Getting to Crypto.com Arena from across Los Angeles County could one day take 10 to 20 minutes. That is the goal behind a new partnership announced Monday between AEG and Archer Aviation.
The two companies revealed plans to develop a vertiport, a vertical takeoff and landing site for electric air taxis, at L.A. Live, the sports and entertainment district in downtown Los Angeles. According to Billboard, it would be the first vertiport in downtown Los Angeles and would make Archer the exclusive air taxi partner of the entire entertainment campus.
L.A. Live is home to Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater, The Novo, a Regal multiplex, the Grammy Museum, and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The district draws millions of visitors annually.
Archer plans to operate a fleet of its Midnight aircraft throughout Southern California. Each aircraft holds one pilot and four passengers, reaches speeds up to 150 mph, and runs on all-electric power. The Hollywood Reporter noted the taxis produce far less noise and zero operating emissions compared with traditional helicopters.
AEG Global Partnerships president and COO Nick Baker told Billboard the collaboration is in its first phase of development, with location specifics and permit decisions expected soon. The two companies have completed an initial feasibility study covering land use, airspace, power availability, and community impact.
"We quickly were amazed by the breadth and scope of [Archer's] current infrastructure and their plans for Los Angeles in particular," Baker said. "The combination of our real estate footprint and the incredible content that we put through this real estate was a perfect match for what they're trying to do in the near future."
Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein framed the L.A. Live site as central to the company's larger ambitions. "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," 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."
Archer is already the official air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Team USA. Its planned network includes sites at LAX, USC, Santa Monica, Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach, Van Nuys, and Orange County, with the recently acquired Hawthorne Airport serving as its central hub. The company is also in talks with the Los Angeles Rams and Hollywood Park about a potential vertiport near SoFi Stadium.
Archer's goal is to begin L.A. network operations this year, with the full system in place before the 2028 Games. Pricing is targeted to be comparable to premium rideshare services like Uber Black. A Midnight air taxi is on display at L.A. Live through Tuesday.
