Marine Stadium was originally constructed to host rowing in the 1932 Olympics, and nearly a century later will likely again host events at the international competition in 2028.
The more than mile-long waterway that connects to Alamitos Bay will likely host rowing after the sport’s international organizing committee agreed to shorten the course to 1,500 meters, which is the maximum length Marine Stadium can accommodate due to the construction of the Davies Bridge over Second Street in 1956.
The Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee, known as LA28, originally pitched Perris Lake in Riverside County for rowing events, but that proved a logistical challenge given it is 80 miles from Los Angeles.
Long Beach leaders on Tuesday signed a general venue use agreement for Marine Stadium and three other locations throughout the city, with more details to be worked out later for each specific site.
Rowing would only take place on the north side of Davies Bridge, with the southern end near the Yacht Club reserved as a staging and turnaround area.
Marina Vista Park would also be used for back-house operations, office space and technology support.
Boat owners will likely be impacted during events, but will still have access to their vessels during the games, city officials said.
LA28 would have exclusive use of Marine Stadium for roughly four months, between May 8, 2028, and Sept. 22, 2028.
Similar use agreements were also approved for the other local venues, including:
The entire Long Beach Convention Center will be used exclusively by LA28 from April 19, 2028, to Oct. 11, 2028. The agreement includes the Terrace Theater, parking lot, Arena, Rainbow Lagoon Park and surrounding areas.
The Alamitos Beach waterfront, including Marina Green and Alamitos Beach parking lots, would be used between May 12, 2028, and Sept. 20, 2028.
The Belmont Shore area, including the Belmont Pier, will be used exclusively by the Olympics between May 5, 2028, to Sept. 15, 2028.
It is not yet clear which events, or how many events, Long Beach will host. The LA City Council is expected to approve its own agreement for venues in that city in the next month, and the LA28 committee will then determine the schedule of events, likely this summer.
Long Beach, however, will be a “major aquatic center” for the games and the second largest venue city behind Los Angeles, Mayor Rex Richardson said Tuesday.