Quick Thought on UFC in Theatres

by SidHartman on Feb 27, 2010 4:57 PM EST

This may have been brought up already, but reading Dan Rafael's recent Boxing notebook on espn.com, one nugget of info jumped out at me and got me thinking about the UFC's recent announcement that UFC 111 would be broadcast in over 300 theatres nationwide.

Boxing is headed back to movie theaters. Buoyed by the success of the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez fight being shown in high definition on about 200 big screens nationwide in September, Golden Boy made a new deal with NCM Fathom to go back to theaters for two upcoming fights, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com.

The April 3 Roy Jones-Bernard Hopkins rematch and the May 1 Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight, along with their undercards, will be in select movie theaters, he said.

Jones-Hopkins will be available on between 150 and 200 screens while Mosley-Mayweather will play on more than 400 screens.

"They did a survey about Mayweather-Marquez and it was No. 1 for positive feedback of any event they ever had in their theaters. It was unbelievable," Schaefer said. "It was a huge success. We're doing it again and believe it will be another huge success."

Although Golden Boy will generate revenue from the theater tickets (Mayweather-Mosley theater tickets will cost between $20 and $25 with Jones-Hopkins being priced lower), the real enticement of the deal is the thousands of screens that will advertise the fight before movies begin.

He mentions the "real enticement" of having thousands of screens advertising the fights before movies begin in the weeks leading up to the events. Seeing that NCM Fathom is the same company partnering with the UFC for UFC 111, this tells me there's likely more going on then just the fact that Zuffa is trying to find new ways to broadcast events. This could act as a big advertising tool to the casuals out there. Getting the word out to thousands of fans to see the fight in any way (outside of illegal streams of course!!!) is a huge plus.

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Makes sense that no theater in upstate NY is going to play it. This place is ignored by the world more than Chile is going to be after their earthquake.

by NADOTA.com on Feb 27, 2010 5:22 PM EST reply actions

Guess it depends on your definition of upstate, NY. I know it’s going to be playing in Rochester and in Buffalo. I, however, had all my excitement taken away by the fact that it’ll cost $25. I don’t like shelling out $45 for a pay-per-view, so I’m clearly not going to want to shell out $50 for me and the wife to see it at the theater. Why price it such that anyone that wants to go with ONE other person can think to themselves “well, jeez – if we just order it at home we can save money”?

by RickBickel on Feb 28, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

One comment that comes to mind is the atmosphere produced by a theatre packed full of MMA fans. Someone stated that they went to the $$$$-Marquez showing and it felt like being at the event except with a much BETTER view. Just one point.

"For your information, I would like to ask a question."
-Samuel Goldwyn

by fedorade on Mar 1, 2010 3:44 AM EST up reply actions

I was really excited for the UFC in theaters until I found out I’d have to pay $25 for a ticket, plus another buck if I wanted to buy tickets online.

My $25 goes way farther in Buffalo Wild Wings, which doesn’t charge admission and has reasonably-priced good food.

by MMAEruption on Feb 28, 2010 10:07 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

MMAEruption and RickBickel

You guys hit what I was thinking right on the head. Unless you are just one person watching alone I don’t see any justification to pay 25$… I can’t justify paying the 20 (It used to be 10, then we’d all go) to see at at one of the Stations clubs.

It’s cheaper to watch it at home or to hit a bar. I understand the benefit of the screen and I’ll assume the sound but it’s not worth that much money.

by Chris Barton on Mar 1, 2010 12:21 PM EST reply actions