Ultimate cash machine

Article Type: Abstracts From: Strategic Direction, Volume 24, Issue 11

Miller M. Forbes, 5 May 2008, Vol. 181 No. 9, Start page: 80, No of pages: 5

Purpose – Reports on the popularity of the violent fight club, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and how this has made its owners wealthy. Design/methodology/approach – Homes in on a new sport – mixed martial arts; reports on the money made by Ultimate Fighting Championship, a Las Vegas company that host the events. Looks at what has made the sport so popular;reports on the amounts of money being generated by UFC from ticket sales to live fights, licensing fees from its Spike cable shows, pay for view events, DVDs and T-shirts. Reports on how UFC is owned by the Fertitta brothers; highlights how the company is being targeted for a buyout by private equity and media firms;looks at the sports loyal fan base that has made the sport popular with marketers. Describes how competitors are entering the field offering live events free, which could undermine UFC. Provides the brothers biographical details;outlines how lawmakers had to step in to prevent no-holds-barred fighting and how new rules have allowed states to sanction the bouts again. Originality/value– Examines the attraction of the Ultimate Fighting Championship for its supporters. ISSN: 0015-6914 Reference: 37AM052

Keywords: Business performance, Customer loyalty, Financial performance, Sporting events