LA 2028 Organizers Propose Move of Olympic Diving to Pasadena
The organizers of the LA 2028 Olympics on Wednesday proposed moving the diving competition from Los Angeles to Pasadena.
Diving was originally slated for the 1932 Pool in Exposition Park, located near the University of Southern California and adjacent to the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Wednesday’s proposal would move it to Rose Bowl Aquatics, just south of the Rose Bowl. The move is estimated to create $17.6 millions in “combined savings and revenue growth” while reducing “operational complexities” surrounding Exposition Park. The venues are separated by around 14 miles.
The proposal to move venues was approved by a Los Angeles City Council ad hoc committee on the 2028 Games. That moves the proposal to a vote by the full City Council.
The 1932 Pool, as its name might indicate, was used in the 1932 Olympics, the first of three times that the city has hosted the Games. Rose Bowl Aquatics’ facility was opened in 1990 and hosted USA Diving Nationals in 2008. Per the Associated Press, the new location “requires fewer improvements, provides more athlete amenities and spectator seating” that could increase revenue from the sport.
The 1932 Pool is located as the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium. It seated 10,000 people when used for swimming, diving and water polo at the 1932 Olympics. It was renovated in 2003, and the goal was to set the seating capacity with temporary grandstands to 5,000 seats for 2028.
Diving at the Paris Olympic was hosted at the 5,000-seat Paris Olympic Aquatic Centre, purpose-built for the Games in the neighborhood of Saint-Denis, located near the Stade de France that held the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and athletics events. Extra temporary seating would be brought to Rose Bowl Aquatics to hit a similar seating capacity.
