In the course of the international shutdown attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, most sports activities leagues went on hiatus for a number of months. Nevertheless, organizations just like the UFC and WWE resumed operations comparatively rapidly.
The UFC utilized its Apex facility, conveniently positioned close to its headquarters, to host occasions with out followers in attendance. This setup proved splendid, as Nevada’s comparatively lenient restrictions on the time allowed the UFC to keep away from disruptions attributable to stricter state mandates elsewhere.
The UFC continues to carry Battle Evening occasions on the Apex, although CEO Dana White has indicated a possible discount of their frequency in 2025. White just lately highlighted the pivotal position the Apex and the UFC’s fast adaptation performed through the pandemic — a interval that considerably contributed to the group’s present success.
“Going by means of COVID undoubtedly didn’t harm us,” Dana White instructed Bloomberg. “There have been no sports activities on TV apart from us. Fights that ought to have been doing 300,000 buys had been doing one million. Our fan base grew one thing like 68 p.c throughout COVID.”
Trying forward, the UFC is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. The group has bold plans for 2025, together with its first pay-per-view occasion on the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome close to Los Angeles.
Moreover, the UFC will return to Saudi Arabia for a significant occasion on February 1 and start negotiations for a brand new tv deal.
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