7/15 EliteXC Conference Call Notes
July 17, 2008
Doug DeLuca addressed a variety of issues on the 7/15 EliteXC conference call. On the time overages from the last show and plans to avoid it this time:
On a serious note, look we know we went over and we were I think prepared to go a little bit over, but it did go excessively over and it’s not going to happen again. I mean, the one thing that I think we — CBS and the SHOWTIME production team and ProElite — did when we walked away from that is that we listened to what all the fans were saying, the hardcore and the casual and the new fan. And the main complaint I believe was the pacing.
I mean, everyone thought it could have moved much quicker, everyone wanted to get down to the business and get down to the fights much quicker, and that’s something that we’re just very, very cognizant of going into this one.
On ticket sales for the event:
So we expect it to be a sellout. It will be a sellout. That stadium will be full. It seats 10,000 people. We’ll probably have it scaled somewhere between 8,000 and 9,000 but it will be full and the ticket sales are going great. I mean, they’re right on track. We have a meeting about it today to get a report.
After the last two weekends ago, (right before the) holiday weekend, things were going as planned but not gangbusters and then right after the holiday weekend things picked up amazingly.
On sponsors buying ad-time on the show:
Greg Delong: Doug, was CBS able to increase the price of advertising for this show because of the success of the first one?
Doug DeLuca: I think they definitely could have. I think the name of the game again is slow and steady. We want long-term partners. Nobody’s looking to make a quick hit. I don’t know for sure, but from what I’ve been told in the discussions I’ve had, the advertising went as well as it did the first time and we’re going to be full slate. The advertisers all came back, and everyone was very, very happy with the first event. I don’t believe prices were raised, but I don’t know for sure.
DeLuca hinted at more TV possible for EliteXC:
I can’t talk too much about it now, but we’re probably going to announce another broadcast deal pretty soon with a cable network that will do similar to what you’re saying — where you’ll see all our brands in action. Our exclusive partner in reality TV, Mark Burnett, a reality show guru, and ProElite are constantly working and developing reality shows around the sport.
He Addressed the rumor that EliteXC may buy the IFL:
Eddie Constantine: Doug, is there any truth to the rumor about the IFL acquisition?
Doug DeLuca: No, no truth to the rumor at the moment.
On a possible UFC network deal:
Doug Jeffrey: Doug, if the UFC is able to get a network television deal, how does that impact MMA and your role with CBS?
Doug DeLuca: I mean, it’s great for the sport. It just gives a bigger platform for more fighters and for more MMA to be seen around the country. Look at the sport of professional football — it’s on what, five different networks? You can see it in various places. ProElite is behind what’s good for the sport, what’s good for the fighters, and ultimately what’s good for the fans. So, I think that’s fine. It’s competition. I welcome competition. Like in a sport or in business, competition is good. We’re not going anywhere, they’re not going anywhere, and, again, as long as it’s good for the sport I think it’s great.
