55,000 people will be inside the Rogers Centre tomorrow night for ‘Fight Night’! Here’s some interesting things about the UFC in T.O.!
55,000 people attending - more than double any prior UFC event
Expected to bring in roughly 11 million dollars
· Sold out in 2 days although UFC says once seating is set up in Rogers Centre they may be able to squeeze in another few hundred extra people.
· It’s their first show in Toronto after a five-year battle to legalize mixed martial arts in Ontario.
Dalton McGuinty’s daughter convinced him it would be good for the province.
· UFC president Dana White says the economic effect to the city is huge.
“We figured it’ll be about a $40-million impact on the City of Toronto - not to mention the fact that just the ticket tax alone will be $1.5 million.”
· From a ticket-revenue perspective, it will be the largest event in the 22-year history of the Rogers Centre, in a building that has housed:
2 World Series’, Buffalo Bills NFL games, the 1991 MLB All-Star game, two WrestleManias, international soccer
matches, the Grey Cup, and concerts featuring U2, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
· More than 50 fighters will take part.
· George St-Pierre (GSP) has been touted to be the most famous Canadian athlete ever
· Many fans have travelled from around the world to be part of the historical show.
One guy, Ricky Wright, came all the way from Wales.
“We’ve come because we wanted to be part of the biggest occasion in the UFC’s history,” he said. “This is an amazing card in an amazing city.”
Is this a good thing for T.O.? Do you have family or friends going to “the Fight”?