The UFC Apex, which has undergone renovation, could potentially add more seats to the arena, but the story claiming a massive expansion is fully manufactured, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
At a press conference after the UFC 319 war, White vehemently denied the LV Sports Biz report. Hunter Campbell, the UFC’s chief business officer, claimed he has confirmed plans to expand the venue to another 5,000-10,000 seats. Plans are underway to add additional seats, but White specifically condemned the story. Because not only does he argue that it is remotely untrue, but he doesn’t know how UFC officials can be involved in the story in the first place.
“It was the biggest bullshit story ever written,” White said at a post-Winning press conference. “It’s incredible. They cited people who literally didn’t say anything to them.
“I’ve never spoken to them (f*cking (UFC head of public of Public Relations) Lenee (Breckenridge) and “Lenee, this whole story is a lie. It’s a lie that includes the people they quoted!” ”
The outlet eventually printed the withdrawal and said that an expansion of the UFC vertex was planned with around 1,000 new seats. That’s far from the number originally reported.
“When you see the construction going on at the top, do you even think it’s going to be a 10,000-seat arena?” White said. “Anyway. That’s incredible. It’s a complete lie. Everything about that story was a lie.”
Located in the same facility as UFC headquarters, UFC Apex has served as the home of events since the global pandemic hit in 2020.
The UFC initially used the home arena as the safest venue possible, wearing fight cards without risking the potential covid outbreak of the time, but manipulated within the specific requirements of the state athletic board to allow the event to move forward if large crowds were not permitted. The ability to hold and create events within the UFC headquarters proved to be a major benefit for the company, so promotions continued to hold cards there even after the pandemic ended.
Even after handing over $7.7 billion broadcasting rights deal with Paramount, which begins in 2026, to $7.7 billion, UFC Apex is not expected to disappear. Although the UFC has been heading out to new destinations in recent years, UFC Apex remains a mainstay of many fight night events, and that is not expected to change.
Seats at UFC Apex remain for these shows, but expanding to 5,000-10,000 seats will never happen.