Don Muret of the Sports Business Journal reports on the desire of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to turn its Real Sports Bar and Grill into a quasi closed-circuit destination for its Air Canada Center in Toronto.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s new sports bar next to Air Canada Centre will sell plenty of beer and chicken wings on game days, but it’s on nights when the arena is full for concerts that the company hopes to cash in on a big food and drink payday
Payout Perspective:
The UFC had a great amount of success with its sponsored viewing party in New York for UFC 111, and it would seem that this new facility next to the ACC might be the perfect location for similar events in Toronto.
If the UFC were able to create a massive monthly, or even quarterly, viewing party, it would assuredly grow the organization’s presence in the market and serve as a complement to the new UFC Canada office. The marketing and buzz that these parties would generate might also apply further pressure on provincial and federal politicians to legalize the sport.
Moreover, if a bill supporting MMA is passed, this new bar could provide the optimal closed-circuit location for the UFC – making a Toronto visit even more lucrative.
Living in Toronto in the past, I can assure you that there are many a bar that showed the UFC. I don’t think people will go out of their way to drive to the downtown core and pay 15$ for parking, than another $$$ to enter the bar, than more $$$ to see an event unless it’s something special.
You’ve been shilling a lot for the UFC lately but this is getting pathetic.
Its only a matter if time before UFC will be in every stat
The point is to make it something special. If it’s the official UFC viewing party then you’re supplementing the PPV with local UFC fighters hosting the event, autograph signings, swag giveaways, and perhaps even bigger contests.