Attention New York UG'ers
Visit the mmafacts.com and sign up to e-mail legislators
MEDIA ADVISORY
As Effort to Bring Mixed Martial Arts to New York State Heats Up, Ultimate Fighting Championship® Athletes and Officials Visit Albany
WHO: Matt Serra, former Ultimate Fighting Championship® welterweight champion and native Long Islander
Matt Hamill, Ultimate Fighting Championship® light heavyweight contender and Utica resident
Marc Ratner, VP for Governmental & Regulatory Affairs, Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Lawrence Epstein, General Counsel, Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Michael Mersch, Assistant General Counsel, Ultimate Fighting Championship®
WHAT: A press briefing to discuss the regulation of mixed martial arts in New York State, including the status of legislation.
WHEN: Tuesday May 6, 1:00 PM
WHERE: LCA Press Conference Room
Empire State Plaza Convention Center, concourse level directly across from the Egg Box Office
WHY: As legislators look at bringing the sport of mixed martial arts to New York, athletes and officials from the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the leading MMA league, are visiting Albany to discuss the much-needed tourist revenue and tax dollars that their sport will bring to cash-strapped upstate communities.
Mixed martial arts is among the fastest growing sports in the world, and UFC® is the most heavily regulated and widely recognized of the MMA organizations. Known for its intense competition and remarkable athleticism, the sport is winning an increasingly large following. Its surging popularity has made it a coveted attraction for local officials and arena owners alike. A sellout crowd of 21,390 – the biggest ever for a UFC fight – attended the April 19 UFC® welterweight championship match in Montreal, producing a live gate of more than $5 million. A March event in Columbus, Ohio produced $11 million in external economic activity for the city, according to the Ohio Athletic Commission. The sport is regulated in 32 states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
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TTT
what? I thought this was just another global warming thread
TTT
Wow! That press conference is about 1000 feet from my desk at work. Looks like I am going down there on Tuesday to check it out. Is it open to the public?
Keep this one pinned TTT.
ttt for ufc in msg. awesome.
"Damn, I would love to be able to jump on the train or bus and see the UFC"
It took me about 30 minutes by path train to go from midtown to the UFC in Newark this year.
"UFC in MSG would be sick "
It would but Dana and Joe [Silva] are going to have to bring their A+ game for a MSG event. NY'ers aren't going to pay MSG prices for TUF rejects and poster boys fighting squash matches. Dana tends to think the novelty of "First UFC in _____" will sell the card alone and they can put any POS card together [looking at UFC 72 the first UFC in Ireland]
You think the fights would take place in the theater at msg or in the main arena?
"You think the fights would take place in the theater at msg or in the main arena?"
Probably the theater to strt out with to gauge results [ie. ticket sales, etc]
TTT
UFC in MSG, HSBC Arena in Buffalo maybe even Syracuse.
from this mornings Utica OD.
Griffo wants Ultimate Fighting in NY
UTICA — Matt Hamill has made the Ultimate Fighting Championship famous in the Mohawk Valley.
Now, state Sen. Joe Griffo is trying to bring the UFC home to Matt Hamill.
Griffo, R-Rome, supports legislation that would legalize UFC competitions in New York state. Last year, the state Assembly approved legislation that would legalize and regulate mixed martial arts — bouts that combine elements of boxing, wrestling and kickboxing. The bill died in the Senate.
Hamill, who lives in New York Mills, is a former college wrestling champion who is 5-1 in UFC bouts, several of which have been televised.
“I saw the sport has evolved,” Griffo told the Associated Press. “It's basically much more reformed and organized than it was in its origins.”
Will Berkheiser, general manager of the Utica Memorial Auditorium, said his facility is prepared to host a UFC card — provided the law allows it.
“I've not spoken to Joe regarding anything, but we're certainly open to it,” Berkheiser said. “We had a phone call on it from a promoter, but it all hinges on the laws. And if that law changes, you'll probably see it here someday.”
Duff Holmes, Hamill's trainer and manager, said a UFC card at the Aud could bring in a gate worth about $1 million. Holmes also said the UFC would consider a venue such as Albany's Times Union Center for a card with Hamill, who will likely fight again in August.
“The UFC does all different size events, and they look to spread it out as much as they can,” Holmes said. “Joe's been amazing. He's really stepped up to make this happen.”
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Joe Griffo is a personal friend, and I know he is going to do all he can to get MMA legalized in NY.
i think if they put together a great card they could fill the garden hell they use the theater to televise ufcs sometimes I remember Serra hosting a viewing there