Pride Month and World Cup fever collided in West Hollywood over the weekend as Pride House LA/WeHo opened its doors for four days of programming centered on sport, identity and community ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
Presented by the Out Athlete Fund and hosted at Beaches Tropicana, the inaugural Pride House activation transformed opening weekend into more than a viewing experience. Across conversations, watch parties and athlete-led moments, the event created space for LGBTQ+ fans and allies to celebrate where sports culture is headed, and who gets to shape it.
One of the weekend’s standout gatherings arrived Saturday with Women in Sports Day, presented alongside Angel City FC and supported by Giesen 0%, the event’s official non-alcoholic wine partner.
Women’s Soccer Took Center Stage
Saturday’s programming put women’s football firmly in the spotlight.
The afternoon opened with a World Cup watch party for Qatar vs. Switzerland before shifting into a live taping of The RE—CAP Show featuring soccer stars Tobin Heath and Christen Press.
The atmosphere felt less like a traditional panel and more like being invited into the group chat.
Fans gathered to hear conversations around the women’s game, player culture and where the sport is heading at a moment when interest in women’s soccer continues to surge globally. Throughout the afternoon, guests moved between match reactions, social moments and conversations that reflected the growing overlap between queer culture and sports fandom.
Events like Pride House are increasingly filling a space that sports has historically struggled to create, one where LGBTQ+ fans don’t have to separate identity from community.
A New Era for Sports Gatherings
Across the four-day schedule, Pride House LA/WeHo built momentum through a mix of celebrations and conversations.
Programming included opening night festivities, Latin culture celebrations tied to Team USA’s opening World Cup appearance and a closing-day lineup focused on LGBTQ+ visibility in professional soccer.
Sunday’s finale expanded that mission with the first Gay MLS Players Reunion featuring former MLS athletes Collin Martin and Matt Hatzke, followed by a Gay Games sendoff recognizing athletes preparing to compete in Spain.
The weekend closed with a community toast that captured the event’s broader goal: bringing people together through sport without making participation feel exclusive.
That approach extended into the hospitality side of the experience as well.
The Rise of the Social Sipper
Throughout the weekend, Giesen 0% served its newly launched 0% Spritz offerings across Beaches Tropicana, giving attendees an alcohol-free option that still felt celebratory.
Non-alcoholic beverage brands have become increasingly visible at Pride activations and major sporting events, reflecting changing habits among younger audiences who want alternatives without sacrificing the social experience.
At Pride House, that translated into something simple but effective: people lingering longer, staying for conversations and raising a glass whether they were drinking alcohol or not.
More Than a Watch Party
As Los Angeles looks ahead to becoming an even bigger global sports destination over the next several years, Pride House LA/WeHo offered a preview of what future fan experiences could look like.
Less gatekeeping. More connection.
And if opening weekend was any indication, women’s sports and LGBTQ+ community aren’t side conversations anymore, they’re helping lead the event.
