How does the UFC pick event locations?

Johnny Drama

Johnny Drama

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Just wondering how and why the UFC picks their event locations in the United States.
I know Vegas is their home, hoisting around 6-8 events a year PPV's and TUF Finales.

I know they generally have the PPV's in a bigger city with an arena that holds roughly 15K-20K people.
The smaller cards they hold events in smaller cities and in a smaller venue.

Im just not sure how they pick these cities.

They went to Columbus OH 3 straight years in March the same weekend that the Arnolds are held from 2007-2009 and haven't been back in 4+ years. Why is that, i have been there 2 of those years and that experience almost tops the Vegas experience.

They came to Philadelphia in Aug of 2009 and 2011, i live in Philadelphia so id really like them to come back.

It seems like they target different Cali cities the Newark area a lot, guess cause its so close to NYC, but Newark is such a shit area.

Since they are just about putting 2-3 shows on a month now it would be nice if they spread it around a little more consistent.
 
Like this.

Douchbag#1 - "Where should we go next?"

Douchbag#2 - "How about here?"


Blam done.
 
Johnny Drama said:
J
It seems like they target different Cali cities the Newark area a lot, guess cause its so close to NYC, but Newark is such a shit area.
Click to expand...

1) MMA events are illegal in New York.

2) From the moment you step on either the PATH at World Trade Center, or NJTransit at Penn Station, it will take you approximately 30 minutes to physically enter the Prudential Center, and only 1.5 city blocks of that trip is outdoors.
 
I think certain cities/venues they like to visit once a year at least like Toronto, Anaheim, Chicago and so on. Plus UFC is going to Brazil a lot more recently.
 
They use a lot of different methods to decide. They have to look at things like:

Which fighters they want to potentially put on a card, and which other local fighters would be available. They like to have fighters compete on cards in their home towns.

Local economies and other attractions that might be taking place at the same time in the area when they can book. This can be a positive or a negative.

If they have been to the place before, how well did it do, and can they expect to do the same/better/worse if they go again.

What events they have planned, and the price points they want to sell them at. Certain cities are easier to mark up the prices than others.

Lots of different things.

You can email the UFC and ask them to come back to your city, and have all your friends do it too. If they get lots of continued requests, they will look in to the viability of it.
 
Im sure there is a lot of market research involved to see where demand and profitability is highest.
 
I agree with the UFC looking for $$$ first, but why stop going to Columbus?? With the whole Arnold's going on the same weekend leaves a huge opertunity to make big money. The UFC had a expo there every year.
MMA is huge in the Midwest, just wish the UFC would realize that and put a PPV card there once a year.
 
Johnny Drama said:
I agree with the UFC looking for $$$ first, but why stop going to Columbus?? With the whole Arnold's going on the same weekend leaves a huge opertunity to make big money. The UFC had a expo there every year.
MMA is huge in the Midwest, just wish the UFC would realize that and put a PPV card there once a year.
Click to expand...

They stopped going to Columbus because I moved to Ohio 4 months ago and Dana and company just don't want me to attend a live event i guess?
 
Does the area have an arena capable of handling one, but not so big that they can't fill it?

Is the place not only ripe with fans, but close to other places ripe with fans. (done by numbers of fans on twitter/facebook/etc in certain areas.)?

Is a champ/big name from the event FROM an area?

And on and on.
 
Johnny Drama said:
Just wondering how and why the UFC picks their event locations in the United States.
I know Vegas is their home, hoisting around 6-8 events a year PPV's and TUF Finales.

I know they generally have the PPV's in a bigger city with an arena that holds roughly 15K-20K people.
The smaller cards they hold events in smaller cities and in a smaller venue.

Im just not sure how they pick these cities.

They went to Columbus OH 3 straight years in March the same weekend that the Arnolds are held from 2007-2009 and haven't been back in 4+ years. Why is that, i have been there 2 of those years and that experience almost tops the Vegas experience.

They came to Philadelphia in Aug of 2009 and 2011, i live in Philadelphia so id really like them to come back.

It seems like they target different Cali cities the Newark area a lot, guess cause its so close to NYC, but Newark is such a shit area.

Since they are just about putting 2-3 shows on a month now it would be nice if they spread it around a little more consistent.
Click to expand...

Didn't the UFC not like the AC in PA. I may be wrong but I think Dana was pissed over how they handled the Marquardt incident.
 
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