The Olympic Federation of Ireland has confirmed that Team Ireland House for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will be based at Ovation Square, Long Beach, placing Ireland at the heart of one of the most vibrant and strategically important host cities of the next Summer Games.
Following an extensive six-month search across Los Angeles and its surrounding districts, Ovation Square emerged as the standout location for Team Ireland supporters.
Built in 1923, the landmark former bank building sits in the centre of Downtown Long Beach and offers a combination of scale, atmosphere and ready-made event infrastructure.
Its distinctive architecture and central position were key factors in the decision, providing a natural focal point for Irish fans, athletes, families, partners and sponsors throughout the Games.
Team Ireland House has become internationally recognised as one of the liveliest and most welcoming national houses at each Olympic Games, and the OFI believes Ovation Square will fully deliver on that reputation.
The venue includes a 1,100-capacity main floor, a VIP mezzanine, green rooms, and a unique basement exhibition and retail space centred around the building’s original 1920s bank vault, offering opportunities for storytelling, heritage displays and immersive fan experiences.
With just over two years to go until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Long Beach is already preparing to play a major role in hosting the world’s biggest sporting event. The city will stage eight Olympic sports, including rowing, sailing and beach volleyball, positioning it as one of the most active hubs of the Games and an ideal base for Team Ireland’s hospitality programme.
Speaking from Los Angeles, OFI Chief Executive Peter Sherrard said the decision reflects both the practical and cultural ambitions of Team Ireland House.
“We are thrilled to bring Team Ireland House to Long Beach for LA 2028. Ovation Square offers a world-class venue in a city that is deeply engaged with the Games and eager to welcome the Irish community. With so many Olympic and Paralympic events taking place nearby, it will be a natural gathering point for athletes, families and supporters. We look forward to creating a vibrant home for Ireland on the West Coast,” he said.
The announcement was formally welcomed at Long Beach’s State of the City address, where Mayor Rex Richardson highlighted the city’s growing role in hosting international team hospitality houses.
“We are proud to welcome the Team Ireland House for the 2028 Games and look forward to seeing this cultural space come alive with community connection, celebration and shared experiences for people of all ages,” he said. “As Long Beach continues to welcome Team Hospitality Houses, we are demonstrating firsthand the global confidence placed in our beautiful city.”
The significance of Team Ireland House was also underlined at government level, with Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, describing it as a vital gathering point for Irish communities during the Games.
“The Olympic Games are a moment when people come together from all over the world. Having a dedicated Team Ireland House in such a prominent and iconic location in Long Beach will provide an important hub where Irish people can congregate, from supporters travelling from Ireland to the many Irish communities across California and beyond,” he said.
“This iconic location in a city that has enjoyed plenty of historic firsts in Ireland’s Olympic history provides an opportunity not only to support our athletes but also to celebrate Ireland’s rich heritage, culture and sporting achievements on the international stage, creating a vibrant focal point throughout LA 2028.”
From an operational and commercial perspective, Ovation Square offers a flexible and high-quality platform for a wide-ranging Games-time programme. Built-in staging, lighting and AV systems will support live events, media moments and sponsor activations, while premium spaces will be used for athlete and family gatherings, cultural showcases and partner engagement.
OFI Commercial Director Catherine Tiernan said the venue’s atmosphere and openness made an immediate impression.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership with Ovation Square. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed, and we are excited to transform this beautiful venue into a home for Irish supporters during the Games,” she said. “We look forward to building a schedule of activity that opens Ovation Square to the wider Irish-American community, with a vibrant cultural programme that showcases the Best of Us in America, while also engaging with the Long Beach community, young and old, including the more than two million Irish Americans living in California.”
The venue will also host retail and exhibition experiences, opportunities to connect with local children through the Dare to Believe schools programme, and initiatives designed to add value for Irish companies activating around the Games.
Long Beach’s accessibility was another decisive factor. Located approximately 25–30 kilometres from major Games zones such as Inglewood and Exposition Park – which will host the Opening Ceremony, athletics, basketball and swimming – the city will also benefit from a new overland metro connection linking it to Downtown Los Angeles in around 30 minutes.
A compact, walkable downtown, a strong hospitality offering and a proven track record of staging major international events further strengthened Long Beach’s appeal. In total, the city will host eight Olympic and eight Paralympic sports, reinforcing its status as one of the most active and influential hubs of LA 2028.
The OFI will now work closely with local partners, including the City of Long Beach and venue operators Wayne Chaney Jr. and Luca Fiorini, to deliver what it hopes will be an unforgettable Team Ireland House experience on the West Coast in 2028.
Image Credit: Ovation Square
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