It’s been more than 40 years since Los Angeles hosted the Summer Olympics, and as the countdown to 2028 continues the city’s sporting and entertainment arenas are gearing up to provide unique VIP experiences to Angelenos and patrons from around the world.
From SoFi Stadium to Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s estimated $2-billion Intuit Dome in Inglewood, live viewing options at arenas have evolved considerably over the last decade, with owners dedicating more square footage to luxury suites and premium seating.
Scott Spencer, founder and president of San Francisco-based Suite Experience Group, said while these choices were available prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, changing attitudes among consumers in the post-pandemic world have triggered a boom.
“Prior to Covid, some venues were repurposing private luxury suites and installing more club seats in their place,” said Spencer. “But post-Covid that trend has reversed. Demand for suites is at an all-time high, and venues are once again spending the money to add even more suites as customers value privacy and exclusivity.”
For example, said Spencer, the Crypto.com Arena recently added two new suite types, including four Tunnel Suites that provide exclusive perks to patrons.
“Similar to how the airline industry now offers multiple seating tiers starting with basic economy all the way up to first class; stadiums have expanded their options too, with a focus on higher-end customers who are willing to pay more for privacy, premium views and VIP services,” Spencer said.
Spencer said venues are also investing in the purchase experience to drive added revenue.
“Suites have historically been very hard to access, but just as you can buy a Tesla online, you can now buy a luxury suite online at most major venues,” said Spencer.
He said SEG’s SuitePro software, which powers suite sales for places such as Crypto.com Arena and SoFi Stadium, typically helps venues increase suite sales by a minimum of 20% in year one by making suites more discoverable and easier to purchase.
While venues such as SoFi Stadium, Crypto.com Arena and Intuit Dome did not exist during the 1984 Olympics, they are now among the stadiums tapped to showcase various Olympic games in 2028.
Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, will host the opening and closing ceremonies and its field will be temporarily replaced with an Olympic-sized pool for the swimming competitions.
It’s not the first time a pool has been built in a football stadium.
Last summer, a pool was constructed inside Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium to accommodate the 2024 Olympic Swimming Trials.
And that’s not all fans can look forward to at SoFi Stadium.
Leading up to the games, the open-air stadium, which boasts 260 luxury suites and over 13,000 premium seats, will also host eight FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and the SuperBowl LXI in 2027.
In addition, Crypto.com Arena will be the site of the gymnastics competitions and Intuit Dome, located alongside SoFi, has been selected to house the 2028 basketball games.
“If you’re looking for venues that can really deliver on the VIP experience, then L.A. is the perfect market to host the Olympic Games,” said Spencer. “I can’t wait to see what these venues add to their already strong premium offerings as they cater to well-heeled international clientele.”
BMO Stadium
Designed by San Francisco-based Gensler, the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium opened in April 2018 and is the home of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City Football Club.
Located in Exposition Park, it anchors the south end of the Figueroa Corridor and includes 125,000 square feet of walkways and plazas that are open to the public.
The LEED Silver certified building was the first new open-air stadium built in L.A. since Dodgers Stadium was unveiled in 1962.
At a 34-degree incline, the stadium’s seating is reportedly among the steepest in Major League Soccer. Every seat is within 135 feet of the pitch, and the closest seats are only 12 feet from the touchline.
BMO Stadium has 35 private suites including 10 Field level and 12 Founders level suites. In addition, there are two Party suites on the Founders level, 10 Sunset Deck suites and one Party Suite on the Sunset Deck.
Amenities include an exclusive VIP entrance via the Grand Lobby, VIP parking passes, in-suite flat screen TVs and professional catering options.
The stadium has a number of premium clubs, such as the Field Club, which boasts an upscale Hollywood feel, with field-level viewing, access to premium seats and all-inclusive food and beverages on regular season LAFC and ACFC match days.
There’s also the Figueroa Club, which is located on the east side of the stadium and features communal lodge seating, local graffiti art and a private VIP entrance off Figueroa.
On the mezzanine level, the BMO Founders Club is the most expansive and wide-open club in the stadium, with 14-foot ceilings and midfield views with padded seats. It includes 598 club seats, two large party suites and nine other suites that are available for purchase.
It’s attached to an exclusive rooftop venue for those who want to host parties.
Other clubs include the 3,559-square-foot Directors Lounge, adjacent to the Field Level Club and the Sunset Deck, which has views of downtown L.A., the Peristyle at USC Coliseum and the Hollywood sign.
Another fan favorite is the Directors Box, which is located on the mezzanine level. It offers midfield viewing, luxury lounge seating, a private elevator and staircase to the Directors Lounge and all-inclusive food and beverages.
Crypto.com arena
Crypto.com Arena opened its doors in 1999 as the former Staples Center.
Located in downtown L.A., the eco-friendly arena is the home of the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Lakers, the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings and the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Sparks.
The arena, which is owned and operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group, has a seating capacity of nearly 20,000, including 2,500 club seats. Crypto.com Arena serves as the anchor for the L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment district.
Last fall, AEG completed a three-phase nine-figure multimillion dollar renovation project that started in 2022, increasing its existing 160 premium suites, adding options that enable fans to be lower and closer to the action.
Wrapping up in time for its 25th anniversary on Oct. 17, the project included upgrades to the Yaamava’ Club by San Manuel and an expanded Lexus Club along with the exclusive Terrace and Tunnel suites, which were unveiled in 2023.
Hidden away from the court and the arena bowl, each of the four 12-person Tunnel Suites offers an ultra-private luxury experience to guests right down to parking.
Patrons can pull up next to the suite entrance under the arena, next to where the players park. The large suites provide easy access to VIP seats in the arena.
The Terrace Suites, which are easily visible to the bowl, can accommodate up to 14 guests and feature an elevated all-access experience just off the main concourse.
Spencer, of Suite Experience Group, said the suites offer exclusive perks from start to finish.
“From the moment guests arrive, they’re treated to VIP amenities and personalized service, ensuring every aspect of their visit feels special,” Spencer said. “With plush seating, gourmet catering, and a dedicated staff on hand, each suite becomes a luxurious retreat where fans can immerse themselves in the energy of the event while enjoying complete comfort and privacy.”
In addition to the suites, there is also a new Coke Studio at the arena, thanks to a multiyear partnership between AEG, Coca-Cola North America and Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling.
The 3,300-square-foot Coke Studio is open to the public and features a recording studio and event space.
Over the years, the arena has hosted countless iconic events. This year marks the 22nd time that the Grammy Awards will be held at the venue.
The arena has been selected as the site where the men’s and women’s gymnastics competitions will held during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Dignity Health Sports Park
The Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team’s home, the $150 million privately financed Dignity Health Sports Park, opened in 2003.
Located on 125 acres of the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, Dignity Health Sports Park serves as the U.S. Tennis Association’s high-performance training center and the U.S. Soccer Federation’s national team training headquarters.
The park, formerly known as StubHub Center, was developed and is managed by Anschutz Entertainment Group and includes a 27,000-seat stadium for soccer, football, other sporting events and outdoor concerts and an 8,000-seat tennis stadium.
There’s also a large track and field facility and an indoor velodrome (the VELO Sports Center) for track cycling. The VELO Sports Center is an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training site and is a home track to USA Cycling’s national track cycling program.
There are 43 luxury suites on the upper and main concourse levels, six event suites and 14 terrace cabanas as well as 1,332 club seats.
Standard main concourse and upper concourse suites come with 12 to 20 and 12 to 16 tickets respectively, with the option to purchase more, and the larger event suites provide 48.
Guests enter the park through a private entrance and the suites offer prime views, climate-controlled areas and come with some preferred parking passes, among other perks.
One of premium spaces on the site is the Spectrum Tunnel Club, which is available exclusively to LA Galaxy Fieldside Seat Members.
In December 2024, construction began on a four-year plan to upgrade Dignity Health Sports Park.
The project entails the re-seating of the entire lower bowl, restroom renovations, refacing concession stands and upgraded premium seats.
New premium and space highlights include the Fieldside West seats, which will provide the closest viewing point to the field. (https://www.lagalaxy.com/news/dignity-health-sports-park-begins-construction-as-part-of-stadium-refresh-project)
Open-air and semi-private cabanas on the West Terrace will offer easy access to the Stadium Club and an exclusive catering area, and new flip-down mesh platinum seating at the home side midfield will increase comfort and breathability for fans.
The first phase is expected to be completed by February.
Dignity Health Sports Park will host several Summer Olympics events, including tennis, track cycling, field hockey and the Rugby Sevens.
Intuit Dome
Located near SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the 17,800-seat Intuit Dome is the newest of the county’s arenas to offer patrons unique accommodations.
Intuit Dome, which is home to Steve Ballmer’s Los Angeles Clippers, opened in August and reportedly cost at least $2 billion to construct.
AECOM led the design team for Intuit, which according to the website, was built to offer the best sightlines and most legroom in the NBA in both premium locations and the upper bowl AECOM led the design team for Intuit Dome, which boasts incredible sightlines and the most legroom in the NBA at all locations in the arena.
Notably, the so-called “Wall” – 51 uninterrupted rows of seats behind the visiting team’s bench – is designed to draw in the most passionate fans and, through their voracious distracting jeers, give the Clippers a home court advantage.
The high-tech facility features the largest-ever double-sided 4K Halo Board in an arena setting, measuring nearly an acre in length, allowing guests to view statistics and see replays.
The public plaza at the entrance includes a large media screen, concert stage, community basketball courts and space for people to gather.
Unlike some of the newer venues it has just 46 traditional and 20 Bungalow suites.
The dome’s Halo Suites accommodate 13-17 guests and provide a traditional suite experience, with luxury furnishings and stadium and lounge seating.
In contrast, the Bungalow suites seat 10 to 14 people and offer club seat views and private access, with premium food and beverage options available.
The venue’s Courtside Cabanas provide the best baseline and prime views of the player’s tunnel and allow for up to 11 guests.
According to Spencer, Intuit differs from other venues in that it’s designed to keep patrons in their seats.
Each seat has its own individual charging outlet, and the facility has 120 restrooms – more than any other NBA venue – helping fans to avoid standing on long lines.
Spencer said it’s a radical idea given that the trend in venues over the last 25 years has been to open up the sightlines so that people in clubs and suites can see the game even when they aren’t in their suites.
“Most venues put as many TVs as possible in the concourses so guests never miss a play,” said Spencer. “Intuit Dome is the opposite. There are no TVs in the stadium clubs and concourses and only one TV in each suite, which is purposely disabled during games and concerts. And the sightlines from the suites are such that you have to be in your seat to see the action. Steve Ballmer is committed to fans being in their seats and cheering on the Clippers.
“So far, some fans love it, and some fans aren’t as enthusiastic,” he added, “but I commend Intuit Dome for innovating on the fan experience and it will be fun to see how this contrarian vision of premium seating evolves and whether any other venues adopt some of these design elements.”
The venue, which has five basketball courts – more than any other NBA arena – as well as a practice facility and training center, will host the basketball competitions during the 2028 Summer Olympics.
SoFi Stadium
Developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner and Chairman Stan Kroenke, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is a go-to destination for those seeking high-end fan experiences, with 260 luxury suites and over 13,000 premium seats.
Located on the former Hollywood Park racetrack, SoFi Stadium – home to the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams – is the first indoor-outdoor stadium to be constructed in the country and the largest NFL stadium at 3.1 million square feet.
“When Mr. Kroenke decided to bring his team to L.A., he wanted to create a unique building that spoke to both L.A. residents and those from around the world,” said Mike Forrester, vice president of premium sales and service at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “The stadium’s 360-degree, double-sided, center-hung Infinity Screen is one of its most creative features. The building is also completely freestanding; its roof does not touch the walls, and if there’s a storm the roof acts like a wind sail.”
The stadium is known for its signature curved roof canopy and 70,000 square-foot 4K Infinity Screen by Samsung.
There are eight different suite designs and 12 unique club spaces, including 12 Owners Suites on both the east and west sides of the stadium – spanning goal line to goal line.
“The Owners Clubs are the most exclusive,” said Forrester. “The suites open directly into the highest priced clubs in the building. They are very difficult to gain access to because they are sold out for 20 years.”
The Wynn Club, which is on the east side, and the West Owners Club, are the most upscale of the club spaces with their plush seating, high-end furnishings and all-inclusive food and beverages.
Other premium spaces include the Michelob Ultra Club and Corona Beach House, which are on levels three, four and five on the southeast and southwest sides of the building respectively.
The levels are connected by spiral staircases, feature a lounge on level three and can accommodate up to 200 guests between levels four and five. These spaces offer excellent sightlines, LED TVs throughout and a buffet featuring a rotating menu of premium offerings.
Located on level two just behind the first 19 rows of seats, the Google Cloud Club spans all 360 degrees of the building. The club is accessible to patrons on the 100 Level and holds between 8,000 and 9,000 people.
One of the most intriguing specialty spaces is the 2,000-square-foot field-level Bootsy Bellows. Developed in partnership with global hospitality firm The h.wood Group and co-owned by John Terzian and Brian Toll, it includes a private speakeasy and DJ booth.
While SoFi Stadium has hosted a variety of sports and entertainment events since opening in 2020 – including the Superbowl LVI in February 2022 and six sold-out Taylor Swift concerts – its crowning event is yet to come.
In 2028, it will serve as one of the sites for the Summer Olympics hosted in L.A. The opening and closing ceremonies will take at the stadium and the football field will be transformed into an Olympic-sized pool for the swimming competitions.
