Poll: Most Los Angeles-Area Residents Expect 2028 Olympics to Benefit L.A.
A new poll suggests most Los Angeles-area residents expect the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games to benefit the city. In an online survey conducted by YouGov in early October 2026, 60% of local respondents said the Games would have a positive effect on Los Angeles, including 26% who expected a very positive effect. Eleven percent anticipated a negative effect. The local survey included 324 adults. Support persisted even under a more complicated scenario. Asked whether LA28 would count as a success if competitions, audiences and tourism were strong but many residents found the Games disruptive or inaccessible, 61% of local respondents said yes. Seven percent called that outcome a failure. When asked what would make them proudest afterward, the most common local answer was residents saying the Games had improved the city, at 23%. Interest in attending was substantial, though access remained a concern. Sixty-two percent of local respondents expressed interest in a major event such as the Olympics, while 58% worried about access to the best LA28 experiences. Given a choice, 42% preferred a free ticket to a high-profile event, compared with 24% who favored unlimited access to cultural and fan festivals. Public watch parties could offer another way to take part: in a combined national-local response, 41% said attending one would help them feel part of the Olympics. Los Angeles is developing plans for such programs, but they are not yet funded. The polling did not ask whether support would change if the city or state had to cover Games-related costs.
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