UFC Gives Away 85,000 Freedom 250 Tickets as Federal Law Bars Sales on White House Grounds
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 8
UFC Gives Away 85,000 Freedom 250 Tickets as Federal Law Bars Sales on White House Grounds
9 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 8
85,000 tickets for UFC’s June 14 Freedom 250 event will be distributed free because the viewing area at Ellipse Park is federal land, Dana White said.
Federal rules also bar sales of merchandise and food there, White said, adding UFC—not taxpayers—will cover the full cost of the event.
4,000 spectators are set to watch from the White House South Lawn, while the larger crowd across the street will view the fights on giant screens.
1,000 South Lawn tickets will go to President Donald Trump, 200 to White and 200 to Endeavor owner Ariel Emanuel, with the rest allocated to military branches.
Registration details are still limited, though White said fans must sign up and Ticketmaster indicates tickets will be offered on its website.
With a projected $30M loss, what is the UFC's real strategic gain from its historic White House event?
How do $1M sponsorship seats legally bypass rules that prohibit ticket sales on the White House South Lawn?
Will this event set a precedent for other major sports leagues to host commercial events on protected federal lands?