Contender Dana White speaks out against suggested location for Alvarez-Crowford bout: Elligent Stadium.
Title: Get the Bonus, Make the Concessions
Dana White, the UFC president, isn't usually one to bend on promotional decisions, but for the upcoming boxing match between Saul Alvarez and Terence Crawford, he seems to be making some concessions to his Saudi partners.
The head honcho of Riyadh Season, Turki Al Al-Sheikh, revealed that White will be the frontman for the boxing bout taking place on September 12 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This venue choice is quite surprising, considering White's dislike for stadium events. White spoke about the decision on ESPN Desportes, saying,
"I hate it. Hate it! But because I hate it so much, you know I'm going to do everything to make it an incredible experience at Allegiant."
Promoters have managed to create entertaining shows at stadiums before. For instance, the fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn attracted 65,000 fans to Tottenham Hotspur. It's possible that the September event might sway White's feelings towards large venues, but arena shows are still a better fit for UFC's cost-profit-effort ratio.
However, this boxing league that White is launching is part of a joint venture with Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh and the TKO Group, which receives backing from Saudi Arabia. As a result, White needs to play by the rules established by his Saudi partners for major events like the Alvarez vs. Crawford fight. The Saudi connection brings generous funding and influence, which means White must cater to their demands and conditions for significant events.
Hosting this high-profile fight in a large venue aligns well with Saudi Arabia’s vision to showcase grandiose sporting events. While practical considerations about logistics, fan experience, and regulatory hurdles may impact stadium events, the Saudi partnership likely means that these events must also serve diplomatic or promotional goals beyond just the fight business. The involvement of the Saudi partners suggests that stadium events may prioritize spectacle over pure sport competition, drifting away from White's traditional approach to event promotion.
In summary:
- White's concessions are a direct result of his partnership with Saudi-backed partners who provide strategic support and funding for the new boxing league and high-profile matches[1].
- These concessions involve adhering to Saudi priorities in fight promotion and event management, which may influence venue and event structure to align with their goal of becoming a global sports hub[1].
- The Saudi connection shifts White's stance towards stadium events by connecting the fight business with a broader vision of spectacle and global positioning that serves Saudi interests, potentially altering the way these events are presented.
[1] Information sourced from enrichment data
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Bookmakers might find the sports-analysis of the upcoming boxing match between Saul Alvarez and Terence Crawford difficult due to the unique influence of White's Saudi partners, as their involvement could potentially prioritize spectacle over traditional sporting competition.
In the lead-up to the September 12 event at the Allegiant Stadium, sports enthusiasts may see an increased interest from bookmakers in analyzing the impact of White's concessions to his Saudi partners on the outcome of the fight.
