May 9th...too bad no one can attend.
https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Report-UFC-249-Slated-for-VyStar-Veterans-Memorial-Arena-in-Jacksonville-Florida-172460
Ah yes, certainly an Essential Service or Business.
Will the participants maintain social distancing?
Will they be tested prior to the event?
What do the Khans AEW thing about a UFC event here?
Wow! like Blizz said, it sucks that no one can see it at the arena. I'm bittersweet about this (JAX basically being a backup plan), but hopefully the UFC will set a future date for Jax (with butts in seats) a couple of years from now. It's so ridiculous that every small county seat in the US had a damn UFC event, but a city that hosted the Super Bowl didn't; all of these decades, and finally....
Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje are gonna fight in Jax!
https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-249
Damn this 249 card is stacked AF!
Lightweight Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
Bantamweight Henry Cejudo (c) vs. Dominick Cruz
Heavyweight Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Featherweight Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar
Heavyweight Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan de Castro
Welterweight Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis
Heavyweight Alexey Oleynik vs. FabrÃcio Werdum
Women's Strawweight Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
Middleweight Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
Welterweight Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
Featherweight Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa
Light Heavyweight Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_249_%28May_9,_2020_event%29
Quote from: I-10east on April 24, 2020, 11:02:55 AM
Wow! like Blizz said, it sucks that no one can see it at the arena. I'm bittersweet about this (JAX basically being a backup plan), but hopefully the UFC will set a future date for Jax (with butts in seats) a couple of years from now. It's so ridiculous that every small county seat in the US had a damn UFC event, but a city that hosted the Super Bowl didn't; all of these decades, and finally....
I have to believe that Jacksonville is doing UFC a favor and that UFC will reward Jacksonville with an event in the future.
I have heard from multiple sources that Vystar Arena is one of the least expensive arena's to rent in the US. So if you are trying to save a few bucks why not. This is why some tours start here. They can rent the arena for several nights to practice sets and staging without spending an arm and a leg.
Quote from: Papa33 on April 24, 2020, 05:24:08 PM
I have to believe that Jacksonville is doing UFC a favor and that UFC will reward Jacksonville with an event in the future.
I hear ya. This card is on some Madison Square Garden, T Mobile Arena, Staple Center level ish. Even the prelims is bananas on this card; unheard of.
Dana White has just been such an unbelievable scumbag during this pandemic.
Ditto his idol, Vince McMahon.
Only reason this is happening is because Linda McMahon paid off DeSantis to allow the WWE (and, by proxy, other sporting events) to continue to run in Florida as "essential services."
Great card, have been an MMA fan since UFC 1 and the Pride days, but let's see this for what it is - UFC using Jacksonville as an alternative to their absolute last resort, a private island.
It looks like the trifecta of UFC events in Jax throughout May are finalized.
May 9th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_249
May 13th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_on_ESPN:_Smith_vs._Teixeira
May 16th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_on_ESPN:_Overeem_vs._Harris
Dana White said on ESPN 690 radio that Jax will definitely get a future UFC event with fans when things get better.
https://www.facebook.com/ESPN690Jax/videos/168959521104686/
https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/29140125/ufc-249-safety-measures-include-no-interviews-octagon
Quote from: I-10east on May 05, 2020, 10:11:20 PM
Dana White said on ESPN 690 radio that Jax will definitely get a future UFC event with fans when things get better.
https://www.facebook.com/ESPN690Jax/videos/168959521104686/
Dana White also said that UFC wasn't for sale, hides drug testing results until after fights take place, and has sworn up and down like ten times now that Jon Jones will never fight in UFC again.
Local media fawning over being chosen by UFC and extolling what this means for Jax as a big fight city are ignoring the fact that UFC has overlooked Jax for literally 25 years, even for small shows, and literally only chose Jacksonville in a beggars can't be choosers, last resort context because UFC's parent company is deeply overleveraged on the loans they took out to buy the company, risk losing majority ownership if they don't start running shows yesterday, and DeSantis was the only governor willing to be bought wholesale by professional sports. Jax was the northernmost city for the fighters driving in (Donald Cerrone is driving his RV in right now) and the quietest/safest airport for the fliers.
Will delete my account if, once this over, Dana White actually follows through on that promise to bring a major show back to Jax.
^^^White would look foolish if that Jax event don't happen. White is far from perfect with his controversies, but I can't think of a time when he said that an event is coming to a particular place (including various new to UFC countries), and it didn't materialize. Ron DeSantis the governor is a native Jaxson; an event with people will be here (if not 2020, then 2021), set in stone.
The fighters arrival in DUUUVAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iiOXf4KNiw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ZcCpMjis8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS9-Woq3g-A
Given how important PPV is to the UFC, could this turn out to be it's biggest grossing event ever? What else do folks have to do that night?
Quote from: bl8jaxnative on May 08, 2020, 11:26:23 AM
Given how important PPV is to the UFC, could this turn out to be it's biggest grossing event ever? What else do folks have to do that night?
It'll be hard.
Khabib vs. McGregor did 2.4 million buys, which was kind of a perfect storm.
PPVs are now harder to get (you have to be an ESPN+ subscriber to order the PPV, which is insane).
And unemployment is obviously through the roof.
On the plus side, you'll have a LOT more people ordering individually rather than watching in groups or at sports bars too.
It's a loaded card too.
I'm gonna say 1.1 million buys.
Glad that Jax is getting all this positive pub for hosting UFC 249!
https://www.mmamania.com/2020/5/9/21252786/midnight-mania-ronaldo-jacare-souza-coronavirus-covid-positive-espn-ufc-249
Jacare Souza - despite having a family member who tested positive for covid-19 - flew in for the show, hung out all day at the Hyatt, appeared at the weigh-ins, and THEN came back positive for covid-19.
Hanging out earlier:
https://twitter.com/dannyseguratv/status/1258957336271622145
Fist bumping Dana:
https://i.imgur.com/dQqtIBt.jpg
Love MMA as a sport, but get these scumbags (Dana + UFC) out of our city.
^^^How is Jax seen in a 'negative light' because of that Jacare debacle? I feel that there are a large segment of people that will blame Jax for everything, no matter how inconsequential or trivial....If it was in Orlando, there wouldn't be any talk like that....
The real blame is clearly the UFC, for their lack of oversight. I still think that this incident (depending on what happens in the next coming days) could range from from an isolated incident (with some scrinity from the media) to an effing full blown mega disaster of epic proportions, if other fighters catch covid 19 in the coming days.
There were a lot of people walking around downtown this morning with UFC gear. Hopefully, we can get a good card when the public can attend.
^^^On ESPN690 radio, Dana White has confirmed that Jax will get an UFC event with fans when things get better with covid 19.
https://www.facebook.com/ESPN690Jax/videos/168959521104686/
I watched about 5 minutes of a match tonight....which is 5 minutes more than I've watched before....clearly building a fan base ;)
Quote from: I-10east on May 09, 2020, 11:41:43 AM
^^^How is Jax seen in a 'negative light' because of that Jacare debacle? I feel that there are a large segment of people that will blame Jax for everything, no matter how inconsequential or trivial....If it was in Orlando, there wouldn't be any talk like that....
The real blame is clearly the UFC, for their lack of oversight. I still think that this incident (depending on what happens in the next coming days) could range from from an isolated incident (with some scrinity from the media) to an effing full blown mega disaster of epic proportions, if other fighters catch covid 19 in the coming days.
I blame DeSantis as much as I blame Jacksonville for opening Florida up to sporting events before any other state (again, after being all-but bribed by the McMahon family), but based on media reports, the UFC fighters weren't in isolation after arriving in Jacksonville, with fighters and their camps freely mingling with other Hyatt guests, travelers, and fans on the streets. Feels like Jacksonville sacrificed safety and continued recovery in favor of wooing UFC.
The reason we're not seeing more criticism as of yet from fighters and local media for continuing the show after between three and four of those at the Hyatt tested positive covid is that the UFC made all fighters on the card sign a non-disparagement clause specifically preventing them from saying anything critical about UFC's handling of covid-safety. One negative word about it, and they would have lost their purse and bonuses.
https://www.espn.com/mma/ufc/story/_/id/29155525/ufc-249-fighters-lose-purse-criticize-ufc-coronavirus-safety-protocols
Allegedly, in order to obtain media credentials, you had to sign the same clause under threat of lawsuit.
I see both sides, and again, I love MMA, but I just think it's a bad look for the city to immediately open its arms to Dana "Fight Island" White and Joe "Covid is Fake News" Rogan so quickly.
They're carnies.
The NBA? Sure.
MLB? Sure.
They've earned the benefit of the doubt in terms of taking this thing seriously.
I don't trust Dana White, for a million reasons.
To your point though, time will tell.
Hopefully no one else comes down with it - particularly other guests at the Hyatt.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on May 10, 2020, 11:16:28 AM
Quote from: I-10east on May 09, 2020, 11:41:43 AM
^^^How is Jax seen in a 'negative light' because of that Jacare debacle? I feel that there are a large segment of people that will blame Jax for everything, no matter how inconsequential or trivial....If it was in Orlando, there wouldn't be any talk like that....
The real blame is clearly the UFC, for their lack of oversight. I still think that this incident (depending on what happens in the next coming days) could range from from an isolated incident (with some scrinity from the media) to an effing full blown mega disaster of epic proportions, if other fighters catch covid 19 in the coming days.
I blame DeSantis as much as I blame Jacksonville for opening Florida up to sporting events before any other state (again, after being all-but bribed by the McMahon family), but based on media reports, the UFC fighters weren't in isolation after arriving in Jacksonville, with fighters and their camps freely mingling with other Hyatt guests, travelers, and fans on the streets. Feels like Jacksonville sacrificed safety and continued recovery in favor of wooing UFC.
The reason we're not seeing more criticism as of yet from fighters and local media for continuing the show after between three and four of those at the Hyatt tested positive covid is that the UFC made all fighters on the card sign a non-disparagement clause specifically preventing them from saying anything critical about UFC's handling of covid-safety. One negative word about it, and they would have lost their purse and bonuses.
https://www.espn.com/mma/ufc/story/_/id/29155525/ufc-249-fighters-lose-purse-criticize-ufc-coronavirus-safety-protocols
Allegedly, in order to obtain media credentials, you had to sign the same clause under threat of lawsuit.
I see both sides, and again, I love MMA, but I just think it's a bad look for the city to immediately open its arms to Dana "Fight Island" White and Joe "Covid is Fake News" Rogan so quickly.
They're carnies.
The NBA? Sure.
MLB? Sure.
They've earned the benefit of the doubt in terms of taking this thing seriously.
I don't trust Dana White, for a million reasons.
To your point though, time will tell.
Hopefully no one else comes down with it - particularly other guests at the Hyatt.
I've never once heard Joe Rogan claim Covid is "fake news"
Quote from: I-10east on May 09, 2020, 04:38:31 PM
^^^On ESPN690 radio, Dana White has confirmed that Jax will get an UFC event with fans when things get better with covid 19.
https://www.facebook.com/ESPN690Jax/videos/168959521104686/
Cool to see Austen Lane cohosting on that clip!
700,000 buys for the event. Good numbers but I thought they would be over 1 million.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on May 10, 2020, 11:16:28 AM
I blame DeSantis as much as I blame Jacksonville for opening Florida up to sporting events before any other state (again, after being all-but bribed by the McMahon family), but based on media reports, the UFC fighters weren't in isolation after arriving in Jacksonville, with fighters and their camps freely mingling with other Hyatt guests, travelers, and fans on the streets. Feels like Jacksonville sacrificed safety and continued recovery in favor of wooing UFC.
If DeSantis's poltical opponent would've won the governorship (like many of yall wanted) the city of Jacksonville (which many of yall reside) would've been totally politically forgotten about within Florida; Miami would still be okay though no matter what...
There would be no UFC events in Jax, Jacksonville very likely would have lost our Fortune 500 company Fidelity National Information Systems (because DeSantis the native Jacksonvillian fought hard to keep it here), and like so many Democratic controlled states during covid, Florida would've been a locked down police state (mainly for political reasons IMO).
Deaths of despair and fear (people not going to med appts, suicides because of financial reasons, domestic abuse, drug abuse etc etc etc) would've made covid deaths look mild in comparison...Look at the comparison between Sweden (open, but is safeguarding with social distancing, masks etc) and the more closed down Norway (both adjoining Scandinavian countries)? No discernable differences with covid related deaths between the two...
There is a fine line from covid preparedness and causing a 1929 stock market Great Depression. An overwhelming of the covid deaths are elderly people in nursing homes. To me, opening businesses up, maintain safeguarding (masks etc) and protect the vulnerable should be the way to go. Handing out money every month and plunging the economy into a death spiral (with socialism) isn't the way to go.
QuoteJacksonville very likely would have lost our Fortune 500 company Fidelity National Information Systems (because DeSantis the native Jacksonvillian fought hard to keep it here),
Did I miss something? Has there any indication that Fidelity is/was interested in leaving? I seem to remember they are expanding.
Quote from: I-10east on May 14, 2020, 06:34:09 PM
Quote from: Ken_FSU on May 10, 2020, 11:16:28 AM
I blame DeSantis as much as I blame Jacksonville for opening Florida up to sporting events before any other state (again, after being all-but bribed by the McMahon family), but based on media reports, the UFC fighters weren't in isolation after arriving in Jacksonville, with fighters and their camps freely mingling with other Hyatt guests, travelers, and fans on the streets. Feels like Jacksonville sacrificed safety and continued recovery in favor of wooing UFC.
If DeSantis's poltical opponent would've won the governorship (like many of yall wanted) the city of Jacksonville (which many of yall reside) would've been totally politically forgotten about within Florida; Miami would still be okay though no matter what...
There would be no UFC events in Jax, Jacksonville very likely would have lost our Fortune 500 company Fidelity National Information Systems (because DeSantis the native Jacksonvillian fought hard to keep it here), and like so many Democratic controlled states during covid, Florida would've been a locked down police state (mainly for political reasons IMO).
Deaths of despair and fear (people not going to med appts, suicides because of financial reasons, domestic abuse, drug abuse etc etc etc) would've made covid deaths look mild in comparison...Look at the comparison between Sweden (open, but is safeguarding with social distancing, masks etc) and the more closed down Norway (both adjoining Scandinavian countries)? No discernable differences with covid related deaths between the two...
There is a fine line from covid preparedness and causing a 1929 stock market Great Depression. An overwhelming of the covid deaths are elderly people in nursing homes. To me, opening businesses up, maintain safeguarding (masks etc) and protect the vulnerable should be the way to go. Handing out money every month and plunging the economy into a death spiral (with socialism) isn't the way to go.
+100 unfortunately most posters here don't have that level of common sense. They will say lockdowns are the reason our infection rates/death rates are so low but the data is simply not in their favor.
Sweden Covid Cases: 28,582 Deaths: 3,529
Norway Covid Cases: 8,196 Deaths: 232
Finland Covid Cases: 6,145 Deaths: 287
Sweden has a little less than double the population of the other two. BTW, Sweden has NOT spared economic damage from the pandemic.
Can someone explain to me how having an event televised on PPV with no one in attendance, is some sort of economic boon to the host city?
Quote from: I-10east on May 14, 2020, 06:34:09 PM
<snip>
There is a fine line from covid preparedness and causing a 1929 stock market Great Depression. An overwhelming of the covid deaths are elderly people in nursing homes. To me, opening businesses up, maintain safeguarding (masks etc) and protect the vulnerable should be the way to go. Handing out money every month and plunging the economy into a death spiral (with socialism) isn't the way to go.
How do you propose to get high levels of compliance on "wear a mask" orders? Store employees have been shot or beat-up for insisting customers comply with company policy and CDC guidance to wear a face covering. The "liberate" protestors refuse to wear masks (well, except for their armymen tactical gear). Without high levels of mask-wearing, the benefit of anyone wearing them is reduced.
Quote from: vicupstate on May 14, 2020, 07:07:12 PM
Sweden Covid Cases: 28,582 Deaths: 3,529
Norway Covid Cases: 8,196 Deaths: 232
Finland Covid Cases: 6,145 Deaths: 287
Sweden has a little less than double the population of the other two. BTW, Sweden has NOT spared economic damage from the pandemic.
Can someone explain to me how having an event televised on PPV with no one in attendance, is some sort of economic boon to the host city?
My info was outdated, my bad. I still think that deaths of despair and fear will greatly outnumber covid deaths; damn if you do, damn if you don't. My analogy: covid deaths are the shiny Christmas tree ornament that everyone pays attention to, and the deaths of despair is the lintball that's under the bed, next to the baseboard that no one seemingly cares about.
The Jax 'economic impact' of UFC249 may be very little (outside of maybe some business to Hyatt, and some exposure) but the UFC will be back in Jax (with fans) whenever this rona clears up; that event will have more of an economic impact.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on May 14, 2020, 07:11:48 PM
Quote from: I-10east on May 14, 2020, 06:34:09 PM
<snip>
There is a fine line from covid preparedness and causing a 1929 stock market Great Depression. An overwhelming of the covid deaths are elderly people in nursing homes. To me, opening businesses up, maintain safeguarding (masks etc) and protect the vulnerable should be the way to go. Handing out money every month and plunging the economy into a death spiral (with socialism) isn't the way to go.
How do you propose to get high levels of compliance on "wear a mask" orders? Store employees have been shot or beat-up for insisting customers comply with company policy and CDC guidance to wear a face covering. The "liberate" protestors refuse to wear masks (well, except for their armymen tactical gear). Without high levels of mask-wearing, the benefit of anyone wearing them is reduced.
Exactly. Opening up could work if everyone was responsible and showed that they were able to stay safe, and do everything possible to prevent infection while resuming parts of daily life. What we've witnessed is a complete failure of much of the American public to do that, which is why we now lead the world in deaths. Even now, with so many things still closed, people keep going out and infecting each other, and spreading this thing like wildfire.
There's a version of history where our government, and many others, took this seriously from the jump in January or February when intelligence reports started rolling in and locked down enough to limit the spread + contact trace, and this was all over in a month. Unfortunately, we didn't get to live there.
Quote from: I-10east on May 14, 2020, 07:56:28 PM
My info was outdated, my bad. I still think that deaths of despair and fear will greatly outnumber covid deaths; damn if you do, damn if you don't. My analogy: covid deaths are the shiny Christmas tree ornament that everyone pays attention to, and the deaths of despair is the lintball that's under the bed, next to the baseboard that no one seemingly cares about.
That's why the people we pay our taxes are supposed to do things to prevent or lessen that despair. Enable people to pay their bills and not have to worry about losing the places they live. Put things on pause so that people still have jobs once things are safe again instead of throwing everyone to the wolves and forcing them to decide between their economic survival and their literal survival.
Although, I question your premise. Are you really suggesting that because of this lockdown more than 80,000 people are going to kill themselves? Just because they couldn't go into the office, or the gym, or get their hair done?
Or if you're suggesting that these people die because they couldn't afford to feed themselves, isn't it more wrong that we chose not to feed them than that we closed things to save their lives?
https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/29189625/1000-tests-32-fights-one-wild-ride
Interesting article about the behind the scenes in Jacksonville...
^I enjoyed that article, thanks.
btw, is AEW filming their events in Jax? There's this article...and also someone on my facebook posted a photo with Mike Tyson after running into him at an event at Jax Orthopedic Institute.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-tyson-teams-with-henry-cejudo-rashad-evans-and-vitor-belfort-in-wrestling-brawl-031119723.html
Yes, AEW has effectively set up shop at Dailey's for the foreseeable future. I am unsure if they are shooting live every Wednesday or pretaping weeks of TV at a time.
^They're shooting live every Wednesday, for the most part, from Daily's Place.
The active wrestlers are staying at the Hyatt, and some of the older members of the team (Jim Ross, older wrestlers, etc.) are staying elsewhere in Jax.
They also filmed a show on Sunday in the stadium that was legitimately the greatest thing ever (if you like campy stuff):
https://www.sbnation.com/wrestling/2020/5/26/21270999/aew-stadium-stampede-match-was-your-favorite-cheesy-sports-movie-but-better-double-or-nothing