Olympic Games Set to Return to St. Louis After 122 Years

St. Louis is about to make Olympic history — again. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee has announced that Energizer Park, home of St. Louis City SC, will serve as one of six venues outside Los Angeles to host soccer matches during the group and knockout stages of the Summer Games.

The decision marks a remarkable full-circle moment for a city that last hosted Olympic events 122 years ago. In 1904, St. Louis staged the third-ever modern Olympic Games, with events held across what is now Washington University's Francis Olympic Field — the oldest still-in-use Olympic facility in the world. That field hosted competitions in 11 sports, from archery to wrestling.

St. Louis now joins an elite group of cities — alongside Los Angeles, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Athens — to host events across multiple Summer Olympic Games. The city is also one of just three American cities, along with Los Angeles and Atlanta, to have previously hosted the Summer Olympics.

The announcement arrives at a time of surging soccer enthusiasm in Missouri. St. Louis City SC has built a passionate fanbase since its MLS debut in 2023, while neighboring Kansas City prepares to host matches for the upcoming FIFA World Cup later this year. The momentum positions St. Louis as a natural fit for Olympic soccer.

The multi-city hosting model represents a growing trend in Olympic planning, allowing smaller markets to share in the economic benefits without shouldering the enormous infrastructure costs that have historically deterred potential host cities. For St. Louis, the arrangement offers a scaled opportunity to engage with the world's biggest sporting event while minimizing financial risk.

The Olympic Committee has not yet released specific details about match schedules or ticket availability, with further announcements expected in April. For now, St. Louis can begin preparing to welcome the world back to a city with deep — if complicated — Olympic roots.