The $2.3 Billion Venue: Las Vegas Sphere Hands Out Its First Sporting Event Contract to the UFC

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Dana White plans to host UFC at event at the Las Vegas SpherePhoto bythe author (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

In 2018, Madison Square Garden commissioned a multi-billion-dollar, 18,600-seat auditorium. Today, The Las Vegas Sphere, located at The Venetian Resort, in Las Vegas, is the largest spherical structure ever built. And, UFC CEO Dana White has announced his plans to host "the greatest live combat sports event ever" -- putting The Sphere's 15,000 square metres of 16K wraparound televisions to good use.

The Sphere: An Epic UFC Venue

Upon its completion, in early October, The Las Vegas Sphere ended up costing $2.3 billion to build. And, it has quickly become a prominent landmark in the city. With its cutting-edge LED screens and state-of-the-art sound system, the venue has been the talk of the town, fueling speculation about its potential for hosting live sporting events.

While primarily designed for concerts and film screenings, the upcoming UFC event at The Sphere presents a unique challenge for the organizers.

One of the main hurdles is the relatively small staging area within the circular building. The intricate cascading seating arrangement further complicates matters, requiring careful planning and execution to accommodate spectators while ensuring visibility and comfort.

However, Dana White and his team are undeterred by these logistic issues.

Dana Looks to Tackle "Massive Challenge" Ahead

At a recent press conference for UFC 295, Dana broke the news that the UFC has received the first contract to host a sporting event inside the sphere.

“Mexican Independence Day we are booked for the Sphere and we are already working on the creative for the show."

Admitting the "massive challenge" ahead, Dana White vows to put on a massive event for fans, targeting September 2024, in celebration of Mexican Independence day.

"Mark my words, I'm going to put on the greatest live combat sports show anybody’s ever seen.”

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