Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) has been designated as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. As the official air taxi, Archer will be transporting athletes, dignitaries, other VIPs and stakeholders, as well as lucky fans across the key venues, back and forth from the vertiport hubs. Archer will also provide and play a key role regarding the critical security and medical transportation needed during such high profile events as the Olympic Games.
“At LA28, we’re building a platform for constant innovation and creativity, which is why we’ve partnered with forward-thinking companies like Archer.” ….“Our vision is to fundamentally reimagine the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience, and this partnership represents an incredible opportunity to deliver something unprecedented, showcasing the very best of what Los Angeles has to offer on the world stage.” – LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games.”… “I can’t wait to see Midnight flying passengers over Los Angeles, emblazoned with the Team USA logo and the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos.” – Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation
Archer plans for parts of its vertiport network in Los Angeles to become operational as soon as 2026.
Vertiports and Venues
Planned vertiports in the LA area include:
- Los Angeles International Airport
- University of Southern California,
- Orange County,
- Santa Monica
- Hollywood Burbank
- Long Beach
- Van Nuys
Furthermore Archer has been working on a deal with LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke to have an exclusive vertiport near SoFi Stadium (a component of the 300 acre Hollywood Park), which is one of the venues for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games. SoFi Stadium will co-host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics (along with the L.A. Memorial Coliseum), and will be the first ever in the history of Los Angeles to host the Paralympic Games.
Hollywood Park Studios
As divulged by LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke, Hollywood Park Studios will be built next to SoFi Stadium, and will house up to 20 sound stages, each spanning 18,000 square feet. Hollywood Park Studios will be a temporary hub for production and broadcasting of approved license-holders permitted to cover the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. An 80,000 square foot office building for production and post-production will also be constructed, as well as a garage that can hold 60 trailers and 1,100 cars. Initially there will be 5 of the 18,000 sq foot sound stages, two of which will be connected to double their size.
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring Archer’s game-changing technology to Hollywood Park,”…..“This underscores our commitment to enhancing the guest experience as we continue to build this transformative global destination for sports and entertainment.” – Los Angeles Rams President Kevin Demoff
Part of the agreement between Archer Aviation and NBCUniversal, will also include access to storytelling during the 2028 Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Los Angeles, as well as other Olympic Games coverage by NBCUniversal in 2026 and 2028.
L.A. Memorial Coliseum, and USC’s Galen Center
Archer has developed a long-standing partnership with the University of Southern California, in order to expand and create a more comprehensive network of vertiports in the LA area. Initially with the intent to help create better accessibility and transportation to and from campus, USC hospitals, and sports facilities, Archer will be able to capitalize on this existing relationship for the Olympic Games.
The L.A. Memorial Coliseum is managed and operated by the USC Auxiliary Services. The L.A. Memorial Coliseum will host track and field competitions for the Olympic Games. The USC Galen Center will host badminton. Also noteworthy, is that the USC University Park Campus will be the site of the Olympic Media Village, which will house accredited journalists and other media personnel covering the games.
“Car Free” promise and Archer’s role in helping LA keep it
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass famously announced plans for the 2028 Olympic Games to be “car-free” with the intention to keep traffic congestion on the roads as minimal as possible.
“Back in L.A., we’re already meeting with businesses about procurement, especially small businesses. And I’ll say that that’s something that I admire Paris is doing, making a commitment that a percentage of the business goes to small businesses here, we’re already working to create jobs by expanding our public transportation system in order for us to have a no car games.”….. “That’s a feat in Los Angeles, because we’ve always been in love with our cars, but we’re already working to ensure that we can build a greener Los Angeles.”
– Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
Borrowing roughly 3,000 buses from other US locations, and utilizing Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL air taxis can help alleviate the notorious LA traffic congestion and keep good on the mayor’s promise of “no car games”.
The fuel sources are also taken into consideration by the city administrators. Seleta Reynolds, the chief innovation officer at LA Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority), made note of the importance of the types of fuel and energy utilized by vehicles during the games and the preference for transportation that runs on electricity or natural gas over diesel and gasoline.
“It’s possible that there could be some electric yellow school buses taking people to the Olympic Games.” – Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer at LA Metro
Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft, a fully electric air taxi that can carry 4 passengers up to 60 miles away, will definitely be part of the equation.
“This is a big moment for Archer. Establishing our LA network ahead of the global events that are coming to the region over the next four years is a milestone that will put Midnight on display for the whole world to see,”……..“LA is known for its horrendous traffic—our goal is to offer a safer, faster and sustainable alternative travel option.” – Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer.
Olympic HURDLES and a feat forged by an Olympic torch
Now what about regulations and other factors in the Olympic “hurdles”?
Seleta Reynolds previously expressed reservations concerning Archer’s ambitious timelines and the need for projects to benefit everyone in the community. In an interview in 2022 with Business Insider, Seleta Reynolds stressed:
“My job is to say: OK, do your thing to solve your clients’ problems. But in exchange, there must be a public benefit. You can’t dump these things next to freeways and actually make traffic worse, or in low-income neighborhoods that are already experiencing high levels of noise.” – Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer at LA Metro
With the Archer Midnight eVTOL aircraft being dramatically quieter than conventional VTOL aircraft such as helicopters, the noise pollution as well as smog pollution would be substantially mitigated. Also in that same 2022 interview, Seleta Reynolds also touched on the regulations involved in keeping these electric air taxis flying around in the sky
“I would feel more comfortable betting on the 2028 Olympic Games“……”as being the driving factor that forces us to get our act together and figure this out.” – Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer at LA Metro
Seleta Reynold’s bet regarding Archer Aviation’s ability to meet its deadlines for the 2028 Olympic Games are coming to fruition! We at VTOL buzz congratulate Archer Aviation, the City of Los Angeles, and all stakeholders and residents with the important achievement and tasks at hand for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
More info:
Archer Aviation’s May 15th 2025 Press Release: click here
USC (University of Southern California)’s role in the 2028 Olympics: click here
Seleta Reynold’s 2022 interview in Business Insider: click here