West Hollywood Park will feature 2028 Pride House LA during the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (photo courtesy of the city of West Hollywood)

In preparation for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the West Hollywood City Council reviewed its 2026 World Cup fan zones during the Aug. 31 City Council meeting.

Assistant to the City Manager Andi Lovano presented a report on West Hollywood’s World Cup fan zones. 

The 2026 World Cup served as a “practical pilot” for future events planned in connection with LA28, Lovano said. As LA28 approaches, staff will periodically update the City Council on necessary budget requests and agreements requiring council approval.

“We learned a lot from the World Cup experience, and we look forward to future opportunities to engage the community in this way,” Lovano said.

Throughout the World Cup, the city put up several fan zones at Plummer Park and West Hollywood Park, giving fans a public space to celebrate and watch the games. The fan zones were free and open to the public. 

“The fan zones transform the city’s parks into dynamic viewing areas for residents and visitors to gather, watch matches and enjoy community-focused programming,” Lovano said. “The World Cup fan zones marked the first time the city activated its parks in this manner for a major regional sporting event. The feedback we received from community members regarding the fan zones was overwhelmingly positive.”

During LA28, West Hollywood Park will be used by Out Athlete Fund to stage 2028 Pride House LA, a 17-day event meant to provide an inclusive space for residents and visitors to celebrate the games and the LGBTQ+ community through sports. The city provided Out Athlete Fund with $1 million in sponsorship funds to support its vision for the event. All other monetary support will come from Out Athlete Fund fundraising.

Both Plummer Park and West Hollywood Park World Cup fan zones featured large LED screens for viewing, food vendors, curated entertainment and a variety of seating options. Seating was available on a first-come, first-served basis and attendees were encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.

Plummer Park Fan Zone events were held on June 12 and June 13 during the opening weekend of the World Cup. The city estimates that over the two days, more than 750 people attended Plummer Park kickoff events.

At the West Hollywood Park Fan Zones, which took place from June 25-28 during the final weekend of the World Cup, the city estimates that more than 2,500 people attended events over the four days. West Hollywood Fan Zones featured a beer garden operated by 33 Taps, a performance by Discofoot, who combine soccer and dance to produce a choreographed soccer match, and a mini soccer field that served as a platform for youth soccer clinics.

For its U.S. premiere, Discofoot held four performances at the West Hollywood Park Fan Zones. The performances featured two choreographers, a local DJ, a referee and 22 professional dancers from the L.A. area.

“Discofoot was one of the reasons that the West Hollywood Fan Zone was so unique and inclusive,” Lovano said. “Equal parts spectacle and celebration, Discofoot invited the audience to cheer, laugh and dance along as the city reimagined one of the world’s most familiar cultural rituals in a brilliantly unexpected way.

Angel City Football Club, Grow the Game and Street Soccer USA Los Angeles provided free youth soccer clinics during the fan zones to participants of all ages and skill levels. Over 80 children, as young as 3 and as old as 16, participated in the clinics.

“The city aimed to provide an inclusive, family-friendly experience in an accessible community setting for youth soccer clinics,” Lovano said.

The city of West Hollywood also partnered with the Consulate General of Sweden on June 25 and the Consulate General of France on June 26 to host watch parties. Lovano said the partnerships brought “international flair and showed the importance of bringing various community members together for this global sport.”

For LA28, the city plans to continue its international outreach by establishing hospitality housing in West Hollywood. The city established the hospitality house working group with representatives from the Economic Development Department, City Manager’s Department and Visit West Hollywood. The working group is focused on recruiting international delegations to establish their hospitality houses in West Hollywood during the Games. Hospitality houses are designated spaces by the National Olympic Committees where sponsors and groups host viewing parties, athlete celebrations and fan zones.

“It’s creating that community and camaraderie,” West Hollywood’s director of economic development Laura Byrie said to the council.

As of Aug. 31, the city has reached out to more than 30 international consulates and met with six. Several consulates have indicated they are interested in partnering with West Hollywood, but have not yet determined their needs for LA28, Vice Mayor Danny Hang said. The city will continue outreach and meetings into early 2027. Consulates are anticipated to make their hospitality house location decisions by the second quarter of 2027.