There is an air of electricity in Los Angeles right now.
The city is stretching, preparing, and practicing for its moment in the global spotlight.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Olympics just around the corner, LA is not just building infrastructure, it’s refining its identity.
I visited the West Coast for four days to find out more about how the City of Angels is getting ready to host two of the biggest sporting events in the world, and after living in Tinseltown over a decade ago for several years, I discovered a very different place.
Outside of the usual tourist hotspots of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and Venice Beach, several suburbs are being transformed into cosmopolitan meccas for sports fans to explore while they are in town for these two landmark events.
Few cities can claim sporting venues as architecturally ambitious as LA’s current roster and I was lucky enough to get private tours of some of the world’s biggest stadiums for a glimpse of what is to come.
First up was SoFi Stadium, the home of the LA Rams, and one of the city’s most famous music venues, which has seen the likes of Taylor Swift and Beyonce grace its impressive stage.
The sprawling, $5 billion complex is set to host eight matches during the World Cup and will also be the home of swimming at the 2028 Olympics, where the pitch will be transformed into the largest pool in Olympic history.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Olympics just around the corner, LA is not just building infrastructure, it’s refining its identity
Few cities can claim sporting venues as architecturally ambitious as LA’s current roster and I was lucky enough to get private tours of some of the world’s biggest stadiums for a glimpse of what is to come, including the Intuit Dome, which is set to host most of the basketball games during the 2028 Olympics
Its translucent roof and immersive screen design signal where spectator experiences are heading – bigger, smarter, and more cinematic – and for international visitors, luxury amenities are unparalleled for those who can afford it.
If you are lucky enough to afford it, there are several premium and terrace suites on offer inside this monolith, which features high-end seating and premium amenities, as well as private parking.
Meanwhile, the famous Bootsy Bellows suite is like anything I have ever experienced before.
The most ‘LA’ experience in the entire stadium, it feels less like a sports suite and more like a private nightclub.
The Frank Sinatra Palm Springs era-inspired space is designed like a boutique speakeasy-style club, with features such as a mirror bar, photo booth, and a DJ during sports breaks, and hidden rooms where you can slip away from the action and enjoy a Whiskey HIghball or a cocktail.
Just next door to SoFi, is its newly opened neighbour, the Intuit Dome, which is set to host all basketball games during the 2028 Olympics.
Opened in 2024 as the new home of the LA Clippers, the $2 billion architecturally stunning structure is arguably the most tech-forward arena ever built.
Features like facial recognition-style entry, a dedicated app to order food without leaving your seat and grab and go concession stands have been designed so fans do not have to miss a second of the action on the court.
SoFi Stadium, the sprawling, $5 billion complex, is set to host eight matches during the World Cup and will also be the home of swimming at the 2028 Olympics, where the pitch will be transformed into the largest pool in Olympic history
The famous Bootsy Bellows suite at the stadium is like anything I have ever experienced before. The most ‘LA’ experience in the entire stadium, it feels less like a sports suite and more like a private nightclub
Across town, there is nothing more LA than attending a live NBA game at Crypto.com Arena, where celebrity, sport, and spectacle collide in a way that is deeply ingrained in the city’s culture
For those who aren’t lucky enough to snag a ticket to a sporting event at SoFi, Crypto or Intuit Dome, there is another more innovative option to get your game day fix – Cosm Los Angeles. The venue features a state-of-the-art 87-foot LED Dome that makes you feel like you are sitting in the stands of a real-life match
The stadium also features the world’s first halo scoreboard, which wraps around the arena interior.
Across town, there is nothing more LA than attending a live NBA game at Crypto.com Arena, where celebrity, sport, and spectacle collide in a way that is deeply ingrained in the city’s culture.
I snared a couple of tickets to watch the Lakers take on the Utah Jazz, and while witnessing LeBron James make his historic season debut with a 140-125 win, I spied a succession of stars including Dustin Hoffman, Macaulay Culkin and Kate Hudson sitting on the sidelines.
The Crypto.com Arena will be hosting gymnastics during the 2028 Olympics, and is located in Downtown LA, close to Dodger Stadium and other tourist hotspots, including Walt Disney Concert Hall and Grand Central Market.
For those who aren’t lucky enough to snag a ticket to a sporting event at SoFi, Crypto or Intuit Dome, there is another more innovative option to get your game day fix.
Cosm Los Angeles is an immersive entertainment venue in Hollywood Park offering one of the most unique ways to watch live sports and movies in the city.
The venue features a state-of-the-art 87-foot LED Dome that makes you feel like you are sitting in the stands of a real-life match.
Between busy days of stadium tours and game nights, I enjoyed my days off in LA’s quieter rhythm, including a trip to the well-heeled beachside suburb of El Segundo to visit Love.Life: Holistic Health + Wellness Club, a ‘one-stop health ecosystem’ with a huge focus on longevity
Love.Life operates primarily on a private membership model, and can be best described as a ‘wellness country club’
My visit included a red light therapy session – designed to support cellular repair – and a 30-minute rest and relaxation on a PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) machine, a technology increasingly associated with recovery and performance enhancement
The following day it was off to a popular spa in Koreatown for a different kind of treatment
So lifelike in fact, I managed to fool my friends into thinking I was at a live Dallas Cowboys Vs Raiders game at Allegiant stadium in Las Vegas on Instagram.
With elevated comfortable seating, food and drinks delivered to your table throughout the event, and an energetic shared atmosphere, Cosm LA is a top destination for sports watch parties, movie experiences, group outings, and a modern alternative to a traditional sports bar.
Between busy days of stadium tours and game nights, I enjoyed my days off in LA’s quieter rhythm, including a trip to the well-heeled beachside suburb of El Segundo to visit Love.Life: Holistic Health + Wellness Club, a ‘one-stop health ecosystem’ with a huge focus on longevity.
The 45,000-square-foot flagship club in El Segundo is the brainchild of John Mackey, best known for building Whole Foods.
The idea is to replace America’s fragmented healthcare with one single, coordinated system with GPs, trainers and nutritionists on hand for its top tier members.
Love.Life operates primarily on a private membership model, and can be best described as a ‘wellness country club’.
Top tier members are offered a dedicated physician-led care team, multiple 1:1 doctor visits + acute care access, advanced diagnostics (bloodwork, biomarkers, scans), nutrition, health coaching, lifestyle planning and full access to fitness + recovery facilities.
My visit included a red light therapy session – designed to support cellular repair – and a 30-minute rest and relaxation on a PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) machine, a technology increasingly associated with recovery and performance enhancement.
During my trip, I based myself at SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills
Philippe Starck’s playful, surreal interiors, mirrored surfaces, and soft gold accents feel very much in step with LA’s glamour and celebrity
Mornings began with coffee and breakfast on the rooftop pool with a view of the famous Hollywood sign or in the quaint dining area by the fire – a rare pocket of calm before stepping back into LA’s fast pace
In a miraculous moment, the PEMF machine found my shoulder injury and after hopping off the bed I felt enhanced recovery, relaxation and increased energy.
The following day it was off to a popular spa in Koreatown for a different kind of treatment.
Open 24 hours, Wi Spa is a sanctuary of heat, steam, and ritual.
The spa has a completely nude-only rule, which, while it may be jarring for some, gives a certain sense of freedom.
For those who are shy, guests are allowed to wear a robe into the spa area, where the cold plunge pool and hot spas await for a spot of relaxation before beauty treatments and massages.
I opted for a silky slimming massage, a 60-minute treatment that started with a freshly made, firming collagen and cucumber facial mask applied before a tension massage using hydrating mineral oil and light to moderate pressure to reduce stress, promote relaxation, improve circulation and stimulate the nervous system.
With the current craze around Korean skincare, a trip to the beauty store is also a must, where I stocked up on a huge haul of Medicube products and face sheets.
During my trip, I based myself at SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills.
The the Farmers Market at The Grove has come a long way since I lived in LA over a decade ago.
Besties Vegan Paradise, the first and only vegan marketplace in the US to sell products exclusively from 100% vegan brands, was a highlight
Set on the edge of Beverly Hills and minutes from both West Hollywood and the city’s major sporting corridors, the hotel is in the ideal location to experience fine dining, sophisticated shopping precincts, fun nightlife and tourist hotspots.
Philippe Starck’s playful, surreal interiors, mirrored surfaces, and soft gold accents feel very much in step with LA’s glamour and celebrity.
Mornings began with coffee and breakfast on the rooftop pool with a view of the city or in the quaint dining area by the fire – a rare pocket of calm before stepping back into LA’s fast pace.
For dining I visited the usual suspects when I am in LA – brunch at Mel’s Diner, mammoth meals and martinis at Musso & Frank’s and lunch in the famous courtyard at Chateau Marmont, the ultimate setting for star-spotting.
But what I wasn’t expecting was a fine dining experience at The Original Farmers Market at The Grove, which has come a long way since I lived in LA over a decade ago.
All the classics are still there — Pampas Grill Churrascaria, a popular Brazilian BBQ with lines for days, the cute little sticker shop, and Littlejohn’s Candies stand, which sells the largest, brightest candy apples you can get.
But this time I was greeted with several new upscale offerings, including Sora, LA’s first rooftop temaki experience and hidden hand roll bar, and Ettore Vino e Cucina, a full-service sit-down restaurant, where I enjoyed the tastiest Chicken Coteletta washed down with a glass of crisp rosé.
After my meal, I perused the rest of the new food and retail vendors, with Besties Vegan Paradise, the first and only vegan marketplace in the US to sell products exclusively from 100% vegan brands, Kaylin and Kaylin Pickles, a pickle tastings and topped bar and LA Film Camera, the city’s favorite photography store, being the standouts.
While several airlines fly to LA, including Delta, American Airlines, Qantas and Air New Zealand, I opted to fly via Nadi business class on Fiji Airways
Over on the westside, I also tried the new Ospi Venice, a light-filled spot for eclectic pizzas, handmade pasta and classic Italian fare, plus many cocktails and some delicious Chianti wine.
The cannelloni all Sorrentina was to die for and the best I have tried outside of Italy.
While several airlines fly to LA, including Delta, American Airlines, Qantas and Air New Zealand, I opted to fly via Nadi business class on Fiji Airways.
Compared to nonstop options between LAX and Sydney, Fiji Airways prices its business class fares more competitively and the short stop in Nadi also breaks up the ultra-long-haul journey, which many travellers prefer over a single marathon flight.
While it may not compete with the uber-opulent suites offered by some carriers, it delivers where it matters most – comfort, top-notch service with a smile and the most important flight essential – sleep.
