MMAPayout.com has learned that the attendance for WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus was approximately 5,600 people and the average ticket price was $90, which together translate into roughly $500,000 at the gate.
The disclosed payouts for the event are not available, but the WEC did announce $10,000 bonuses were paid to four fighters:
Fight of the Night: Mark Hominick vs. Yves Jabouin ($10,000 each)
KO of the Night: Eddie Wineland ($10,000)
Submission of the Night: Josh Grispi ($10,000)
Payout Perspective:
I should note that the reported average ticket price may not be the actual average ticket price (dividing the actual gate by actual attendance), but this gives us a rough idea of how well the WEC fared in Edmonton. If it holds up, it’s a great result for the WEC and further proof of the substantial interest in Canada for MMA. The event managed to draw well despite the lack of a top draw or title belt on the line.
Take a look at how WEC 49 stacks up against some other notable WEC cards (courtesy of our Blue Book):
WEC 36: Faber vs. Brown — 5,227; $564,000 (Hollywood, FL)
WEC 38: Faber vs. Pulver II — 10,201; $486,000 (San Diego)
WEC 39: Brown vs. Garcia — 6,100; $280,000 (Corpus Christi)
WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson — 5,176; $298,000 (San Antonio)
WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson — 10, 027; $550,000 (Sacramento)
Those are absolutely great numbers if they hold up. I suspect at least a 25% comp rate in there (if the rumors are correct about WEC giving away free tickets from friends in Alberta) so it may end up being more like 4000 tickets sold.