UFC 101: Making the Case for More East Coast UFC Events
Promoted from the FanPosts by Kid Nate

Cross posted at MMA4Real.
I wrote a while ago about why I thought Zuffa should come back to North Carolina after how successful the UFC: Fight For The Troops event had been. I spoke about the huge military presence we have in the state. Not only that, but it's a great central location for East coast fans. The East coast fans seem to get forgotten about at times, but when the UFC does come, we come out in droves. Often to somewhat less stacked events than our Western counterparts get to witness. However, we were treated to UFC 88 last year in Atlanta, GA, which I had the honor of attending (it was a great card). That event (with no title fight) had almost 15,000 fans in attendance with a gate of over 2.5 million dollars. UFC 78 also sported similar numbers emanating from New Jersey, in what most people thought to be a lackluster card. Ultimate Fight Night 17 was held in Florida and had close to 8,000 fans in attendance with a gate of close to $450,000.
Now MMAJunkie is reporting in regards to UFC 101 (which will take place in Pennsylvania) that UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner has the following to say:
"We put tickets on sale, I believe sometime at the end of April or early May, and we've sold almost 14,000 tickets," Ratner said. "It's the biggest event in Pennsylvania history, as far as a live gate, already." "We've sold over $3 million worth of tickets," Ratner said of UFC 101.
So that event is already over $3 million dollars at the gate, and it's still over a month away? On paper, this event is looking really solid with the UFC lightweight title on the line between Kenny Florian and BJ Penn. Also, Anderson Silva will take on former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. The rest of the card will feature what should be solid fights. So the proof is in the pudding: if East coast fans are given the same quality as the West coast fans, there's no reason why Zuffa shouldn't be coming to the East coast more often...coughs...North Carolina :)
Cross posted at MMA4Real.
UPDATE (by Kid Nate): While we're talking about big time MMA on the East coast, I thought I'd jump in and add a couple of thing to this post from my fellow SB Nation MMA blogger Zak Woods at Watch Kalib Run has been OWNING the story of the attempt to pass regulation in NY. He's also got some insight on why the Philly UFC is selling so well.
- Cup of Coffee sets off legal challenges in New York State Senate
- MMA Weekly is way too optimistic about New York and MMA
- Two weeks left...
- New York to take up MMA legislation: WKR cautions patience
- Don’t hold your breath on MMA in New York
- Weighing In: Big Issues
From that last one, dated January 21, 2009, when most authorities were saying the UFC was going to succeed in getting regulation passed in New York in 2009, here's what the WKR crew was saying:
Will MMA become legalized in New York in 2009?
ZW: No, but it will be close. The New York Assembly is notorious for being bogged down in deadlock. With a 15 billion dollar deficit over the next two years, that they are required by law to balance, it will take up a lot of legislative hours. Not a big deal with 12 months right to pass legislation right? Wrong, the Assembly ends its session in June. So while MMA legislation might get out of committee, I don't think it will pass the floor and be signed into law by June. But I am a big pessimist.
MC: As a lifelong New York resident, this is a deeply personal issue for me, because I'd love to head to Madison Square Garden for a UFC event. However, I doubt it will happen. The gears in Albany move extremely slowly and the UFC simply doesn't have the allies here to make it happen yet.
My advice to Zuffa - get labor and the NY tourism industry and labor on your side. People plan entire vacations around UFC events, and that means business for hotels, restaurants, shops, and hot dog vendors.
The UFC's top public affairs guy is still holding out hope for NY this year, but it doesn't look good.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
1 recs |
24 comments
|
Comments
UFC needs to come back to NJ except with a good card. I like that they came to Philly but other than the top two fights (BJ-Ken/Forrest-Silva) the card is really lacking.
by Sokonojudo on Jul 2, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dude
BJ, Kenny, Forrest & Silva are all individual headliners. 4 of them on the same card is nuts, who cares about the rest of it!!!!
Better than Koscheck headlining
by Well Read Idiot on Jul 3, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just want to say that I was actually wrong.
MMA legislation was nowhere near as close as I thought it was going to be. It still has to go through 2 committees in the Assembly
watchkalibrun.com
by Zak Woods on Jul 2, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
thanks for interupting your
“I told you so” tour for that caveat.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jul 2, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well I think of it as I was right but I could’ve been more right to keep myself humble
watchkalibrun.com
by Zak Woods on Jul 2, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's the spirit
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jul 2, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NY government is so screwed up, it’s just sad (outside MMA included). Unless the UFC starts dropping sacks of money on politican’s doorsteps it’s not happening. Only way I could ever see MMA in NYC is if one of the embassies had a big enough hall and they held a match there (lol).
by Sokonojudo on Jul 2, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d just like to say…we have 2 venues in North Carolina that hold 20,000 plus…those jawns would fill up with the quickness..
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
by Kelvin Hunt on Jul 2, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
East Coast-wise (literally coast), I can envision Charlotte, Miami, D.C. and maybe Baltimore and Jacksonville.
watchkalibrun.com
by Zak Woods on Jul 2, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Charlotte
for sure…for PPV…..hell, I’ll take another UFN…not knocking the military AT ALL..but make it so EVERYBODY can go…not just the troops…I was madd that I live 45 mins from Fayetteville and could’t even go :(
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
by Kelvin Hunt on Jul 2, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WHAT!
you are kidding! I didnt realize that was exclusive
watchkalibrun.com
by Zak Woods on Jul 2, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
all I remember from that night was the blood
watchkalibrun.com
by Zak Woods on Jul 2, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the blood!
from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe
by troy145 on Jul 2, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
jawns
is so Philly.
Massachusetts needs to hurry up and pass their shit.
by Chris Nelson on Jul 2, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
We been saying ‘jawns’ in NC for a minute….
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
by Kelvin Hunt on Jul 2, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and i haven’t heard “jawns” in Philly for probably a good 5 years.
by mo dogg on Jul 3, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please bring UFC to the DC area. MMA is very big here in Northern Virginia and I guarantee you will get a huge sellout if you come here.
by Zack Gobie on Jul 2, 2009 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
God I wish…
Anyone got a big get together forming for UFC 100 in VA anywhere?
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 2, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll probably end up going to the Hooters in VA with a few friends, but nothing major. I would go to wherever Big O and Dukes head out, but I’m still only 20 so I’m fucked. We need to start a BE get-together.
by Zack Gobie on Jul 3, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What part of VA are you guys in? I know Luke is around Fredericksburg Area
like I am….
by Loot on Jul 3, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fredericksburg here.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Jul 3, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ORLANDO!!
Its an easy choice once the new arena opens. It will be one of the nicest facilities in the country, and is already one of the largest vacation destinations in the US and world. A summer card with some international fighters would be extra incentive for foreign fans to make the trip stateside to see an event as well as entertain the family at a Magic game, the Magic Kingdom, SeaWorld or Universal Studios.
Theres already a huge MMA market in central Florida with the natives as well with names such as Din Thomas, Seth Petruzelli, Thom Lawlor, Luigi Fiorivanti and Ben Saunders all with Orlando pedigrees at some point in their career. There is an ATT school, a Gracie-Baja School, a Royce Gracie affiliate, Petruzelli’s The Jungle, and more schools in the area. Orlando sports one of the largest and fastest growing metropolitain areas in the country and can easily pull from the Tampa-St Pete-Clearwater metro as well as the Miami Dade area.
Cage Warriors USA set the stage stuffing UCF’s 9,000 seat arena along with the UFN 17 in Tampa, and the UFC could easily top that with a decent card in Orlando.
Seriously, ORLANDO!
from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe
by troy145 on Jul 2, 2009 8:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was trying to be literal with the “coast” description.
Really any city that has an NBA team or NHL team would good be a good location for the UFC. Luckily for Zuffa both the NBA and NHL have too many teams
watchkalibrun.com
by Zak Woods on Jul 2, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by 
















