TKO announced that it would fully integrate its live events unit. The TKO Live Events Strategy Team will combine WWE and UFC live events teams.
“The newly integrated TKO Live Events Strategy Team will focus on creating operational efficiencies and developing strategies to leverage the broader economic benefits we bring to host cities, including partnering with local governments and maximizing revenue opportunities from site fees,” stated TKO chief financial officer Andrew Schleimer in a statement to ESPN.
Peter Dropick, a UFC senior executive, will be promoted to run the new team and report to Dana White, Nick Khan, UFC COO Lawrence Epstein, Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Schleimer.
Payout Perspective:
Although it was believe that the two organizations would work independently of each other, we now see the consolidation of work responsibilities to create “operational efficiencies.” Next week, WWE’s NXT will be holding an event at The Apex, home of many UFC fight night events. Earlier this year, Michael Chandler appeared on Monday Night Raw and cut a promo on Conor McGregor. Dana White has indicated that he has no problem with UFC fighters doing crossover work with WWE. The UFC will make in-roads into Saudi Arabia the same way that the WWE has made it a quarterly stop in the country. Its hard not to think that there will be more consolidation of duties and even offering the two as a package deal on a massive site fee for a venue to do an event.
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