The LA28 Organizing Committee’s headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles is already making a notable economic splash as preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games ramp up. Since CEO Reynold Hoover took the helm in June 2024, the workforce has surged from 120 to over 1,000 employees, with expectations to reach 5,000 by the Games. This influx of workers has created steady demand for local restaurants, shops, and services near the USC Tower location at 1150 S. Olive St., stimulating business in an area still recovering from post-COVID economic challenges. Hoover emphasizes that many employees live nearby, contributing to consistent weekday spending that benefits the urban core well ahead of the Games.

The strategic placement of the LA28 headquarters near major venues like the Los Angeles Convention Center, L.A. LIVE, and the Peacock Theater further solidifies Downtown LA as the operational hub of the event. This central location supports efficient coordination while also aiding the city’s revitalization efforts by drawing a daily population of workers and visitors into the area. Beyond the immediate presence, LA28 aims to foster wide-ranging economic benefits throughout Southern California, with projections from a September 2026 Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation study suggesting a potential economic output of up to $40.6 billion and the creation of more than 200,000 jobs linked to the Games.

LA28 is committed to ensuring that the economic legacy of the Olympics extends to local and small businesses. The organizing committee has set ambitious goals to allocate 75% of procurement spending to Greater Los Angeles businesses and a quarter of that specifically to local small enterprises. The story of 27th Street Bakery, a family-run shop established in 1956 and operated by former Olympic gold medalist Jeanette Bolden Pickens, highlights this connection between long-standing businesses and the Olympic tradition. Hoover underscores that while the world watches the medals and athletic triumphs, one of the lasting legacies will be the empowerment of community businesses to thrive for years beyond 2028.

With the Opening Ceremony slated for July 14, 2028, LA28 faces a tight timeline to deliver a complex, world-class event. Success will not just be measured by athletic achievements but also by the meaningful opportunities created for workers, entrepreneurs, and the neighborhoods hosting the Games. The expanding workforce and growing business activity in Downtown Los Angeles are early indicators that LA28’s economic impact is unfolding years in advance, positioning the city and the region for sustained growth and vibrancy well after the Olympic flame is extinguished.