LA28 to allow venue naming rights in first for Olympics; Comcast, Honda debut deals

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will, for the first time in history, allow venue naming rights, organisers said on Aug 14, unveiling Comcast and Honda as inaugural partners in a move aimed at boosting commercial revenues.

The pilot programme, developed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will let qualifying LA28 partners retain existing venue names during the Games and buy additional marketing assets.

It also opens naming rights for up to 19 temporary venues to Olympic partners and LA28 sponsors, while standard “clean venue” rules continue for non-partner sites.

In a statement, LA28 organisers said the “landmark change” will apply to featured venues in support of the “largest commercial revenue raise in sports”.

Comcast will lend its name to the Comcast Squash Centre at Universal Studios, where squash will make its Olympic debut on the Courthouse Square backlot. Honda Centre in Anaheim will become the first arena to keep its name during an Olympic competition, hosting indoor volleyball.

And, as previously announced, Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles will host boxing and weightlifting.

“Any time you’re the first to do something in the context of the Olympics, it’s a big deal,” said LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman.

“It’s a big opportunity for us and it’s a big statement of support from the IOC. We think it will be a really powerful platform and opportunity in the commercial sector, so we’re really excited.

“From the moment we submitted our bid, LA28 committed to reimagining what’s possible for the Games. Today’s historic announcement delivers on that promise.”

Wasserman also said the deals introduce a “new commercial model” for the Olympic movement. The IOC traditionally enforces strict branding rules during the Games, masking corporate signage at competition venues.

He noted that money from selling venue naming rights would be in addition to the overall sponsorship revenue target of US$2.5 billion, which LA28 calls the largest commercial revenue raise in sports.

“We’ve been very conservative, so we have none of this revenue in our budget so any revenue is upside,” he said. “We think it could be significant.

“It’s a really powerful platform for branded partners of ours to engage with us and also with the globe, because it’s part of the broadcast. The reach is really stunning.”

From a practical perspective, the potential for SoFi Stadium and Crypto.com arena to maintain their names during the Games will help fans navigating the city.

“As a pure matter of wayfinding, it’s actually an important piece of the puzzle,” Wasserman added.

Comcast, which holds US broadcast rights through NBC and streaming service Peacock, said that it would support LA28 “across our entire company”, including coverage and the squash showcase.

Honda, which in June was named the Games automotive sponsor, said that its long-backed Anaheim arena would “step onto the international stage to power Olympic dreams”, according to Ed Beadle, a vice-president at American Honda Motor.

LA28 said additional naming-rights partners are expected as the three-year countdown continues. REUTERS, AFP