Max SteventonThe proposed site would be the first vertiport in downtown Los Angeles and form part of Archer’s planned air taxi network across the city.
The companies have agreed a multi-year partnership that will see Archer become the exclusive air taxi provider for the venue, AEG’s four-million-square-foot sports and entertainment district.
The proposed vertiport would provide access to Archer’s Midnight electric aircraft, allowing fans, artists and visitors to travel to and from the district.
L.A. LIVE is adjacent to Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. It includes Peacock Theater (pictured), The Novo, Regal L.A. LIVE cinemas and the GRAMMY Museum.
The project is part of Archer’s preparations for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, for which the company is the official air taxi provider of LA28 and Team USA. The downtown Los Angeles zone is due to host 18 sports during the Games, with the planned vertiport intended to add a central location to Archer’s wider network.
Archer’s planned Los Angeles network also includes SoFi Stadium, the University of Southern California and Hollywood Burbank Airport, while Hawthorne Airport is intended to serve as its central operational hub.
The company says its network is designed to enable journeys across Los Angeles in 10 to 20 minutes, compared with ground journeys that can take an hour or more.
AEG and Archer have completed an initial feasibility study for the L.A. LIVE site, covering land use, airspace, power availability and potential community impact. The next phase will examine the proposed operational approach and guest experience.
“We are thrilled to pursue this endeavor with Archer to enhance the fan experience around the major sports and live-entertainment events we host,” said AEG Global Partnerships president and COO Nick Baker. “This is an ambitious project and exactly the kind of forward-thinking collaboration that blends infrastructure and technology in service of our fans, visitors, and the broader community around major sports and live-entertainment events hosted at L.A. LIVE.”