Comments on: UFC hoping to host event in Ontario in 2009

By: brian littlewood

brian littlewood — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:37:13 +0000

I think IQMMA are getting alot of support those guys have done everything by the book. I think the UFC should be talking to those guys i hear they have plans on building 25 to 30000 stadiun of thier own. Grand River Athletic comission is for real they do full blood work ,dr, nurses ambulance , security , you name it . Gary Good Ridge , Dan Severn, even there own local stars Chuck Monture , Shawn VanEvery have competed and had sucess in the cage.. i have alot of respect for all the athletes who have a chance to compete close to home and have hometown be hind them instead of going out west ,Quebec and competing this gives our local boys a chance to have family ,friendscome cheer for them. i wish Iroquois MMA Championships a lot of sucess. Ken Haysahi better wake up.

By: Lord Faust

Lord Faust — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:57:29 +0000

I live in Ottawa, and we need to get rid of Hayashi. Obviously he has made up his mind a long time ago; his own personal biases are more important to him than the economic prosperity of the province. If the UFC is smart, they’ll be campaigning to people in Ontario politics, and show them the money that Montreal generated with their event.

I live in a city teeming with MMA fans; even my damn parents watch the UFC PPVs — and any free fight cards I give them a heads up on. There’s a huge demand. This prizefighting nonsense needs to be dispensed with.

By: This Guy

This Guy — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:55:24 +0000

I am so confused right now, do I live in the province of Manitoba, or the province of Winnipeg? Great now I will be up all night figuring this out, just when I thought I knew my grade one geography you go and change the rules.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:29:09 +0000

abdullah, the raptors have averaged 16 – 17, 000 fans perame for several years now and most of those are season ticket holders……me being one of them.
also, toronto fc (soccer) is perpetually sold out with a few years waiting lost for season tickets…..so toronto does support things other than leafs.

ufc would easily sell out the rogers centre……plus the air cananda centre could fit over 20k for a ufc event.

By: RT

RT — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:09:14 +0000

The thing about the UFC is it wouldnt just be people from T.O. There would be people from Quebec, Michigan, NY. places that have never had a UFC event. The beauty of a stadium show is that there would be some really cheap tickets to be had along with the premium ones I think this show does big numbers off the UFC name brand alone. Let alone if you throw GSP, Chuck or Brock on there.
On March 17, 2002 at the SkyDome in Toronto, wrestlemania attracted The record-breaking attendance of 68,237 which resulted in gross receipts of approximately $6.1 million CAD ($3.9 million USD). The right event can draw, even in the big smoke.

By: Abdullah the Butcher

Abdullah the Butcher — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:35:52 +0000

Ontario? Toronto? You got to be kidding me?

Torontonians are known for under attending every sporting event that is promoted there except for hockey. Hockey? The lowly leafs. The NBA, MLB, even the exhiition NFL game this fall. THEY DON’T SHOW UP!!!

If Dana White knew anything about sports sellouts he his radar would have had Edmonton first and foremost on the map. Everything and anything sports related sells out there, and quickly.

Why do you think Mark Pavelich can continue to have sellouts with his gawd awful MMA shows there? It’s because Edmontonians are suckers for a sports ticket.

For Pete’s sake even curling sells out there. LOL

Smart money says that it’s a hard sell in TO. I hope not but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this thing struggle to be sold out. It sure aint gonna be like Montreal where it sold out in a few minutes.

Abdullah OUT!

By: Stan the Caddy

Stan the Caddy — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:32:09 +0000

“That applies to all of Canada yet provinces such as Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, Halifax, Winnipeg, and British Columbia still host MMA events.”

Halifax and Winterpeg are provinces now? I guess jolly Saint Nick must have worked some amazing action yesterday.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:50:08 +0000

I think that it would work in TO, and the only way that it will work at the Rogers center is if they up the production value and give the fans what they want to see, the most stacked card in MMA/UFC history – 3 title fights!!!!!! that would be awesome.
The only other thing that could get 50,000 people to see the UFC at one time woul be GSP vs Anderson Silva.

By: ttt

ttt — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:31:07 +0000

holding an event at the Roger’s Centre would be an epic fail unless they have more reasonable prices, finding 50k people to shell out UFC money won’t work in toronto will probably work as well as they thought the bills would up here

By: Q

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:16:45 +0000

Halifax and Winnipeg are cities, not provinces…

By: Mark Gellegan

Mark Gellegan — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:21:54 +0000

I am so happy to read this Article.

I hope Dana White subscribes to a Life of integrity.

He must keep his WORD.

By: RT

RT — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:08:47 +0000

In NY its state legislators holding the process up, in Ontario its a single person’s (Hayashi’s) interpretation of a law. Dana wont have to put nearly as much effort in to getting MMA sanctioned in Ontario because if anything having it illegal would impact negatively on the Premier politically, especially when you have Montreal Qc reaping the benefits right next door. Not to mention the potential income they’re missing out on from events going to Montreal, Edmonton, and Calgary where MMA is sanctioned as well as revenue from events already occuring in the province on indian reservations and the like. This nut wont be as tough or expensive to crack.

By: jj

jj — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:41:27 +0000

New York state is in the same boat yet MMA remains unsanctioned there as well. They’re facing a serious budget crisis and the revenue would be very useful.

However many governments uphold bans and give up taxation on things because politicians don’t want the situation used negatively against them affecting their political reign.

By: RT

RT — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:56:42 +0000

Ont. relies on tourism revenue in a big way, and the low us dollar coupled with a generally shitty economic situation has left Ontario seriously strapped for Cash. If Dana and Co. show up and say they can guarantee millions of dollars in spin off revenue for T.O. every year, there is no way the Govt of Ontario or the city of Toronto would stand in the way of that happening. Hayashi is as good as gone.