AEG and Archer Aviation have joined forces to develop downtown Los Angeles’ first vertiport at L.A. LIVE, creating a dedicated vertical takeoff and landing site for all-electric air taxis in the city’s premier sports and entertainment district.
Under the agreement brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, Archer becomes the exclusive air taxi partner for the four-million-square-foot L.A. LIVE complex. The addition of the downtown location gives fans, artists, and visitors access to direct point-to-point air transport via Archer’s Midnight aircraft. Designed to cut transit times across the Los Angeles metropolitan area from over an hour on the ground to just 10 to 20 minutes in the air, the Midnight aircraft operates with zero operating emissions and significantly less noise than conventional helicopters. Engineered with redundant systems, the aircraft targets safety standards equivalent to commercial airliners.
Nick Baker, President and Chief Operating Officer, AEG Global Partnerships, said, “We are thrilled to pursue this endeavor with Archer to enhance the fan experience around the major sports and live-entertainment events we host. 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.”
The newly announced site integrates directly into Archer’s broader regional transit strategy. The company has previously outlined planned network locations including SoFi Stadium, USC, and Hollywood Burbank, backed by its central operational hub at the recently acquired Hawthorne Airport. Positioned adjacent to the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Crypto.com Arena—home to the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s LA Kings, and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks—L.A. LIVE hosts millions of guests annually across its venues, including the Peacock Theater, The Novo, Regal L.A. LIVE cinemas, and the GRAMMY Museum.
Archer’s Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, said, “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.”
An initial feasibility study covering land-use, airspace reviews, power availability, and community impact has already been completed by AEG and Archer. The partners are currently executing the next development phase, which focuses on operational frameworks and the guest experience. Infrastructure plans feature electric aviation chargers supplied by BETA Technologies as part of the recently established ACES consortium, aimed at building standardized charging systems for metropolitan air taxi networks.
The project strongly aligns with Archer’s broader role as the Official Air Taxi Provider of the LA28 Games and Team USA. With downtown Los Angeles slated to host 18 Olympic and Paralympic sports, the vertiport will serve as a prominent hub for urban air mobility during the event. To mark the launch of the partnership, Archer unveiled its Midnight aircraft featuring a custom Team USA livery during a public exhibition at L.A. LIVE.
