March 10, 2015
The UFC has been trying for years to have their sport legalized in the state of New York, the only state in the nation that still has banned the sport and hasn’t been legal in the state since 1997. However, with the recent events that took place with New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who resigned from his post due to corruption in charges in January, and the fact that Silver had long been a stumbling road block for the UFC to be fully legal in the state of New York, UFC President Dana White is more confident than ever before that his promotion will go through the State Assembly and become fully legal. White is so confident that he actually has a date on hold for a show late this year at Madison Square Garden.
UFC finally being legalized in New York would be huge for the sport that has gained popularity throughout the years and now is a worldwide promotion with offices in the UK, staging events all over the world such as Australia, China, Canada, Europe, and now have television deals with FX and Fox to showcase their up and coming fighters. Still, despite all of the success thus far with the UFC, Dana White still craves to have a memorable event at the Famed Arena Madison Square Garden.
However, until the matter is finalized, the UFC will still have to go across the river to New Jersey where they will have an event next month on April 18 in Newark, New Jersey at the Prudential Center. UFC Fight Night tickets for this event are going for an average price of $209.76 on the secondary market, which features a main event between Lyoto Machida vs Luke Rockhold. The get-in price for UFC Fight Night at Prudential Center is $46.
UFC’s last event at the Staples Center featuring Ronda Rousey’s sensational 13 second submission win over Cat Zingano had tickets on the secondary market going for an average price of $359.49, 71% above the average price for tickets compared to UFC’s event in Newark on April 18.
The most expensive UFC ticket so far was Anderson Silva’s comeback vs Nick Diaz at UFC 183 with tickets going for an average price of $527.51 on the secondary market. That will be trumped by the next UFC pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23 featuring two good matchups between UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman vs Vitor Belfort and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones taking on Anthony Johnson. Tickets for UFC 187 now having a current secondary average price of $614.52 on the secondary market, with a get-in price of $220.
