UFC 249 was originally scheduled for April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the event was relocated to tribal grounds at Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. But that effort was thwarted by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who apparently reached out to Disney, parent company of UFC broadcast partner ESPN.
Now, UFC 250, which was scheduled for Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil but was canceled due to the pandemic - the arena was eventually converted to a field hospital - been renamed UFC 249, and will reportedly be held in Jacksonville, Florida. The state has the WWE as an Essential Business, and reached out to White about holding events there.
On Wednesday's Wrestling Observer Radio, our Dave Meltzer reported that a source has told him that UFC 249 will be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Earlier this week, it was reported by MMA Fighting that the UFC was heading to Florida for the May 9th pay-per-view and booking flights for fighters into Jacksonville with travel to an undisclosed location.
The building has been around since 2003 and hosts a variety of sports events and concerts with a seating capacity of 15,000. The latter would be irrelevant for this event as no fans will be allowed in attendance.
The UFC has canceled or postponed six events to date, and is developing a Fight Island, reportedly in Fiji, where fighters can train and compete, but that effort in incomplete.
h/t F4WOnline