The LA28 Olympics is moving its International Broadcast Center from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to the Warner Bros. Ranch lot across town in Burbank.
The Los Angeles Organizing Committee announced last year that the broadcast center would be housed at Hollywood Park Studios, a new, five-stage production center to be built adjacent to SoFi, which will serve as one of the nerve centers of the games.
Though it is farther from the action, the Ranch lot is significantly larger — with production office space and 16 stages on 30 acres — with greater capacity to host the games’ broadcast partners.
“This campus offers the scale, technical infrastructure and production facilities required to support one of the world’s largest temporary broadcast operations and will be fully operational for several months before, during and after the LA28 Games,” the LA28 committee said in a statement.
The opening ceremonies will be held simultaneously at SoFi and at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, the historic site of two previous Olympics, which is about six miles away. Those two facilities will also host some of the games’ signature events: track and field at the Coliseum and swimming at SoFi, with basketball at the nearby Intuit Dome.
Hollywood Park Studios will still be used as the main press center, where broadcast outlets can do live stand-ups and conduct other operations, while the broadcasters will be based in Burbank.
“Together, the two campuses will support the full range of media and broadcast operations that bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to audiences worldwide – a fitting reflection of Los Angeles as the global center of the entertainment industry,” the committee added.
Warner Bros. Discovery stated that the decision to put the broadcast center in Burbank was made after careful analysis. The International Olympic Committee signed off on the plan in June.
Warner Bros. Ranch served as a studio backlot before being redevelopment as a soundstage complex over the last few years. It officially opened earlier this year, and is currently home to shows including “Rooster” and “I Love L.A.”
As soon as next January, LA28 will begin work to transform it into the international broadcast center.
“The Ranch was built with creators and producers at the center of every decision,” said Simon Robinson, WBD’s president of studio operations. “Being confirmed by LA28 affirms the intention behind this world-class campus and hosting the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games’ International Broadcast Center is both an honor and a reflection of Warner Bros.’ leadership in serving the creative community as we continue building on more than a century of storytelling expertise.”
The Olympic events will be spread across the region, with some events in the San Fernando Valley. Squash will be at Universal Studios, while BMX racing, modern pentathlon and skateboarding will be held at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. Diving will be held at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena, and the soccer final will be in the Rose Bowl.