UFC 249 to be held in Jax

[bl8jaxnative]

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?

[Ken_FSU]

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.

[Ken_FSU]

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.

[I-10east]

^^^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. 

[JaxAvondale]

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.

[I-10east]

^^^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/

[tufsu1]

I watched about 5 minutes of a match tonight....which is 5 minutes more than I've watched before....clearly building a fan base

[Ken_FSU]

^^^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.

[Downtown Osprey]

^^^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"

[ProjectMaximus]

^^^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!

[JaxAvondale]

700,000 buys for the event. Good numbers but I thought they would be over 1 million.

[I-10east]

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.

[vicupstate]

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),

Did I miss something? Has there any indication that Fidelity is/was interested in leaving? I seem to remember they are expanding.

[jagsonville]

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.

[vicupstate]

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?