Counties of Los Angeles and Santa Clara: sporting events: ticket charge: public transit.

Assembly Member McKinnor's transportation funding proposal would allow two California transit agencies to add a $5 surcharge on tickets for major sporting events in 2026, while providing event attendees with free transit access on game days. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) could apply the fee to FIFA World Cup matches and NCAA basketball championship games, while the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) could charge the fee for World Cup events.

Under the measure, ticket vendors would collect the one-time $5 charge during initial ticket purchases only, excluding resales, and remit the proceeds to the respective transit agency. Both VTA and LA Metro would dedicate the revenues to supporting their transit operations. On event days, attendees could ride transit for free by presenting their event tickets at fare collection points.

The bill requires both transit agencies to report to the Legislature by January 2027 on the program's implementation, including total revenues collected, number of free transit trips provided, and details of additional transit services deployed for the events. These reporting requirements would sunset in 2031. The measure creates new sections in state code rather than modifying existing statutes, establishing a temporary framework tied specifically to the 2026 sporting events.