Olympics debut in the San Fernando Valley draws both pride and caution

In the San Fernando Valley, a newly unveiled plan to expand the 2028 Olympics venue locations across Los Angeles is drawing a mix of excitement, cautious optimism and calls for the Olympic Games to reflect values of equity and inclusion.

The Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee on Tuesday, April 15, announced that additional events will take place at multiple sites across the city, including San Fernando Valley, which will host the Games for the first time.

Among the new venues is the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, where 3×3 basketball and modern pentathlon will join a slate of high-energy events such as BMX Freestyle, BMX Racing, and both park and street skateboarding.

Also in the Valley, squash will make its Olympic debut at Courthouse Square on the Universal Studios lot—a location best known as a Hollywood backdrop in films like To Kill a Mockingbird and Back to the Future. For those who don’t follow the 2028 Olympics closely, squash is a racquet sport played between two or four players in a walled-in court using a small, rubber ball.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has framed the move as a way to bring economic opportunity and the global spotlight to more communities. In the Valley, the announcement is sparking a wide range of reactions and concerns.

In a statement Tuesday, Bass called the expansion an opportunity to bring “the Games to all corners of our city like never before.”

“As we come together to prepare,” Bass said, “we will help small businesses, create local jobs and implement lasting environmental and transportation improvements that will leave a legacy in our city for generations to come.”

Among Valley residents, the response was mixed. Some said the Games will bring a long overdue spotlight to under-appreciated parts of the Valley.

Joshua Sautter, president of the Encino Neighborhood Council, said one of the reasons his East Coast-based family bought a house in Encino was because of the Sepulveda Basin.

“ I’ve long thought that the Sepulveda Basin is one of the jewels of Los Angeles,” he said. “ Whenever I’m in Central Park, I just think, ‘Wow, the Sepulveda Basin could be so much better than it is.’ But it is still really beautiful, and I’m excited for the world to see it.”

Leonard Shaffer, president of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council, said most people he’s heard from are supportive of the Olympics coming to the Valley—with a few conditions.

“I don’t know anybody who’s objecting to them coming to the Valley as long as they do it properly, and keep the neighbors advised,” Shaffer said. “But also if they have proper parking and transportation facilities – that would be the key.”

Some Valley residents are approaching the news with a mix of pride and concern.

Andres Perkins, a lifelong Valley resident and a member of the Reseda Neighborhood Council, said he feels conflicted. He’s proud that the region will finally be part of the Olympic spotlight after being left out in 1984, but uneasy about the city’s readiness — financially and logistically.

He pointed to dirty streets, slow-moving transit improvements, and what he sees as a lack of urgency in implementing promised infrastructure and mobility changes.

Perkins also expressed concern that, in the name of beautifying the city for visitors, the homeless in the Sepulveda Basin could be displaced without long-term solutions. “We just don’t have anywhere for them to go,” he said.

Still, Perkins sees a chance for the Olympics to help Angelenos reconnect with their city — especially the Valley — if approached with care.

“That’s a tremendous opportunity,” he said. “Apart from my nerves (over) the Games, I’m very proud to say that the Games would be coming to the Valley.”

Lindsay Imber, president of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, said that while the Olympics are a celebration of unity through sport, the 2028 Games arrive at a time of societal and political unrest.

“No one is free until the most vulnerable amongst us are treated as equal and at present, we are failing our immigrant and transgender communities, including athletes from these communities,” she said. “I hope the Olympics in 2028 will signal a return to values of inclusion and community through strong rejection of hatred, division, exclusion, and discrimination.”

Some council members who represent the Valley struck a more optimistic tone.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who represents Council District 4, said in a statement, “I’m excited that through these venues the world will be able to see how incredible the Valley is! And with our investments in Metro, including our G line improvements, it will be easier than ever to ride Metro to the events.”

Councilmember Imelda Padilla, who represents Council District 6, welcomed the announcement, calling it “a historic moment for the San Fernando Valley” that would bring “global visibility, economic opportunity and long-overdue investment to the communities I serve.”

“I look forward to working with LA28, local stakeholders, and city departments to ensure that our neighborhoods are fully engaged, our public spaces are respected and improved, and our residents—especially young people—are inspired by the Olympic spirit coming to their backyard,” she said in a statement. “Together, we’ll be ready to welcome the world to the Valley.”

And Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, whose district includes the Valley, said, “I’m thrilled that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to the San Fernando Valley for the very first time. This historic milestone fills our Valley communities with pride and brings international attention to iconic local spaces like the Sepulveda Basin and the world-renowned Universal Studios. Hosting the Games here not only means new jobs and economic growth for the San Fernando Valley, but also an opportunity to uplift our communities and leave a legacy we can all be proud of.”