Secondary MMA Markets: Ratner Eyes Tennessee Targets
August 12, 2008
The legalization of MMA in Tennessee passed in May, and The Tennessean (Nashville) had several great pieces on Monday educating the local populace on the sport. Perhaps the most eye-catching quote in the main article was from UFC VP Marc Ratner:
“There is no question Tennessee is a great market for mixed martial arts,” said Marc Ratner, the vice president of regulatory affairs for Ultimate Fighting Championship, one of the largest MMA circuits. “The economic impact will be great. We are talking $2-to-3-million gates per major event in Nashville and Memphis.”
I had a chance to speak with the author of the piece, Steven Silver, to flesh out Tennessee as a market. He was able to add some great nuggets of information on the past and present MMA moves in the state. Marc Ratner was very involved in the legislative process, going before the various governmental regulatory committees in order to help get legislation passed. Ratner was also an ambassador to the public, penning op-ed pieces for both The Tennessean (Nashville) as well as The Commercial Appeal (Memphis). Ratner indicated to Mr. Silver that the primary target for the UFC in the state was the Memphis market, with a date there most likely after the state establishes it’s Tennessee Athletic Commission to oversee the sport.
Silver also indicated that EliteXC is looking at Nashville as a possible host for a future EXC card. EliteXC’s interest is most likely buoyed by the reaction their 5/31 CBS show received in the state. In a measure of overnight ratings, Nashville was the second largest viewer market in the nation for that card, with Memphis being the number four market. EliteXC looks to be using their television demos as a means to gauge possible interest for their live cards, which is sound reasoning.
The UFC should be commended for all the money and effort expended in getting the sport regulated throughout the country. Often lost in the shuffle, though, are the grassroots people like Ed Clay and Shane Messer in Tennessee and Doug Muhle in North Carolina. These folks are often coming out of their own pocket with money to aid lobbying and passage of MMA regulation. The Tennessean elaborates:
It’s precisely that enthusiasm that Nashville MMA co-owners Ed Clay and Shane Messer have tapped into, pouring more than $20,000 into lobbying to get the sport legalized and using slick and aggressive marketing to promote the sport in Middle Tennessee.
MMA fans now await the completion of the Tennessee Athletic Commission before the first cards can be put on. The Governor of Tennessee is in the process of naming five of the members to the nine member commission. Interest was said to be strong for inclusion on the commission, with a large number of possible candidates to sift through for selection.
