UFC 306 Sets UFC Live Gate Record
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 12: A wide shot taken during the UFC 306 press conference for Riyadh Season Noche UFC held at Sphere on September 12, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
There has been a lot of curiosity about what the ticket sales would be for UFC 306. Tonight, after the Noche UFC event held at the Sphere in Las Vegas, we finally found out the figure: it was $22 million.
At the beginning of the campaign for the September 14 fight card, White had projected the revenue from ticket sales would be around $25-27 million. However, he later revised that figure, lowering his expectations to $21 million. Most recently, White estimated that UFC 306 would bring in approximately $23 million from live ticket sales.
During the event, two championship titles were won by new champions in the featured fights. In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley to claim the UFC bantamweight title. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko reclaimed the UFC women’s flyweight title by beating Alexa Grasso.
One reason White may have been uncertain about the final attendance figures was because ticket prices had significantly decreased since the pre-sale in late July. Additionally, there were still hundreds of tickets left unsold as the fight week progressed. Ultimately, White reported that 16,024 fans attended the event. He also mentioned that the UFC achieved a record for merchandise sales at a single event that Saturday night.
Prior to UFC 306, the live gate record for the UFC was set by UFC 205, which generated $17.7 million. The events that followed closely behind in terms of revenue are UFC 229, bringing in $17,188,895, and UFC 300, with earnings of $16,508,823.
Before the event, White expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "We've put together an incredibly talented team." He continued, "Once I show you all what we’re working on, you'll see just how impressive it is. Our team boasts a remarkable collection of Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys. There's even a director dedicated to capturing the experience inside the Sphere to ensure everyone feels immersed."
"What we're planning is something that can never be duplicated. No one will ever replicate it. It wouldn't even be logical to try, considering the expense involved. What we aim to create will be an incredible experience for those in the arena, and we’re also striving to deliver one of the most remarkable shows you’ve ever witnessed on television."
The expense of the event, which White claimed was over $20 million, led to a collaboration with Riyadh Season.
White expressed excitement about the collaboration, noting, "We're delighted that Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority have joined forces with us to create the most extraordinary event in the history of combat sports."
From the majority of comments online, it's clear that the visuals and overall production of the event were well-received. The UFC commentary team appeared particularly excited about UFC 306, almost urging the UFC executives to come back to that venue. Despite this enthusiasm, White was firm in stating that this fight card at the Sphere would only happen this once.
UFC 306 Outcomes: Highlights and Low Points from the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili Event
