UFC Rethinks Stadium Concept
January 21, 2009
There has been talk on multiple occasions of the UFC putting on stadium shows in the future, but based on the words and actions of UFC brass, those thoughts look to have been sidelined for now. Two locations mentioned for stadium shows were Hawaii and the UK for a possible Bisping title fight. Hawaii has been stripped from contention due to restrictive MMA legislation that has lead to UFC prez Dana White swearing off running a card their until the regs are amended. The UK is also looking like a no go.
The Glasgow Daily Record spoke with UFC UK Chief Marshall Zelaznik on the topic and the prospects look to have faded for putting a Stadium show across the pond:
The fight league boss admits the UFC fears such a show would lack the big-fight atmosphere they want Bisping’s title match to have.
And despite the money the fight would draw UFC chiefs want to keep it in a smaller stadium, even after seeing Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton sell out football stadiums across the country for their top bouts.
“That kind of event would do very well ticket wise,” he told DailyRecord.co.uk.
“I think it would rival any boxing shows they’ve done. The problem is that the atmosphere created by an indoor event, with the big screens and all, and I know Lorenzo [Fertita, UFC owner] is concerned about losing that contact.
