Inside the UFC’s $20M Bet on the Las Vegas Sphere: “Take What U2 Did and Multiply It by a Million”

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As a gamer with years of experience immersed in virtual worlds and digital realms, the prospect of witnessing UFC fights in the Sphere sounds like a dream come true. The idea of being transported to different “worlds” through the magic of technology is tantalizingly close to the escapades we embark on in our favorite video games.

On September 14th, the $2.3 billion Sphere in Las Vegas will debut its massive, curved LED screen, transporting approximately 20,000 attendees to various “worlds.” Notably, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has chosen this venue for their first-ever live sporting event at The Sphere

As UFC CEO Dana White mentioned, the concept originated from last year’s opening performance at the Sphere – specifically, the U2 residency show

“White reminisces about attending a U2 concert at the Sphere. Midway through the performance, he began to notice that the Sphere itself was stealing the limelight from U2. He was astounded by the technology and found himself pondering about the potential uses of it. He thought, someday, someone will host a sports event here. I want to be the one to do it first.”

“White says if you magnify what U2 achieved a million times, that’s the scale of what we’re doing on September 14th. It’s not just another level, it’s a completely different cosmos – an entirely new universe.”

For the Sphere event, known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, not only will the fights take center stage, but so will the venue itself. A series of short films highlighting Mexico’s impact on combat sports will be played on the giant screen during breaks between matches. Additionally, well-known director Glenn Weiss, who is recognized for his work in live TV events such as the Oscars and Emmys, has expressed interest in being involved. As Craig Borsari, UFC’s chief content officer, recalled, Weiss said, “What you guys are trying to accomplish is truly insane, but I am absolutely in.”

Regarding the actual fights, Borsari explains that each match will occur in distinct “worlds” displayed on the massive curved screen, using films and settings to narrate a broader story that honors Mexico and its people. The main event features Sean O’Malley squaring off against Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title, while Alexa Grasso clashes with Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight championship

“Borsari explains that the main challenge was figuring out how to stage a live MMA fight with ten bouts in one night without interrupting the fighting action or slowing things down excessively, while also sharing another story about Mexican people, their traditions, and their deep-rooted culture, as it’s vibrant and rich.”

The result was a partnership with producer and director Carlos Lopez Estrada, who worked with filmmakers and production companies to create the six short films, which will be roughly 90 seconds long each, and which will serve as interstitials in between the bouts.

“Borsari explains that our primary reasons for storytelling are to convey everything Dana intended. These films subsequently transform into what we refer to as ‘worlds’, which are essentially large-scale environments displayed on LED screens, where the fights occur. So, we have a film, a world, and an act. The acts guide you through the entire event, and we narrate the story within these acts.”

This project is quite challenging, not just for the combat sports promotion owned by TKO, but also for the entertainment venue managed by James Dolan, which aims to expand its influence beyond music residencies. If the UFC successfully executes this, it might encourage other sports to explore their own opportunities in a similar manner

Of course, creating that immersive experience isn’t cheap. White says that most of the UFC’s pay-per-view fights cost it about $2 million, but they had budgeted $8 million for the Sphere. Now, he says, the cost has topped $20 million.

White declared, “I’m moving forward with this project.” He didn’t let budget concerns deter him. “I have a strong conviction that this venture will revolutionize the intersection of sports and entertainment,” he added. “I believe others will take notice and reconsider their strategies when constructing stadiums.”

As a gamer, I’m curious if this UFC fight is just a one-time thing. It could be, but it might not be due to circumstances beyond their control. White mentioned that the UFC has an exclusive deal with MGM to hold events at their T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Sphere event took place because of a disagreement (or as White puts it, a “huge beef”) between UFC and MGM, which gave away the September 14 date for a boxing match, eventually leading to an agreement that allowed UFC to host their event at the Sphere instead

White states, “For now, it’s a single instance. My current obligation is with T-Mobile, due to our agreement with MGM. Yet, who knows? This wasn’t expected to occur this year, and it wasn’t part of our plans. However, I can assure you, if an innovative technology emerges, I promise you, I will be among the first.”

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2024-09-04 20:59