UFC Execs Promise Economic Impact with UFC Rio Event in Brazil

Lorenzo Fertitta

Brazil has hit the international sports trifecta by landing the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a UFC event coming in August 2011.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Brazil for the first time since October 1998 on Aug. 27, 2011, and UFC execs promise a positive economic impact.

“Our economic impact to a city is anywhere from 15 million dollars to 50 million dollars,” said UFC president Dana White at a press conference announcing UFC Rio.

“This is an international event. People fly in from all over the world to see UFC events. This is going to be very good for the city of Rio,” added White. “The event here is going to be very successful, and I think it’s going to bring people in from all over the world.”

“We’re going to bring a fantastic card and a fantastic show, and we look forward to helping to grow the sport in Brazil, and as Dana mentioned, make a significant economic impact on the city of Rio,” said UFC co-owner and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta.

Brazil boasts a strong economy. It saw record growth in 2007 and 2008, and was one of the first countries to recover after the global economic recession that continues in much of the world today.

Tickets for “UFC: Rio” will go on sale in May. Ticket prices have yet to be determined.

“We haven’t figured out what ticket prices are going to cost yet,” stated White. “We’ve traveled all over the world. We’ve done events everywhere, and we’ll price this thing accordingly.”