Vancouver has officially regulated the sport of mixed martial arts, but only for a trial period of two years according to various Canadian outlets.
Sportsnet.ca has the latest:
Vancouver city council has approved sanctioning for mixed martial arts on a two-year trial, which opens the door for the Ultimate Fighting Championship to hold an event in 2010.
Council members met Thursday in Vancouver to discuss the legalization of MMA in the city, where a motion to allow it was approved by a vote of 6-3 after a three-hour debate.
A regulatory framework was addressed, using the experiences of other Canadian cities where MMA events have been held; in particular, Montreal’s two UFC events (in April 2008 and April 2009) were hugely successful. The City of Vancouver projected at least a $1.5-million benefit to city by holding an MMA event at GM Place.
James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, supported the proposal of a two-year “pilot basis” period, during which there would be strict controls on licensing, sanctioning and health and safety. The Vancouver Athletic Commission would report back in 2012 on the experience of the pilot trial.
Moore said there are no legal issues as far as the federal government is concerned regarding the sport of MMA; otherwise it would have stepped in and stopped other events held in the country. The B.C. Attorney General was also on board with the idea.
The UFC’s general counsel, Lawrence Epstein, attended the meeting and said regulation is key to success to their business and for the safety of athletes. It typically carries $12 million worth of insurance to each event, to cover the athletes and workers.
Payout Perspective:
The UFC is looking to host an event in the city as early as June 2010, but it appears as though there may be some additional stipulations surrounding insurance requirements that could prohibit some smaller promotions from hosting an event in the city.
More details to follow.
This is great news as I am from Victoria BC, which is a stones throw from Vancouver. MMA is huge in the province right now and the UFC stands to make a lot of money here. The company should expect a sell out crowd of at least 18-20,000 people so hopefully they bring a good card with a Canadian or two on it.
I would be shocked if they gave away many tickets as it should sell out within a few hrs. Vancouver fans our much more crazyer about the sport than in Montreal and Dana thought they were nuts…………..he has seen nothing yet………………..!
My fighter wish list would be
Clay Gludia…….lots of room for his RV to park!
GSP ……………………..a Canadian champ
Couture ……………….he is from the Pacific NorthWest
I would also say at least a gate of 2.5 mil…………………..
if there was a way of working for the UFC to help promote any card here in BC let me know…………….I would work for tickets!………………….(but they better be good seats)