2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
- June 15-23, 2024
- Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
- LCM (50 Meters)
- Session Start Times (ET):
- 11 a.m. Prelims
- 7:45 p.m. Finals (varying based on broadcast needs)
- Meet Central
- Broadcast Info
- SwimSwam’s Definitive Guide to Trials
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
Swim fans in were treated to a world record on the opening night of the U.S. Olympic Trials, as Gretchen Walsh shattered the 100 butterfly standard set by Sarah Sjostrom in 2016. But those in attendance also got the chance to be a part of another record: the largest crowd at a swim meet.
With 20,689 swim fans in the stands tonight, crowd in the Lucas Oil Stadium surpasses the previous record of 16,000 attendees set at a finals session of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
There still are no publicly accessible numbers regarding ticket sales for the meet. In February, we reported that roughly only 2,100 tickets had been sold and tickets were being sold at a discount as recently as June 11.
Still, it’s undeniable that the energy so far has been electric. It certainly helped that the first event kicked off with the aforementioned world record, and it was only up from there as Indianapolis local Aaron Shackell became the first pool swimming qualifier in the next event.
A view of the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium.
So it occurred to me while watching tonight; might there be thoughts of building a pool in a stadium for the Olympics itself in 2028 and this was another way to test that? I know were talking about different organizations planning the events but it made me wonder. A pool in SoFi would be kinda awesome and swimming is one of the top viewed Olympic sports. If you get 20,000+ in Indianapolis for the trials what might you get in LA for the Olympic Games?
That’s a massive crowd and the totals will be more than track and field trials in Eugene.
The event is going to be a success regardless of any controversy on ticket pricing and how much money USA-S loses on this. And we can expect bigger crowds this week. Next weekend will be huge as more events come on. And spring Masters nationals was scheduled in Indy for this week to bolster crowd numbers. Finals will definitely have some crowds on Friday and Saturday.
Omaha signaled a change from trials being held at a traditional pool, and they did a great job of it. This will signal an end to trials in an arena, with them being held in a stadium going forward (hopefully at more reasonable prices as I’m guessing that several deals and giveaways occurred… Read more »
There were still a lot of empty seats down low. I’ve been upset with USA Swimming ever since they first announced ticket prices because they seemed absurd.
Corporate boxes and ticket grabs. Sad to see those empty but the 200, 400 and 600 level seats were packed! Well done Indy!
$1800 for upper level (2 seats). I paid $1250 for two lower level seats in Omaha three years ago. No thanks.
I still can’t figure out why they couldn’t have made bottom level seats on the short ends a little cheaper. $200 instead of $280, to fill them in.
DIOS mio
Yeah, I have a feeling it’ll be Indy here on out
Unless they decide to pick someplace like Los Angeles for the Olympics
and folks complained about how expensive hotels were in Indy???
Depending on the events, Olympic trials in USA can be more competitive than the Olympics itself
Name 1 event in which getting top 3 at trials will be more competitive than at the Olympics.
Women’s 100 Fly
This one is the closest one, but you can’t count out Maggie McNeil or Zhang yet.
By the looks of it so far, the women’s 100 fly.
Women’s 100 and 200 back
McKeown puts paid to this^
I must admit it looks great on TV. Crowd looks legit and energy is there.