Speedo relocates its U.S. headquarters to Long Beach in preparation for the Olympics

Speedo Relocates North American Headquarters to Long Beach Ahead of 2028 Olympics

Caeleb Dressel competes in the men's 100-meter butterfly at the 2023 Speedo Atlanta Classic.

Long Beach’s initiative to leverage the Olympics as a catalyst for economic transformation has already begun to attract new business, with a prominent sportswear company choosing the city as its new home.

Pentland Brands, the parent company of Speedo, has announced plans to relocate its North American headquarters from Orange County to Long Beach. The city is quickly becoming a central location for aquatic sports in anticipation of the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

The privately owned British company, which oversees several fashion and sportswear brands such as Berghaus and Endura, will move into a 25,000-square-foot space at Aero Long Beach this summer.

Since 2015, Pentland Brands’ North American base has been in a 69,000-square-foot office in Cypress, according to a company spokesperson.

The upcoming Olympics played a significant role in the decision to move. In a statement, the company noted, “Establishing Speedo in Long Beach puts the brand at the center of one of the world’s most anticipated sporting events.”

Bo Martinez, Long Beach’s economic development director, described the move as “a strong endorsement” of the city’s efforts to broaden its economic base, generate quality jobs, and foster an environment where innovative companies can succeed.

The new Long Beach facility will house over 130 employees and is expected to feature a dedicated Speedo showroom, collaborative workspaces, and areas for product development.

Long Beach’s Role in the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics

According to an April announcement from the city, Long Beach will host 11 Olympic events during the 2028 Games, scheduled from July 14 to July 30.

• Water-based competitions will include coastal rowing, open-water swimming, beach volleyball, sailing, artistic swimming, and water polo.
• Other events such as sport climbing, handball, and target shooting are also planned.

These competitions will take place across seven venues, including temporary structures, the historic Long Beach Arena (which was used in the 1984 Olympics), and Marine Stadium, originally built for the 1932 Games’ rowing events.

Long Beach is also set to host seven Paralympic events from August 15 to August 27, as detailed on the city’s official website.

Councilman Daryl Supernaw expressed his excitement about Speedo’s parent company moving into his district, which includes areas around Long Beach Airport, calling it “the perfect addition to diversify our economy and reinforce the city’s rich aquatic heritage.”

Olympic Investment and Speedo’s Legacy

In 2023, Long Beach revealed plans to invest over $900 million in infrastructure over five years, with about $200 million dedicated to Olympic-related projects.

Mayor Rex Richardson described the Olympics as a pivotal opportunity for Long Beach to transition away from its traditional reliance on oil revenue and build a more diverse economy.

Pentland Brands, a division of the Pentland Group (originally founded as the Liverpool Shoe Co. in the 1930s), acquired Speedo International and Speedo Australia in the 1990s. Ahead of the postponed Tokyo Olympics, the company consolidated its global swimwear business by purchasing Speedo North America from PVH Corp. for $170 million.

Speedo is a major Olympic sponsor and partners with national swimming organizations in the U.S., Canada, China, Australia, and other countries.

The brand’s roots go back to 1928, when Scottish immigrant Alexander MacRae created the Racerback swimsuit. Speedo’s innovative designs even sparked controversy at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, when Australian swimmer Clare Dennis’s exposed shoulders led to a complaint that was ultimately dismissed, allowing her to win gold in the 200-meter breaststroke, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.