How much does pickup cost in Los Angeles?

Outdoor courts and beach volleyball are mostly free. Indoor volleyball open gyms commonly charge $15 to $20 per person, and indoor basketball or futsal runs usually land in the same range once the gym rental is split.

Can I rent a public gym in LA?

Yes. LA County Parks lists gym rentals at $75 an hour for community groups and $100 an hour for individuals (schedule effective August 2025). City of LA recreation centers set their own rates; one published rate is $50 an hour. Ask the center directly, since availability is limited at peak times.

What should I charge per player?

Divide the total gym cost by your minimum number of players, not your maximum, then round up. If a gym costs $200 for two hours and you need 12 to play, charge $17.

What if not enough people sign up?

Set a minimum and a deadline, such as 12 paid players 24 hours before the game. With Pitchin, if the minimum isn't reached, the game is cancelled and everyone is refunded automatically.

Running pickup games in Los Angeles

LA has endless outdoor courts, but a reliable indoor run means booking a gym by the hour, and someone has to pay for it. The organizers who keep a weekly game going book the space, charge enough to cover it, and get paid before anyone walks in. Here's how to do that without fronting the money yourself.

Where LA pickup games happen

Outdoor courts and the beach. Free, but first come, first served, and you can't promise anyone a game at 7pm on a Tuesday.
City and county rec center gyms. The cheapest indoor option at $50 to $100 an hour, but prime slots are hard to get.
Private gyms and sports complexes. Easier to book and often $150 an hour or more. This is where most indoor volleyball, basketball and futsal runs end up.

What gyms cost

LA County Parks' fee schedule (effective August 2025) lists gymnasium rental at $75 an hour for community groups, $100 an hour for individuals and $180 an hour for commercial use. City of LA recreation centers set their own rates; Eagle Rock, for example, publishes $50 an hour. Private gyms vary widely, from under $100 to several hundred an hour. Rates change, so confirm with the venue when you book.

What to charge per player

Base your price on your minimum player count, so the gym is covered even on a light week:

Session cost	Minimum players	Charge each
$100 (city rec center gym, 2 hrs)	10	$10
$200 (county gym, 2 hrs)	12	$17
$300 (private gym, 2 hrs)	16	$19

Anything above the minimum is a cushion. It covers a ball, a deposit, or the week only nine people come.

The hard part: collecting the money

One bad week can leave an organizer covering a $200 or $300 gym alone. Most end up paying the venue themselves, then chasing Venmo requests while a few people say "in" in the group chat and never show. The fix is to have players pay when they claim a spot, with a clear rule for what happens if the game doesn't fill.

Our guide on splitting court rental costs walks through the math, including deposits and no-shows.

How Pitchin handles it

You create the game: time, venue, price, maximum and minimum players, and a deadline.
You post one link in your WhatsApp, GroupMe or iMessage chat. Players pay to grab a spot. They don't need an app or an account.
When it's full, a waitlist takes over. If someone drops out, the next person is moved in and charged automatically.
If you're under your minimum at the deadline, the game is cancelled and everyone is refunded, so you can release the gym in time.
You get your full price per player, paid out to your bank through Stripe.

Questions

How much does pickup cost in Los Angeles?: Outdoor courts and beach volleyball are mostly free. Indoor volleyball open gyms commonly charge $15 to $20 per person, and indoor basketball or futsal runs usually land in the same range once the gym rental is split.
Can I rent a public gym in LA?: Yes. LA County Parks lists gym rentals at $75 an hour for community groups and $100 an hour for individuals (schedule effective August 2025). City of LA recreation centers set their own rates; one published rate is $50 an hour. Ask the center directly, since availability is limited at peak times.
What should I charge per player?: Divide the total gym cost by your minimum number of players, not your maximum, then round up. If a gym costs $200 for two hours and you need 12 to play, charge $17.
What if not enough people sign up?: Set a minimum and a deadline, such as 12 paid players 24 hours before the game. With Pitchin, if the minimum isn't reached, the game is cancelled and everyone is refunded automatically.

Running a game in LA this week?

Free for organizers. Players pay a $1 to $2 service fee, and you keep your full price.

Create your game

Public gym rates are from the LA County Parks fee schedule and a City of LA recreation center rental sheet; private gym and open-gym prices are typical published rates. All are a guide only. Check with your venue before you book.