Featured Image Credit: Las Vegas Sphere
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) saw an event break the $20m revenue mark for the first time at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
UFC 306, held at the new Las Vegas venue, generated $22m by selling out 16,000 tickets. This shattered the previous gate receipts record of $17.7m set in 2016.
The gate sales will cover the $20m spent by UFC to produce the show at the $2.3bn venue. The fight championship and Vegas venue have collaborated on the event for a year.
The event was not just a milestone for UFC but also for the Sphere, marking the first live sporting event hosted at the venue. Owned by Sphere Entertainment Co., the technologically advanced venue features a 160,000-square-foot interior screen, which UFC utilised to enhance the fan experience with immersive visuals and thematic content.
The significant costs of putting on the event mean that UFC president Dana White has suggested there will not be a return to the Sphere. A collaboration with Saudi Arabia helped to fund the event.
White said: “We’re thrilled that Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority have stepped up to partner with us to make this the greatest event in the history of combat sports.”
Share this