Dana White admits that putting on Sphere cards isn't really financially viable

[blaseblase]

"All these fights are happening, it takes a Saudi fucking trillionaire, every fucking guy that tries to do the boxing thing ends up losing shitloads of money. The model doesn't work. A Saudi unlimited amount of money pops up, and that's what makes these fights happen."

Of course he's talking about the big boxing fights, specifically the Ngannou fights. But it applies equally to him since his company rushed to have Saudi Arabia sponsor UFC Noche and even changed the name of the card to reflect that. Not saying he's wrong for specific fights but its hilarious he's saying this after his company took advantage of the Saudi money coming in.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Which company, promoter or fighter isn't taking advantage of the Saudi money coming in if it's available?

 

[tritestill]

Saudi Bless

 

[Cooliox]

 

[PurpleStorm]

Which company, promoter or fighter isn't taking advantage of the Saudi money coming in if it's available?

Perhaps the BAFL. Broke Ass Fight League.

 

[MuffinsAppletree]

Dana gambling with YouTube 20-something year olds is financially dumb too.

They will all end up broke.

This guy. SMH

 

[ALAN PARTRIDGE]

you need a Conor etc for the Sphere,

 

[yodog]

Dana gambling with YouTube 20-something year olds is financially dumb too.

They will all end up broke.

This guy. SMH

IDK what Dana does with children, but him playing BJ isn't gambling. At worst he's breaking even. "Even a broken clock is right" ....

 

[RockyLockridge]

I dont get it, Dana came out and said said it was a one and done card obviously that's because it's not financially viable. this is something that he's admitted and explained several times already.


What is TS even on about? is this a sad attempt at a point and laugh at dana thread?

Which company, promoter or fighter isn't taking advantage of the Saudi money coming in if it's available?

Exactly

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

I guess boxing didn’t/doesn’t exist before or outside of Saudi sports-washing…

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Dana better watch his tongue about Turki Alalshikh's favorite sport

 

[HHJ]

Tbh I love that the saudis are putting money into making huge fights, but I actually hate the atmosphere of those cards. Boring crowds and stupid concerts.

The atmosphere of Usyk vs Joshua at Tottenham absolutley destroyed the atmosphere of Usyk vs Fury, even though that was a much more important fight.

The Beterviev/Bivol hype video movie tho was insane.

 

[CasualBot]

Paying fighters isn't financially viable either.

Francis apparently made more from the UFC than "the Sphere"

 

[BEATDOWNS]

They could easily replicate what Karate Combat does with the visuals at a fraction of the cost. Would help to make these Apex cards a little more appealing. imho

 

[Your Salad]

Just gotta reduce those huge/bloated fighter paychecks.

 

[blaseblase]

I dont get it, Dana came out and said said it was a one and done card obviously that's because it's not financially viable. this is something that he's admitted and explained several times already.


What is TS even on about? is this a sad attempt at a point and laugh at dana thread?

Dana has never said it's not financially viable, now you're lying just like him. In fact he's said the complete opposite and said it was incredibly profitable.

You're trying to twist what he said about not going back. He's said he's under contract with MGM, that was the reason given.

 

[Tweak896]

I wonder how much people think the Saudis are making off these boxing cards if it's a great system for boxing.

 

[Söze Aldo]

It's obvious the UFC lost money on this event but they still came out with that BS statement about it being the "highest grossing gate ever" after.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Dana has never said it's not financially viable, now you're lying just like him. In fact he's said the complete opposite and said it was incredibly profitable.

You're trying to twist what he said about not going back. He's said he's under contract with MGM, that was the reason given.

Lmfao whatever you say man, you probably just have a hard time reading between the lines the seats were expensive as fuck the event cost them 16 million dollars to pull off. It's more than likely the only reason it was profitably is because of saudi. It being "financially viable" was never a part of the equation to begin with.

 

[CC27]

Lmfao whatever you say man, you probably just have a hard time reading between the lines the seats were expensive as fuck the event cost them 16 million dollars to pull off. It's more than likely the only reason it was profitably is because of saudi. It being "financially viable" was never a part of the equation to begin with.

While not actual numbers John Nash broke down that UFC probably made 20-30 million off the event. Between guaranteed ESPN money, the Saudi sponsor, the PPV/bar sales, other sponsors and international deals. Also add in fact only O Malley probably made any decent money but there were no Conor or Jones, Khabib, guys that might make 8 figures to inflate the payroll. So he figured that event might have brought in 60 mill, minus 20 mill for production and 10+ for payouts and other things and UFC walked away with a very profitable event. Even without Saudi UFC would have made money just not as much.

But again these are just his estimates and not 100% factual but yeah the UFC isnt doing an event that loses money, thats just not the business they are in. The UFC owners arent gonna lose money so Dana can do a love letter to Mexico.