The Orlando Business Journal first reported that the Orange County (FL) Commissioners approved millions of tourism tax sports “incentive funds” to lure big events such as the UFC and WWE to the area.
The commission voted to distribute $29.46M in “tourist development tax sports incentive funds related to five requests.” The biggest items were $18M for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission to “draw four future events from the WWE and UFC — including WrestleMania in 2031” — and up to $11M to Florida Citrus Sports for Camping World Stadium to “serve as the temporary home” for the Jaguars in 2027.
Payout Perspective:
TKO Group, Inc.’s hottest sports properties, WWE and UFC, continue to be in demand and it is the norm that TKO requests site fees for either organization to go to appear. WWE has been more in the business of obtaining site fees as they have been solicited by various cities to hold events in the area.
You may recall that this past year’s Wrestlemania at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was to take place in Minneapolis. However, Las Vegas swooped in with tax incentives and a $5 million sponsorship to lure WWE to hold its annual big event in its city during Easter weekend. Minnesota ended up with the 2026 Summerslam which will be a two-day event.
The reason why cities are competing to get the tourism is because it generates big business via hotels, transportation and other ancillary business centered around the event.
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