LA28’s Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Fits The Bill For Olympic Diving
Key takeaways
- Sports Money LA28’s Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Fits The Bill For Olympic Diving By Tim Genske,
- When Los Angeles won the right to host the 2028 Olympic Games, organizers promised something that has become increasingly rare in the Olympic movement: use what already exists.
- PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 14: A general view of Rose Bowl Aquatics Center on January 14, 2026 in Pasadena, California.
Sports Money LA28’s Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Fits The Bill For Olympic Diving By Tim Genske,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I have had a lifelong love of both history and the Olympics.Follow Author Jun 18, 2026, 06:54pm EDTSummary Los Angeles' 2028 Olympic organizers are embracing a "use what exists" philosophy, exemplified by relocating diving to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center (RBAC) in Pasadena. This move saves $17.6 million, reduces operational complexity, and enhances athlete safety. The RBAC, built with surplus funds from the 1984 LA Olympics, represents a full-circle legacy, demonstrating how past Olympic investments can benefit future Games. The site also holds historical significance, having once been the segregated Brookside Plunge. This decision highlights LA28's commitment to venue reuse, avoiding new construction and massive debt, proving that established community facilities can host world-class events.
When Los Angeles won the right to host the 2028 Olympic Games, organizers promised something that has become increasingly rare in the Olympic movement: use what already exists. The decision to relocate Olympic diving to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena may be one of the clearest examples yet of that philosophy in action.