UFC smashes Sydney arena’s ticket sales record

Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena saw its box office record smashed by its recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) show.

UFC 293 generated ticket sales revenue of A$10.7m, which was a huge 92% greater than the previous record set by the Rolling Stones in 2014.

Arena officials said tickets for the event – which was staged on September 10 – sold out in just 13 minutes. The 21,000-capacity venue attracted fans from around the world, with a large number of attendees coming from outside New South Wales.

In a statement, arena officials said the international turnout demonstrated the universal appeal of mixed martial arts.

Revenue was also bolstered by a strong premium ticketing showing, with more than 1,000 corporate guests present.

“This is the second time a numbered UFC event has been held at Qudos Bank Arena and was by far the biggest”, said Steve Hevern, Qudos Bank Arena’s general manager. “It is really pleasing to see the momentum continuing to build post-Covid. It is clear that the fans have spoken and live entertainment is well and truly back.

“UFC 293 was one for the ages. It was a massive effort by the entire arena team, and I couldn’t be prouder of their determination to deliver a seamless operation that produced memorable experiences across the board.”

In just the last two months, UFC events have been held in Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. International shows have taken place in London, Paris, Singapore and Sydney, with events also in Boston, Nashville, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.