LAS VEGAS – Dana White has seen how some sports are investigating the possibility of running events with reduced-capacity attendances, but says the UFC won’t pull the trigger on fan-attended events in the United States until he’s able to fill the arena.
After a trio of events in Jacksonville last May, White and the UFC have made the UFC Apex their temporary U.S. home for live events throughout the pandemic, with one-month residencies on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi adding the international flavor to their event calendar through 2020 and the early part of 2021.
While the events have been widely hailed as a success, White is hoping to welcome fans back to arenas sooner, rather than later and, after the promotion’s triple-header on “Fight Island” in January saw fans return to shows at the Etihad Arena, they did so in limited numbers due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC 258 post-fight press conference, White admitted that he’s working on getting fans back into arenas to watch UFC events live and in person, but said he wants to return to full-capacity events, rather than part-filled arenas.
“I got plans, too!” he said, reacting to the news that the Las Vegas Golden Knights are hoping to welcome fans back to T-Mobile Arena for games by early-March, while NCAA college basketball teams are exploring similar plans.
“I’m not doing a percentage – I want to sell out. It’s too nice over here (at the UFC Apex). I like it here. … I said on ESPN the other day that I was optimistic that by this summer we could be doing it, either in Florida or here.”
The UFC is currently scheduled at the UFC Apex through to the end of March, while other event dates from April onward do not yet have confirmed locations.
Dana White says UFC could host packed arenas ‘by this summer;’ eyeing Las Vegas, Florida
