As Los Angeles moves toward hosting the 2028 Olympic Games, Exposition Park is emerging as a central testing ground for large-scale event operations and infrastructure planning. General manager Andrea Ambriz notes that the 160-acre, state-owned campus in South LA is no stranger to global attention, having previously hosted two Olympiads and major events ranging from music festivals and NASCAR to appearances by Martin Luther King Jr. and Pope John Paul II. That history, she says, is shaping how the park prepares for another intense period of international focus.
Ambriz emphasizes that while LA28 will be significant, it will not be the first time Exposition Park has managed crowds of more than 100,000 people in and around the Coliseum. The park is drawing on lessons from these prior events to refine crowd management, security coordination and visitor access. A key change for LA28 is the region’s commitment to a transit-first approach, which will sharply limit general public parking on campus. Instead, visitors will be funneled through security checkpoints and encouraged to arrive via public transit, with Exposition Park highlighting the advantage of having two Metro stations onsite.
Because the campus is embedded in a residential neighborhood, much of the current planning revolves around balancing neighborhood livability with the demands of a global event. Exposition Park’s team is in regular dialogue with community organizations, local residents, the business community and city partners to understand how daily operations, access and security perimeters will affect nearby households, schools and service providers. Ambriz notes that even local organizations across the street are asking basic operational questions about access and whether they will be able to remain open during the Games.
Infrastructure is a major focus ahead of 2028. Ambriz points to a request in the California governor’s proposed budget for about $100 million in infrastructure improvements at Exposition Park. Planned investments include major sidewalk and roadway repairs, new accessible ramps and broader accessibility upgrades designed to both meet compliance standards and improve the experience for visitors with mobility challenges. Engineering studies, community outreach and coordination with the construction industry have already begun to define priorities and timelines so work can be completed well before the Games enter their final, fast-moving stages.
Public safety is another core component of the planning effort. As a state-owned property, Exposition Park has its own police department with jurisdiction on campus. Ambriz says integrating that force with the broader LA28 security apparatus, which will draw officers from across the state and country, is essential. The existing familiarity of on-campus officers with the site is expected to support security planning and execution during the Games.
Ambriz also highlights lessons from recent Olympics in Milan, Paris and Tokyo, particularly around accessibility and long-term legacy. Feedback from Milan underscored the consequences of limited accessible routes to venues, prompting Exposition Park to prioritize ease of entry and movement for local and international visitors. The team is also examining how to ensure nearby communities are not boxed out of events, especially given the concentration of schools and summer community uses within a half-mile radius.
Looking beyond 2028, Ambriz frames the Olympics as a catalyst to upgrade Exposition Park into an improved, long-term destination for residents, tourists and visitors. She points to potential legacy benefits in sustainability, including exploring opportunities around power and energy improvements such as solar, as well as more robust safety and accessibility protocols that will remain in place after the Games conclude.
