On Monday, legislators in the New York state senate passed a bill (42-18) which would legalize MMA in New York. The bill must get through a final Assembly floor vote for the proposed legislation to become law according to a UFC press release.
The release provided by the UFC’s public affairs firm stressed the economic impact the passage would have on the state:
A recent study estimated that holding two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events in the state (one at Madison Square Garden and one in Buffalo) will create roughly $16 million in new spending. Additionally, the study found smaller MMA operators will likely hold around 70 events that would bring an additional $4 million. In total, $23 million of annual new spending and hundreds of new jobs will be created in the local economy by regulating MMA. The full economic impact study is available at www.ufc.com/nyceconstudy.
Currently 45 other U.S. states regulate MMA, and Alaska and Wyoming lack athletic commissions, which regulate the sport. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and neighboring states consistently attract fans and bring economic benefits through multiple MMA events in front of sold out arenas.
MMA Fighting sobers NY fans with the fact that there is one hurdle left:
It will now move on to the State Assembly, considered a much tougher audience for MMA. In 2010, the same bill passed the Senate but never made it to the floor for an Assembly vote after the state’s legislators were bogged down in budget problems and other issues.
Payout Perspective:
If the legislation passes, it would mean that the UFC, and other MMA organizations, would finally be able to promote in New York. It would also mean a dramatic, positive economic impact for the state according the the UFC study. According to MMA Fighting, MSG has reserved dates for the UFC if (and when) the legislation is signed into law. There is still opposition to the bill and the vote will be close so the UFC may have to sweat it out until the vote occurs.
The whole situation with the Culinary Union is very bizarre. I just don’t see what the end game is for them. Their efforts to keep the UFC out of New York WILL NOT cause the Fertittas to give in to their demands. If they are doing it simply out of spite, they’ve already lost, because the Fertittas look at the situation with businessmen’s eyes and aren’t personally angered (if anything, I would be amused by the whole thing if I were Frank or Lorenzo). I firmly believe that sanctioning MMA in NY is inevitable, it’s just a matter of time. So in the end, MMA will be legal in New York, Station Casinos employees’ conditions will not have improved, and they will have waisted a lot of union dues for nothing. Am I not seeing something here?
“…labor politics certainly shouldn’t have any bearing on the regulation of MMA in New York and as the endgame approaches on the issue the union’s role should be greatly diminished.”
from: http://mmapayout.com/2008/11/ratner-responds-to-ufc-v-unite-here/
Interesting that this didn’t seem to happen.