The New York State Assembly will not vote on a bill to legalize professional MMA in the state. With the latest loss, Zuffa will have to wait another year to lobby Albany once again.
Newsday reports that after a meeting with the Democratic conference on Tuesday night, it was decided not to be put to a vote. Although the MMA bill had 64 sponsors attached to it, a groundswell of opposition probably led to another year without a vote. However, 35 Democrats voiced opposition to the bill which was due in part to a sexual discrimination claim which was not handled properly by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. MMA Fighting reports Silver stating that over 40 Democrats opposed the bill. A simple majority of the 150 members of the Assembly was needed for passage. While there are 104 Democratic seats in the Assembly, the block of opposition did in the MMA bill this year.
Of course, Zuffa blames the Culinary Union of Las Vegas for the failure of the bill yet again.
Payout Perspective:
Whether it was the lobbying power of the Culinary Union or the sexual scandal which denied Zuffa another shot at New York, its becoming clear that Zuffa must reassess its strategy if it would ever have an event in New York. If you were wondering about Zuffa’s lawsuit against the state, the Court has yet to rule on New York’s Motion to Dismiss Zuffa’s First Amended Complaint. Even if the Court denies the Motion, any legal battle would continue on through 2013 and thus seeking resolution through the courtroom will not happen this year.
It will happen. But it’s best not to put a timeline on it.
Blast from the past article mma payout
UFC’s Moves in New York
June 16, 2008
Much has been made about the UFC and it’s lobbying efforts in trying to legalize MMA in the state of New York. New York Magazine gives us an idea of some of the costs they have incurred:
They started their New York offensive last year, hiring the political consultants at Global Strategy Group, a well-connected Democratic firm, and putting a high-powered Albany lobbying firm on $10,000-a-month retainer. They gave $25,000 to the state Democratic Party, another $15,000 to the Assembly Democrats, and have also cut large checks to Republicans.
The magazine then goes on to illuminate the major players who need to be convinced if the sport is to be legalized. The comments from the Governor can’t be encouraging.
The article also sheds light on some details that are usually swept under the rug when major publications like Rolling Stone, Forbes, Etc. come around to do their pieces.
The Fertittas come from a long line of casino entrepreneurs. Their grandfather, Anthony, ran gambling halls in Galveston, Texas, where he was convicted for beating up a Life reporter who came to town to investigate the scene. Frank Jr., the brothers’ father, was running Las Vegas’s Fremont Hotel when the Feds busted up the place to break a money-skimming operation (he wasn’t charged); the ordeal is said to have become the basis for Martin Scorsese’s Casino.
Written by robnashville · Filed Under legal, mainstream, politics, regulation, UFC, Zuffa
Good. With the way the Ufc mistreats it’s fighters financially they don’t deserve to have fights at the garden don’t tell me about locker room bonuses as if Dana white aka God decided to bless them. Dana doesn’t have a fight to his man yet is worth hundreds of millions. Dana represents the one percent and is selfish. They exploit these guys until their bodies are broken and they have brain damage and then cast them aside. For every chuck and rich and Matt there are tens of thousands of fighters who will never even sniff a ppv bonus much less even fight for the ufc.
I am in a union and I feel sorry for those who aren’t. people who rag on unions are silly and ignorant. They are on the outside looking in and don’t know any better so I hesitate to belittle them too much.
“I am in a union and I feel sorry for those who aren’t. people who rag on unions are silly and ignorant. They are on the outside looking in and don’t know any better so I hesitate to belittle them too much.”
What union are you a member of?
AFSCME. Which is under the afl-cio umbrella. Sure, all it does is stop your employer from being able to pull the rug out from under you. But that is enough. Job security is priceless