MMA Weekly reports that the UFC and BJ Penn will partner to open a UFC Gym in Waikiki, Hawaii. The official announcement was made during the grand opening of the third UFC Gym in Corona, California.
Via MMA Weekly:
With Penn’s name attached to this new gym, one can only wonder if more fighters will follow his lead and partner up with the UFC and its gym brand around the country.
UFC vice president of community relations Reed Harris confirmed that Penn is only the beginning. In the coming years, the UFC and its gym brand plan to partner with other marquee fighters to open more gyms in several communities.
Penn indicated that the gym will have programs specifically for children. The initial plan is to have the gym in place by early to mid-2012.
The UFC and Penn have been working for a couple years to establish a gym affiliated with the former lightweight champ in Hawaii. An article from the Honolulu Star Advertiser states that the UFC was also working with Georges St. Pierre about establishing a UFC Gym in GSP’s native Montreal.
Payout Perspective:
The idea of UFC Gyms affiliated with its stars is a creative way to keep extending the UFC brand. With the names of fighters attached to the gyms, it could only help with name/brand awareness. Establishing a gym in Penn’s native state can only help with Hawaiian fans. Penn is very popular in Hawaii and one can only imagine the number of memberships the UFC could sell at a UFC/Penn Gym.
Why aren’t any of these gyms located in major cities?
MV,
I think that Rosemead is near LA. Only a guess is that its cheaper to build the type of gym the UFC wants in area where land is cheaper.