Bragg McConnell
Economic Policy Intern, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Rauf Hurcan
Economic Policy Intern, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Published
August 21, 2026
Every four years, the Olympic Games captivate the world with billions of spectators tuning in to watch athletes represent their nations and inspire a global audience. For the American business community, the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic games present as an especially exciting opportunity as Los Angeles prepares to welcome the world for the first time since 1984.
Major sporting events like the Olympics create jobs, attract investment, and fuel economic growth, and in 2028, that impact will extend far beyond Southern California. It will be felt in communities across the entire country. Nowhere is that shared opportunity more visible than in the 2028 Olympic Torch Relay.
The Olympic Torch Relay is a multi-week event where runners carry a continuously burning flame across the U.S. to the host city, Los Angeles. The torch relay is a way for Americans across the country to feel a part of the upcoming Olympic games and celebrate the Olympic spirit in their own communities. The torch will pass through all 50 states before concluding its journey by lighting the Olympic Cauldron in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sofi Stadium on July 14, 2028.
As the torch makes its way through the U.S., there will be three types of events in 400 communities of all sizes along the way:
- Small Celebration: There will be 300 communities where the flame will pass through as runners carry it to its next destination. These events will last an hour long and will have an expected attendance ranging from 10,000 in the smallest towns to 700,000 in the largest cities.
- Medium Celebration: About 100 cities will hold medium-sized celebrations, where the main event will be a cauldron lighting ceremony in the evening as the journey of the flame comes to an end for the day. The cauldron will be used to relight the torch the following morning before it continues its journey. These 2-3 hours events have expected attendance figures ranging from 11,000 in the smallest cities to 780,000 in the largest.
- Large Celebration: There will be 12 bigger celebration cities, which will be all-day festival style events with concerts and sports shows. These cities will have celebrations that last up to 8 hours and will have an expected attendance ranging from 30,000 in the smallest cities to 1,200,000 in the largest.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce analyzed the economic impact of each of those events in communities of various sizes across the country. The Chamber found substantial benefits for all three event types and in cities of all sizes.
By The Numbers: Impact of the Olympic Torch Relay
-
$241K
GDP boost in small cities
-
$24.2M
Attendee spending for large events in major metros
For instance, a celebration in a city with less than 100,000 would see attendees, both residents and tourists from out-of-town, spending more than $380,000. That’s the equivalent of supporting two jobs in the community over the course of a full year and increasing GDP for the year by more than $240,000. Results for other events in various size communities are listed in the table below:
L.A. Olympics Torch Relay Events Will Have Significant Economic Benefits for Host Communities
| Population | Type of Event | GDP Gains | Total Attendee Spending | Jobs Supported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100,000 | Large | $241,110 | $380,617 | 2 |
| Under 100,000 | Medium | $200,546 | $307,178 | 2 |
| Under 100,000 | Small | $155,389 | $233,738 | 2 |
| 100,000-300,000 | Large | $592,974 | $917,150 | 6 |
| 100,000-300,000 | Medium | $468,435 | $740,188 | 4 |
| 100,000-300,000 | Small | $434,092 | $563,225 | 5 |
| 300,000-1,000,000 | Large | $1,625,129 | $2,980,738 | 19 |
| 300,000-1,000,000 | Medium | $1,565,573 | $2,405,609 | 20 |
| 300,000-1,000,000 | Small | $1,433,011 | $1,830,481 | 15 |
| 1,000,000-2,000,000 | Large | $4,650,725 | $6,878,625 | 55 |
| 1,000,000-2,000,000 | Medium | $5,421,674 | $5,551,406 | 51 |
| 1,000,000-2,000,000 | Small | $3,508,659 | $4,224,188 | 35 |
| 2,000,000+ | Large | $26,088,335 | $24,180,660 | 221 |
| 2,000,000+ | Medium | $17,159,282 | $19,515,043 | 132 |
| 2,000,000+ | Small | $11,201,744 | $14,849,427 | 102 |
Methodology
To conduct its analysis, we determined the number of attendees each type of event would draw on average. We used a variety of historical data from recent similar events to make these estimates. It then calculated how much the attendees would spend on food, retail, and accommodation based on the specifics of the event type. For instance, attendees are going to spend more on these items in a bigger city than at a smaller one because the events will be longer and more varied. Then we used the REMI PI+ model to determine the economic impact of the spending. The results show the equivalent of full-time annual jobs the spending from attendees would support and how much the extra spending will boost GDP in the city in 2028.
The Bottom Line
As we’ve seen in prior Olympics, Americans are eager to rally around Team USA. When the excitement of the Olympic torch comes to town, so does economic opportunity. Whether it's a small town hosting an hour-long celebration or a major city putting on an all-day festival, the 2028 Torch Relay ensures that the economic benefits of the Olympic Games are not reserved for Los Angeles. Every community along the route has a chance to share in the moment, and the growth that comes with it.
About the authors
Bragg McConnell
Bragg McConnell is an intern for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he is working on the Economic Policy team. He is an Economics major, and a Political Science minor at Southern Methodist University.
Rauf Hurcan
Rauf Hurcan is an Economic Policy Intern at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Curtis Dubay
Curtis Dubay is Chief Economist, Economic Policy Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He heads the Chamber’s research on the U.S. and global economies.
