Archer Aviation and AEG to Build eVTOL Vertiport at LA LIVE

Archer Aviation Inc. and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) have established a multi-year partnerships to construct a dedicated vertiport for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the L.A. LIVE district in downtown Los Angeles.

Announced in an August 24, 2026 press release, the agreement establishes Archer as the exclusive air taxi partner for the 4 million-square-foot sports and entertainment complex. The project serves as a central node for Archer’s planned Southern California network, targeting operational readiness ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Infrastructure and Network Expansion

The two companies have completed an initial feasibility study for the L.A. LIVE site. This assessment evaluated land-use requirements, airspace integration, power availability, and community impact. The project has now advanced to a secondary phase focused on operational procedures and passenger experience.

To support flight operations, the facility will incorporate electric aviation chargers manufactured by BETA Technologies. This hardware integration aligns with the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry’s ACES consortium, which aims to standardize charging infrastructure across different eVTOL platforms.

The downtown location will connect to a broader regional network. According to reporting by Aviation International News, Archer’s Los Angeles architecture includes a central operational hub at the newly acquired Hawthorne Municipal Airport (KHHR). Additional planned nodes include Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), Hollywood Burbank Airport (KBUR), John Wayne Airport (KSNA), SoFi Stadium, and the University of Southern California. Pollstar News reports that passenger travel times across this network are estimated between 10 and 20 minutes.

Aligning with the LA28 Games

The vertiport development is closely tied to the upcoming LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Downtown Los Angeles Zone is scheduled to host 18 Olympic and Paralympic sports, positioning L.A. LIVE adjacent to Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center as a high-traffic transit corridor. Archer previously secured the designation of Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA28 Games and Team USA.

Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein highlighted the strategic timing of the infrastructure build.

“Working with AEG on an iconic project like this vertiport at L.A. LIVE gives us the opportunity to continue building the infrastructure needed for Southern California to lead in the next era of all-electric flight. We see this as a one-of-a-kind opportunity to add a flagship downtown location to our planned Los Angeles air taxi network ahead of the LA28 Games.”

AEG Global Partnerships President and Chief Operating Officer Nick Baker stated the collaboration blends infrastructure and technology to serve event attendees and the broader community.

Unconfirmed Site Details

While the partnership is confirmed, specific logistical details remain undisclosed. Aviation International News noted that the exact footprint of the vertiport within the L.A. LIVE campus has not been specified. Potential locations could include existing parking structures, including one with a 100,000-square-foot rooftop deck, though neither Archer nor AEG has verified a specific location. Funding structures, ownership models, and specific operational responsibilities for the vertiport also remain unannounced.

AirPro News analysis

Securing viable takeoff and landing real estate in dense urban centers remains one of the highest barriers to entry for the AAM sector. By partnering directly with AEG, Archer bypasses several municipal land-acquisition hurdles, leveraging existing private commercial space in a highly regulated downtown corridor. The decision to install BETA Technologies chargers is equally significant. We view this hardware choice as a pragmatic step toward interoperability, ensuring the site can potentially service mixed fleets in the future rather than operating as a closed ecosystem. The success of this node will likely depend on local airspace deconfliction over downtown Los Angeles and the finalization of high-capacity grid connections required for rapid turnaround times.

Sources: Archer Aviation