UFC 106 Plaugued with Comped Tickets

by Zak Woods on Nov 24, 2009 6:28 PM EST Comment 10 comments

Picture courtesy of Dan Stupp of MMA Junkie via assets.sbnation.com

Holy empty stadium Batman!

MMA Junkie is reporting that UFC 106 77% of the live gate were comped tickets.

However, 3,898 tickets were complimentary and accounted for a staggering $2,331,250 worth of the $3,003,250 live gate (77.6 percent in all). In other words, the Nov. 21 event drew only 6,631 paid tickets worth $672,000.

This information throws into serious doubt Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz's drawing power. Perhaps the failure of the Lesnar-Carwin fight to materialize was the reason so many of the premium tickets weren't sold.

Throughout UFC 106 one of the hot topics of discussion online was the lack of an audience during the preliminary fights. Usually UFC events are near capacity during the early action. It appears that we know now the culprit for all the empty seats.

[Update: Note by Zak Woods, 11/24/09 7:23 PM EST ]

UFC 106 still pulled in a live gate of $3 million though the $2.3 million figure represents the worth of the comped tickets.

That makes more sense.

SBN coverage of UFC 106: Ortiz vs. Griffin 2

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Comments

WEC 44 draws1,132 paid, 1,845 total, for $131K gate.
UFC 106 draws 6,631 paid, 10,529 total for $3 million gate, 37% comps.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 24, 2009 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Summary:
WEC 44 draws 1,132 paid, 1,845 total, 39% comps, $131,200 gate.
UFC 106 draws 6,631 paid, 10,529 total, 37% comps, $3,003,250 gate.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 24, 2009 6:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it's because the vegas economy is in bad shape. 2nd worst unemployment rate in the nation

for the first time in 17 years starting this year las vegas has lost population.

yes i am obsessive, obnoxious, in your face and all about covering the spread. those are my good qualities.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 25, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

good point

watchkalibrun.com

by Zak Woods on Nov 25, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The fact that over 77% of the live gate was comped is absolutely astounding. No wonder Dana White sounded ready to fly Lesnar to The Mayo Clinic himself.

I’m definitely curious to see what the PPV buys look like…

watchkalibrun.com

by Nick Becker on Nov 24, 2009 6:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs