Long Beach to break ground on waterfront amphitheater, host Olympic activations and welcome pro baseball

Mayor Rex Richardson used the State of the City to announce cultural and sports plans aimed at activating downtown and creating economic opportunity ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Richardson said a waterfront amphitheater will break ground soon with an opening show scheduled for June 6. He said the city has already booked 25 shows in the first season and secured over $11,000,000 in sponsorships — more than half the venue’s initial private funding needs — through public-private partnerships and affirmed the venue will be union-operated and subject to the city's Olympic living wage standard.

On sports and events, Richardson confirmed Long Beach will host multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports and called the preparation a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver improved mobility and legacy benefits. He announced a Long Beach Legacy Fund to support youth sports, arts and workforce programs and said an advisory council of community leaders will guide the fund.

The mayor also announced professional baseball is returning to Blair Field; the City Council voted unanimously to explore a partnership with Long Beach State and the Long Beach Coast/Regulators ownership group (including Paul Friedman and others) will bring a team with opening day on 06/02/2026. The mayor invited the community to participate in naming and promotion activities and noted free promotional hats would be distributed after the event.

Ending: Richardson framed the amphitheater, Olympic activations and pro baseball as pieces of an economic and cultural strategy to activate downtown, support small businesses and create jobs in hospitality and the creative economy; council actions and permitting will follow normal review processes.