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)
You have 6 family members but only 12 tickets. That's 2 sessions for everyone, or you can mix: some events for the whole family, some for just part. Here's the recommended split:
Swimming Finals (x6) — SoFi Stadium, ~38,000 seats, iconic. Pick ONE finals session for the whole family. Categories C-E ($270-$560) are the sweet spot.
Gymnastics (x2-4) — Hardest ticket to get, most expensive. Maybe Chase + 1-2 kids? Women's team final or all-around.
Equestrian Jumping Final (x2-4) — For Evelyn + Chase at minimum! Santa Anita Park. Should be more affordable.
Remaining 0-2 tickets: Lacrosse or field hockey (likely cheaper, easier to get)
Alternatively: Skip gymnastics (pricey, limited), go all-in on swimming (6) + equestrian (4) + lacrosse (2).
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
Pro tip from early Drop 1 buyers: The $28 tickets sell out almost instantly. Budget for Category C-E range ($150-$600) for the sports you care about. Cheap lacrosse/hockey tickets may still be available. Don't waste time hunting for bargains — secure your must-haves first, then go back for deals.
🏊 Target Sports & Sessions
Here are the sports you want, when they happen, venues, and estimated pricing. Prioritize your must-see sessions.
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
Swimming Finals — any evening session (July 22-30)
This is where medals are won. Evening sessions have all the finals. SoFi Stadium with 38K fans will be ELECTRIC. Budget Cat C-E: $270-$560/ticket.
NICE TO HAVE
Swimming Heats — morning sessions
Qualifying rounds. Cheaper (Cat F-H: $50-$160) and still exciting to see the venue. Good option if finals are too pricey for 6 tickets.
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
MUST-HAVE
Women's Team Final
The marquee gymnastics event. If Simone Biles era successors are competing, this will be the most in-demand ticket at the entire Olympics. Expect $1,000+ for decent seats. Consider 2 tickets (Chase + Evelyn?) vs 6.
NICE TO HAVE
Women's All-Around Final
Individual medal event. Nearly as popular as team final. Similar pricing.
NICE TO HAVE
Men's Team Final or Qualifications
Less demand = lower prices. Qualifications are the most affordable gymnastics option.
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!
Jumping Individual Final — July 29
The signature equestrian event. Show jumping under the lights at a legendary racetrack. This is the one Evelyn will remember forever. Buy tickets for the whole family if possible (or at minimum Chase + Evelyn).
MUST-HAVE
Eventing Cross-Country — July 17
The most thrilling equestrian discipline to watch live. Horses galloping cross-country over massive obstacles. Outdoor viewing, festival atmosphere.
NICE TO HAVE
Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle (Individual Final) — July 24
Horses "dancing" to music. Charlotte Dujardin-style performances. Beautiful and mesmerizing.
BONUS
Jumping Team Final — July 26
Another jumping option if the Individual Final sells out.
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.
🏉 Field Hockey
TBD venue in LA area
Dates: July 12–29, 2028 (starts 2 days BEFORE Opening Ceremony!)
Prices: Likely $28–$200 range • One of the most affordable Olympic sports
NICE TO HAVE
Pool play or Quarterfinal session
Fast-paced, exciting live sport. Affordable tickets. Great way to see Olympic competition without breaking the bank. If USA is playing, even better.
BONUS
Gold Medal Match — July 29
Super Saturday finale. More expensive but incredible atmosphere.
🥋 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
NICE TO HAVE
USA Lacrosse pool play
Lacrosse returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1908! The US is a powerhouse — this will be historic. Sixes format is fast and exciting. BMO Stadium (LAFC's home) is a great venue. Affordable tickets likely.
BONUS
Gold Medal Match — July 29
Historic first modern Olympic lacrosse gold. USA should be in it.
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?
CONSIDER
Closing Ceremony — July 30
LA Coliseum. Usually cheaper than opening. Great way to cap the trip. Same 4-ticket limit.
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
3-4 bedroom house in Pasadena puts you close to Santa Anita Park (equestrian) and on the Metro Gold Line for downtown venues. Charming neighborhood, great restaurants, space for 6. Kitchen, yard, parking. Book EARLY — Airbnb opens Olympic bookings July 2026.
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).
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.
Category
Estimate
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 (6 tickets, Cat C-E)1 evening session, whole family
$1,600–$3,400
Gymnastics (2-4 tickets)Women's team or all-around final
$1,000–$6,500
Equestrian (4-6 tickets)Jumping Final + Cross-Country
$400–$1,500
Lacrosse / Hockey (2-4 tickets)Pool play or quarterfinal
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, hockey, equestrian qualifiers). Watch ceremonies on TV and spend that $2,800+ on more event tickets instead.