The UFC's historic fight card on the White House South Lawn has made headlines, but the cost of the event has raised questions. According to reports, the production cost has already surpassed $60 million, making it the most expensive show in UFC history.
UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that the promotion is covering the bill itself, with no taxpayer money involved. The company plans to recover some of the costs through sponsors, partnerships, and media deals.
The large budget covers temporary arena setup, broadcast production equipment, security operations, event staffing, seating and hospitality areas, site preparation, and cleanup. Additionally, the UFC will spend $700,000 to replace and restore the South Lawn grass after the event.
The UFC is using private business deals to offset costs, including sponsorship packages worth up to $1.5 million, VIP hospitality packages, corporate partnerships, media and streaming agreements, and a $250,000 fighter bonus pool funded by World Liberty Financial.
The event will be streamed through Paramount+ under the UFC's media rights agreement.
