LA28 and City of Los Angeles Confirm the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center to Stage Diving for 2028 Olympic Games
Approved Proposal Brings Diving into the Venue City of Pasadena, Achieving up to $17.6M in Combined Savings and Revenue Growth
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 10, 2025) – The Los Angeles City Council today unanimously approved LA28’s proposal to relocate Diving to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in the Venue City of Pasadena.
“With unanimous approval from our partners on the Los Angeles City Council to relocate Diving, we are one step closer to finalizing our LA28 Games Plan, ensuring the Games are fiscally responsible while setting the stage for an incredible experience for athletes and fans from around the world,” said Reynold Hoover, LA28 Chief Executive Officer. “The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center will undoubtedly stage an unforgettable and world-class Olympic event, and we are grateful to our Host City and Venue City partners for their continued support.”
"This move will result in a significant step forward in ensuring both the financial success and sustainability of the Games, while enhancing operational efficiency,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Exposition Park will remain a keystone for the Games, featuring the historic LA Memorial Coliseum and BMO Stadium. This is the kind of thoughtful collaboration that will allow us to deliver the best Games possible – Games that will leave a significant legacy for the City of Los Angeles and benefit our region and our country for generations to come."
“The City of Pasadena looks forward to working with LA28 and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center to bring the best of Olympic Diving to Pasadena,” said Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo. “We value the unique opportunity this presents for bringing energy, meaningful economic opportunities, and pride to our entire city. This is a tremendous win for Pasadena, for our businesses, for our residents, and for the visitors who will come to Pasadena from across the globe for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For generations, Pasadena has welcomed the world to share in events that inspire and uplift, and this will be another chance to add to that proud legacy. Together with our partners at LA28 and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center, we look forward to initiating the planning process for bringing Olympic Diving to Pasadena. Though the perfect dive minimizes splash, the natural beauty of Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Aquatic Center will make the biggest splash Olympic Diving has ever seen.”
“This update to the 2028 Summer Olympics Venue Plan highlights the partnership between LA28 and the City of Los Angeles, bringing long-term benefits to local neighborhoods,” said Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “Moving Diving to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center will not only be a fiscally responsible move for the city, but it will also allow for upgrades to the John C. Argue Swim Stadium in South LA’s Expo Park into a world-class facility for future Olympians.”
“Diving may no longer be held at Expo Park, but through the work of my office with LA28, we secured an agreement in principle that strengthens our community. This commitment delivers major investments in the John C. Argue Swim Stadium, including a pool certified for national and international competitions. Just as important, it ensures our neighbors see the benefits they were promised. The lasting impact will be felt by the families of Council District 9, who will enjoy these upgrades for generations to come," said Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price.
“World Aquatics fully supports the decision to stage Olympic Diving at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center for the LA28 Games,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. “This world-class facility represents the very best of Los Angeles and beyond, offering a central location in Pasadena that has long been a hub for aquatics in the region. By utilizing an existing venue that serves hundreds of thousands of community members each year, LA28 is delivering on its vision of sustainability, legacy, and shared economic benefits. We are confident that the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center will provide a cinematic backdrop for Olympic sport, creating a memorable stage for the world’s best divers and an unforgettable experience for fans.”
"The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is honored to be confirmed as the venue to stage Olympic Diving for the LA28 Games,” said Melanie Sauer, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. “The RBAC itself was born out of the 1984 Olympic Games, built with funds left over from that historic moment in Los Angeles. This is a full-circle moment for our community and serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact the Games can have on the region through its legacy, inspiration, and ability to unite people through sport.”
Today's City Council meeting follows a unanimous vote of approval from the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games just last month. The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center features two Olympic-sized pools that adhere to both Olympic and international standards for world-class events. This facility requires minimal work, provides additional amenities for athletes, and accounts for up to $17.6 million in revenue increases and cost savings, all while addressing athlete safety concerns.
LA28 remains in conversation around future improvements to the John C. Argue Swim Stadium in Exposition Park with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks for the long-term benefit of the community.
ABOUT THE LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
LA28 will bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Los Angeles in 2028, uniting more than 15,000 of the world's greatest athletes in a celebration of sport, culture, and human potential. Set against a diverse collection of venues only Southern California can deliver, from the Pacific Ocean to Hollywood stages to world-class arenas, Los Angeles will become the third city ever to host three Olympic Games, following 1932 and 1984, and will also host its first ever Paralympic Games. The LA28 Games will celebrate historic milestones including becoming the first Olympic Games in history to feature more women athletes than men, the debut of new Olympic and Paralympic sports, and becoming the first Games since 1948 to not build any new permanent infrastructure. Operating as an independently funded, non-profit organization, LA28 has built a strong foundation of successful commercial partnerships alongside licensing, hospitality, ticketing, and with the support of the International Olympic Committee.
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