SANTA MONICA, Calif. — LA28 must find a new Southern California venue to host the 2028 Olympic Games’ beach volleyball event.

What You Need To Know

  • Santa Monica is out as a venue option to host the 2028 Olympic Games' beach volleyball event

  • LA Olympic organizer LA28 and Santa Monica ended negotiations 

  • Santa Monica commissioned a fiscal impact report that found that the city could lose an estimated $1.45 million if it hosted the event

  • LA28 is considering Long Beach or Huntington Beach to host the popular beach event

LA28, the private nonprofit organizing the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Santa Monica have failed to come to an agreement for the city to host the popular sport.

“While I am disappointed that LA28 has chosen to end negotiations with the city of Santa Monica, I remain proud of the principled and fiscally responsible approach we took throughout this process,” said Santa Monica Councilwoman Caroline Torosis in a statement. “Our community deserved a transparent agreement that delivered real benefits and minimized risks — and we stood firm in advocating that.”

Santa Monica was a key piece in LA28’s bid presentation to the International Olympic Committee to land the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

The plan was for the coastal city, the so-called birthplace of competitive beach volleyball, to create a temporary 12,000-seat venue on its picturesque beachfront next to the Santa Monica Pier and iconic Ferris wheel.

Santa Monica officials said that the 30-ticketed beach volleyball events would likely attract over 450,000 visitors to the city across two weeks, from July 14 to July 30, 2028.

However, a staff-commissioned fiscal impact study conducted by HR&A Advisors projected that if Santa Monica opts to host beach volleyball, the city could lose $1.45 million.

The impact study estimated that the city would be responsible for $15.54 million in preparation costs leading up to the Olympic Games. Meanwhile, the event’s projected revenue is $14.1 million.

“This loss could change depending on the level of reimbursement, terms included in final agreements, and other factors yet to be determined,” the city-funded study found.

The study further found that if the city chose not to host beach volleyball, “it would gain $10.65 million in fiscal benefits” just from the influx of tourists coming to Southern California for the games.

“Taken together, these findings suggest that choosing to host Olympic beach volleyball translates to a net loss of roughly $12.10 million to the city,” according to the study.

LA28 spokesperson told the LA Times in a statement that they ended talks with Santa Monica to stage the beach volleyball event.

“Following a thorough evaluation and careful assessment, LA28 has decided to conclude its efforts with the City of Santa Monica,” an LA28 spokesperson said. “The process for Santa Monica to become a venue city for the 2028 Games was consistent and in line with all other venue city negotiations. LA28 remains confident that beach volleyball’s venue will be staged along the iconic Pacific coastline and deliver an incredible athlete and fan experience.”

According to the Orange County Register, LA28 is considering bringing the event to Long Beach or Huntington Beach.