Going for Gold: Preparing Transit for the Next Decade of Major Public Events

When the Paralympic flag is lowered in the Stade de France on Sept. 8 and the responsibility of the XXXIV Olympiad is handed to Los Angeles, it will mark the beginning of a decade filled with the world’s largest events unfolding in U.S. cities.

 As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, and news of Salt Lake City officially named as host of the 2034 Winter Olympics this week, WSP's Major Event Advisory practice is poised to assist cities, agencies and organizing committees to meet the needs of large-scale events.

"As we watch the games in Paris, it is abundantly clear that events of this size cannot happen without a robust transit and transportation systems and precise coordination to ensure athletes and spectators can get to where they need to be,” said Jannet Walker-Ford, WSP’s Advisory and Planning business line executive. “WSP’s Major Event Advisory practice is set to complement the incredible work of our existing Winning Spaces practice and ensure the accumulated knowledge of WSP’s 141 Olympic-related projects benefits our clients. Our approach aims to assist cities, transit agencies and DOT’s in efficiently moving spectators from 300 miles to 30 feet from the stadium gates.”

The Major Event Advisory practice at WSP is a strategic initiative that leverages the firm’s extensive experience in zero-emission fleet transitions, safety and security, route network and transit planning – including more than 40 years working on major events globally.

The mission is to streamline WSP’s support for cities, transit and transportation agencies to ensure that the U.S. uses these rare and monumental opportunities as a springboard for sustainable growth and urban transformation.

The principles for event management success can extend to a myriad of events — from major concerts as seen by last summer’s Taylor Swift and Beyoncé record-breaking tours and the transit phenomenon needed to successfully transport fans to the concert venues, to political conventions, championship and all-star games, and even the expanding footprint of Formula One races in the U.S. that recently turned Las Vegas into a near-city wide racetrack.

WSP colleagues know these events each bring unique challenges. The firm’s work helped Kansas City, Missouri, manage unprecedented crowds — estimated at 350,000 — that converged on Union Station for the April 2023 NFL Draft.

WSP provides comprehensive advisory and planning services for large-scale events, and the firm is already assisting clients with the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic games in Los Angeles. These special events deal with the intersection of the climate crisis, changing cities, adapting technology, safety and security.

Climate change poses significant challenges for major events, with increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather creating challenges for organizers, athletes and spectators alike. Event organizers are placing increased pressure on hosts to ensure that these events are executed sustainably to minimize strain on local resources, avoid creating excess single-use venues and minimize transportation emissions. Smaller Olympic villages with fewer consolidated venues are placing an even greater responsibility on low-emission transportation networks to move spectators across new and pre-existing venues.

“Events of this scale have a duty to act as a proving ground for more sustainable solutions,” said Cliff Henke, WSP senior director for Transit and Rail. “Building on its commitment to achieve a zero-emissions bus (ZEB) fleet, Los Angeles Metro is leveraging the Olympics to continue its transition toward a low-emission transportation system for the 2028 games.” WSP is leading the technical team supporting LA Metro’s ZEB transition. 

Major events act as catalysts for urban transformation, driving improvements in infrastructure, transportation and public spaces, and the advancements in smart city solutions and advanced data analytics make these investments more important than ever.

WSP has guided cities through this transformation, ensuring that upgrades are not only event-ready, but also beneficial for life long after the events have finished.

The firm has been a trusted advisor to the Sydney Olympic Park Authority for more than 30 years, guiding their journey from an Olympic bid venue, to a memorable Games precinct, to a world-class mixed-use sports and entertainment specialized center surrounded by natural and restored parklands and serviced by new metro rail and light rail lines.

WSP’s integrated approach helps create vibrant, accessible and efficient cities that thrive well beyond the conclusion of the events.

While these events are temporary, their legacies can extend far past the moment a stadium empties out. Major events have the potential to reinforce transit ridership growth and support the recovery of U.S. cities after a challenging period in the first half of the decade.

According to Seattle’s King County Metro, on July 22-23, 2023, Taylor Swift played two sold-out shows to 144,000 fans at Lumen Field. Metro set a single-day ridership record with 119,500 boardings, breaking the city’s previous record during All-Star Week just 10 days earlier.

Public transportation is a critical component of urban infrastructure, and major events provide an impetus for its enhancement. WSP is working with city planners and transportation authority’s globally to develop efficient, reliable and sustainable transit systems that can handle the increased demand during events and continue to serve residents effectively afterward.

“Investments in public transportation will do more than improve mobility,” noted WSP global events expert Graeme Steverson, whose career stretches over six Olympic Games. “It also reflects a major shift in the goals and intended legacy of The Games – one that integrates major events into the host city’s operations, rather than being a dominating and imposing global force on local citizens, businesses and culture.”

The next decade is a defining period for the U.S. WSP’s Major Event Advisory practice is committed to leveraging the firm’s expertise to create lasting positive impacts on cities and infrastructure.

By focusing on comprehensive planning, sustainable development and community engagement, we aim to ensure that these events are successful and contribute to long-term urban growth and recovery.

Just as athletes strive for gold, we are dedicated to achieving excellence in every aspect of event planning and execution. Together, global events can be milestones of progress and prosperity, setting the standard for a brighter, more sustainable future.

To learn more about Reed Alvarado and WSP's Major Events Advisory business, read "The Major Events Changemaker."

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