r/MLS

Organizers in Los Angeles will charge for tickets to their World Cup Fan Fest events this summer.

L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission president and CEO Kathryn Schloessman tells Front Office Sports the opening celebrations at USC’s Memorial Coliseum, plus the additional 10 regional fan zones throughout Southern California, will require paid tickets for attendees ages 12 and up.

“If they don’t buy tickets, you have no idea who’s going to show up,” Schloessman says. “Having the right amount of staffing and security there for the number of people coming is really important.”

FIFA Fan Fests are large watch parties that have historically been free since their official inception in 2006. But this year, host committees have struggled with meeting FIFA’s intention for free, centralized events running the full length of the tournament, especially with strict FIFA limits around fundraising and onerous security costs. Many cities have scaled back initial plans, or are slicing up a singular Fan Fest into smaller watch parties.