MMA Fighting reports on the annual pilgrimage to Albany, New York for the UFC to lobby for the legalization of the sport in the state. Lorenzo Fertitta has stated that if professional MMA is legalized in the state that it will show its commitment to the fans of New York through an “epic series of major events over the next three years.”
Dana White indicated in an interview on AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” last week that it has reserved Madison Square Garden in 2015. The UFC has reserved MSG in the past with the hope that the sport would be legal but to no avail.
This legislative session Zuffa has the support of The Business Council of NYS, Inc. The organization identified that the legislation would likely benefit its cause as many of the organization’s members are resorts and sports venues. Many of these would benefit from the influx of legalized MMA events as one would presume promoters would seek out these venues to hold MMA in New York State.
Fertitta was in Albany on Tuesday to lobby with legislators and advocate for the passage of the MMA bill. In an interview with the Auburn Citizen, he indicated that the UFC was “cautiously optimistic.”
The current budget proposal by the state of New York includes legalizing MMA. There’s no guarantee that MMA will be in the final budget.
Payout Perspective:
Hope renews once again in Albany. Will this be the year that MMA is legalized in New York? With the legal case in New York potentially coming to a conclusion, Zuffa hopes that it will not have to depend on the ruling. With a new speaker that has supported previous MMA legislations, we shall see this spring if MMA will come to New York this year.