UFC White House has all the tools to be the biggest event the sport has ever seen, but it will come at a substantial cost.
The UFC has prided itself on setting the standards in combat sports, always pushing the boundaries. Their innovation has paid off throughout their short 32-year history, building from the ground up into a powerhouse of modern-day entertainment.
Advertisement
From performing in front of very few to preparing to host an event on display to millions at the White House, the UFC has come a long way. Despite all of the positives that a show at the White House would bring to the promotion, it doesn’t come without its negatives.
According to reports, the UFC is set to spend upwards of $60 million and incur total losses of over $30 million for its ambitious White House plans.
“At the moment, the UFC event at the White House is slated to cost upwards of $60 million,” TKO Group Holdings’ president and COO Mark Shapiro revealed. “I think by the time all is said and done with the event, and what we pay the fighters and the fan fest that we’re going to have, that could move north. It’s definitely not moving south. It could move north. Bottom line, it’s still a moving target.”
“We are working to determine, on a parallel track, a package of inventory in and around the weekend of events we can monetize, primarily with corporate partners. [Business is business]. Players that will offset half of the spend. Even if that $60 [million] goes up or rides up on us, we believe we can offset half of the spend. Today, we see as $60 [million], offsetting $30 [million]. Now, I would mention we have several current and prospective partners that are pursuing multi-year partnerships with TKO assets that likely will be inclusive of the White House event. We have a lot of current and prospective partners that would like to be involved and inquiring about inventory as part of their greater partnership deals they either already have or are negotiating with us for the future.”
Advertisement
Expecting to put on a showcase never before seen in mixed martial arts, Mark Shapiro is excited to play a role in the celebrations of America’s 250th birthday.
Believing the company will incur a significant loss when they step onto the White House’s south lawn this summer, Shapiro considers the event a high-risk, high-reward vision that will live on in the country’s history.
“But I want to be clear about something — we will not profit from the White House event independently,” Shapiro continued. “We will not be making money on America’s 250th anniversary.”
“This is an investment for the long term. This is about earned media. This is about sampling, new fans, casual viewers, a spectacle on a stage that will ultimately expand our audience, our viewership, and our success on Paramount+.”
