As officials celebrated the expansion and modernization of the Los Angeles Convention Center on Wednesday, some also expressed doubts that the project could be completed in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Some worry has been expressed about the $2.6 billion project, which will cost the city $5.9 billion when borrowing costs are included, though Mayor Karen Bass tried to allay those fears at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We are taking bold actions to assure that we can deliver in a way that is, of course, fiscally responsible — that includes implementing cost-saving measures and streamlining processes which will be key to ensure that the convention center has an on-time completion,” Bass said.
That “on-time completion” promise, however, has some concerned.
As reported by Politico, the city administrative officer and chief legislative analyst argued that getting the renovation done before the Olympics is “not feasible,” and when the project was approved by the City Council in September, one dissenting council member said the schedule was too tight.
“Over the next 910 days, crews would have to work six days a week, every week, with only 20 days of float days and several more for bad weather and other contingencies,” said Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, 5th District. “That’s approximately five weeks of slack in a 130-week construction schedule. Even the smallest disruption, supply chain delays, weather, labor shortages, or the city’s own approval process – which we all know what that is — will push us off schedule.”
A former council member who now directs the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs told Politico that the possibility of having to relocate some sports — fencing, wrestling and table tennis are slated for the Convention Center — could harm the city’s reputation.
“Optimism and faith is good, right? But this is a very high-risk optimism,” said Mike Bonin. “If we have to move events, that’s egg on the face of the city. That’s an embarrassment.”
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