Mixed Martial Arts Events, With Sell-Out Crowds and Record-Breaking Gates, Will Bring Much Needed Tourist Revenue and Tax Dollars to Cash-Strapped Upstate Economies

With MMA Regulated in 32 States Including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, New York is Losing Valuable Dollars to Neighboring State Economies

Today, as the effort to regulate the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) gets underway in New York State, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), the leading MMA league, committed to holding a fight in Upstate New York in 2008. Mixed martial arts, which boasts sell-out crowd across the country and record-breaking gates, will bring much-needed tourist revenue and tax dollars to cash-strapped upstate communities.

“Our events have brought millions of dollars in tax and tourist revenue to nearly every city we have held an event in – we are constantly breaking arena records for concession sales, merchandise and ticket sales,” said Dana White, UFC® President. “Once New York joins New Jersey, Pennsylvania and 30 other states in regulating MMA, we will be thrilled to offer a UFC® event this year to an upstate city and replicate its success all over the state.”

“In recent years, mixed martial arts has evolved from its beginnings into a more reformed, organized and regulated sport worthy of our review for sanctioning consideration in New York State,” said New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo. “In the last fifteen years, it has grown into an international phenomenon. It’s long past time to look into officially sanctioning this sport in New York. More than two-thirds of the states commission mixed martial arts matches. There are significant tourist and tax revenue dollars flowing to neighboring states who are hosting these events. We need to immediately examine the potential for the sport to thrive here.”

“Mixed martial arts events are selling out stadiums in the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and other countries. Arenas throughout the U.S. are now working with state and local government agencies in order to host these events domestically. Athletic commissions in 32 states have worked with MMA organizations like UFC® to ensure the safety of the competitors and to enable residents in their cities to have the opportunity to see these exciting events right in their home town,” said Bob Belber, General Manager of the Albany Times Union Center. “If the New York State Athletic Commission approves the regulatory process to open the door for mixed martial arts and UFC® events in New York State, we would like to be one of the first cities to participate. The Times Union Center in Albany seats 16,500 for a boxing-like event. The arena in Albany is managed by SMG, which manages over 200 facilities worldwide and many of the arenas in the 32 states that are currently hosting UFC® events are managed by SMG.”

“The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau is very excited about bringing MMA and the UFC® to New York State and the City of Buffalo,” said Richard Geiger, President/CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Each individual event represents thousands of visitors and millions of dollars in economic impact for the city. Hosting world-class events of this magnitude are an important part of showcasing our region while generating dollars for local businesses.”

Mixed martial arts is among the fastest growing sports in the U.S., and UFC® is the most heavily regulated and widely recognized of the MMA organizations. Known for its intense competition and remarkable athleticism, the sport is winning an increasingly large following. Its surging popularity has meant sell-out events and made it a coveted attraction for local officials and arena owners alike.

UFC® events have among the highest average ticket revenues of any sporting event. The recent UFC® middleweight title unification match in Columbus, Ohio produced a live gate of more than $2 million, with seats in the secondary market going for over $1,000 online. Hotel rooms in downtown Columbus were filled weeks in advance and according to the Ohio Athletic Commission, the event produced $11 million in external economic activity for the city. UFC®’s August 2007 event in Las Vegas sold out Mandalay Bay and had an average ticket price of over $340. Even assuming lower ticket prices, an event upstate would translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars for city and state coffers. And, unlike other arena events, MMA attendees arrive early and stay late, meaning record concession and merchandising sales and corresponding sales tax revenue. At most major boxing events, arenas are lucky to be a quarter-filled during undercard fights; at UFC® events, they are often close to full hours before the main event.