Judge Clears 125,000-Person UFC Fight at White House as Costs Top $60 Million
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 14
Judge Clears 125,000-Person UFC Fight at White House as Costs Top $60 Million
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 14
Summary
A federal judge rejected a bid to block UFC Freedom 250, allowing Sunday’s fight card to proceed on the White House South Lawn under a full-scale Octagon.
Court filings say roughly 125,000 people are expected in and around the White House complex, with more than 4,000 invited onto the South Lawn and another 75,000 requesting tickets.
The event is projected to cost more than $60 million and has drawn on seven federal agencies over 11 months, while the White House says UFC is covering event costs even as taxpayers front security.
Security has been elevated to a Special Event Assessment Review 1 level—comparable to the Super Bowl—with Secret Service and Park Police screening Ellipse watch-party attendees through TSA-like checkpoints.
The spectacle, staged for America’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday, still faces a 62% chance of thunderstorms and scrutiny over sponsors including prediction market Polymarket.