A seven-figure sponsorship package is reportedly the most reliable method for securing a seat at the Ultimate Fighting Championship bout scheduled for next month at the White House. According to reports, such packages can cost up to $1.5 million and are considered a de facto political contribution in support of the president.
“The Trump fundraising team is raising money for it,” a Republican lobbyist told NBC News. “It’s basically been added to the list of approved entities to give undisclosed money to and get credit with Trump.” The lobbyist added that the effort is raising substantial funds and has become an unofficial vehicle for corporate donors to gain favor with the president.
White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed the high demand, stating, “I get calls, texts or emails every day — a few times every day,” referring to inquiries about tickets.
Sponsorship Package Details
MMA journalist Ariel Helwani described the offerings to the BBC: “This is the offer: UFC Freedom 250, a partner welcome reception, press conference reserved seating, ceremonial weigh-ins, general admission access, Zak Brown concert access, UFC 329 floor tickets, and WWE event integration ring signage. It's a deck being sent out to a lot of influential people, high rollers.”
The Independent has contacted the UFC and the White House for comment.
Ticket Allocation and Control
The president and UFC leadership are tightly controlling access to the 4,000-strong crowd on the South Lawn for the president’s birthday brawl. The fighting league has raffled off some free tickets, while the president retains 1,000 tickets to distribute personally. UFC leadership holds another 400, and the remaining tickets are allocated to various branches of the military, according to UFC CEO Dana White on CBS Mornings.
The fighting league is covering costs for the event, which features bouts between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, as well as Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane. The open-air stadium will include the UFC’s signature octagon arena and an arch over the fighting ring, as per renderings. Fans can view the fight on screens from the Ellipse park, just outside the White House, as part of the president’s events for the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The president regularly attends UFC fights, and league CEO White is a strong Trump supporter. Prior to Trump’s inauguration, Meta added White to its board, a move interpreted as an overture to the incoming president.
