1,200–$2,000
Food & Activities (10-14 days) Restaurants, groceries, beach days, Disneyland? $2,500–$5,000
TOTAL ESTIMATE $14,200–$37,200
Money-saving moves: Cook breakfasts/lunches at the house (huge savings with 6 people). Use Metro for downtown venues. Fill the 12-ticket max with cheaper sports (lacrosse, equestrian qualifiers, swimming heats). Watch Opening Ceremony on TV and spend that $2,800+ on more event tickets instead.
☑ Action Items & Timeline

URGENT — Now through Aug 2026

  • DONE
  • By Jul 22, 2026
  • By Jul 22
  • By Aug 2026
  • Aug 2026

Summer 2026

  • Jul 2026

Fall 2026 – Early 2027

  • Oct–Dec 2026
  • By Dec 2026
  • Early 2027

2027–2028

  • Ongoing
  • Spring 2028
  • ~May-Jun 2028
LA28 Ticket Portal Ticketing FAQ Full Schedule PDF Official Purchase Checklist LA28 YouTube (tutorials)