HBO's Greenburg knows Mayweather-Pacquiao must happen
by SC on Nov 19, 2009 1:57 PM EST
in News Analysis
28 comments
HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg is vowing to not let a potential super fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao die, reports Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.
Greenburg was on the record calling the fight a must-have as soon as Pacquiao had defeated Miguel Cotto this past weekend in Las Vegas. I cannot remember the last time any possible fight in boxing was talked about the way this one has been in the days following Manny's last win, and Greenburg has to go back a bit to remember similar situations, too:
"It's rare when you have the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world both in their prime in the same weight class," Greenburg said. "And when that happens you seize the opportunity. I've lived through Leonard-Hagler, Leonard-Hearns. That's exactly where we were in 1981 [with Leonard-Hearns I], and the fight had to get made. The public demanded it and the fighters demanded it. And so there's no gray area. As far as the split, why hassle? Just do what Ali and Frazier did in 1971 -- split it in half. I'll go on record. What's a percentage point here or there to satisfy somebody's ego?"
He also promises to go the extra mile -- or ten -- to promote the fight:
"I don't know what the final number will be but I know if we're going to do this fight, we have to do it out of the box and we have to treat it as a Super Bowl. We have to put all of our energy into every angle of the promotion and the production and the site and treat it as a true Super Bowl, and that means generating a lot more money than we ever have generated."
Greenburg mentioned the possibility of adding a fifth episode -- instead of the usual four -- to the run of the Emmy Award-winning series "24/7" following the buildup to the fight.
"Everything about this fight is bigger than other fights," he said.
Greenburg could not be more right, and it's good to see he's taking a leading role to try to make this happen. HBO has essentially become a boxing promoter over the years in many ways, and that can mean good and bad things depending on the situation. But in this situation, I think it can only help.
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Think this fight would out-gross Mayweather De La Hoya?
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by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 19, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s possible, and I would not have said that even six months ago.
Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes
by SC on Nov 19, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm going to be really interested in the venue for this one if it happens
at the end of the day, I think it stays in Vegas, though.
by The Boxer Rebellion on Nov 19, 2009 2:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not a chance in Vegas
This fight is going to be one of the biggest fights since Thrilla in Manilla. This will probably be in that new Texas stadium or in NY at their new stadium. They are already projecting revenue being generated in upwards of 90-100 Million , PPV sales. This fight is bigger that Vegas!
by Haans Bishop on Nov 19, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't see it happening
Three points:
- If it’s not in Vegas, it needs to be in a big enough location that the revenues from ticket sales would exceed revenues from ticket sales in Vegas PLUS the $15 – $20 million site fee that a Vegas casino would pay to host the fight. Thus, it pretty much needs to be in a football stadium to justify not being in Vegas.
- The fight needs to be indoors. Everyone loses lots of money if they schedule this and then it gets rained out. That eliminates the vast majority of stadiums large enough to meet point 1.
- It needs to be in a place where they can actually sell out the stadium at ticket prices high enough to meet that revenue gap. MGM Grand holds about 16,000 people. If they put it in a stadium that can hold 80,000, then to make that $20 million they lost back, they would need to sell out the entire rest of the stadium (including the nosebleeds) at an average of about $300 a ticket. I don’t think there’s a market anywhere in the world that could support that. Sure as hell not Dallas.
The only way it’s not in Vegas is if someone else is willing to pony up a huge site fee. For instance, if Arum can convince an investor in Dubai to give him $30 million to host the fight, it could be in Dubai.
Don’t forget that the Thrilla in Manilla and the Rumble in the Jungle happened where they did because they were paid about $10 million dollars (or about $50 million in 2009 money) by local governments to host the fights in those locations. I just can’t see that happening today.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 19, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also, the casinos might be willing to pay a much higher site fee for this fight than usual, since it will draw so many more people (read: gamblers) to the city, whether or not they plan to actually be in the arena.
Destination fights are in Vegas because they should be in Vegas. There’s an economic synergy between boxing and gambling. No matter how big the fight gets, it will always make more sense to have the fight in Vegas than any other U.S. city.
by taco pal on Nov 19, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
$15 - $20 million was assuming that it's bigger than usual
That was about the range of the site fee for Hoya-Mayweather and Hoya-Pacquaio. I imagine the site fees for Mayweather-Marquez and Pacquiao-Cotto were mroe in the $8 – 10 million range.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 19, 2009 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right – I wasn’t disagreeing with you. Just trying to highlight that the size of the casino site fee is proportional to the popularity of the fight / size of the potential gate at another venue.
by taco pal on Nov 19, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see this happening in Vegas because for one if you remember .. When Hatton fights, his follower fill up at least one section alone… Nose bleed seats and all.. This fight will be huge and in my opinion to bid for Vegas. Dallas stadium hold like 50,000 if I’m not mistaken. Those seats will sell out fast with no problem … The Hype is already there.
by Haans Bishop on Nov 19, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
if it is in dallas i would sell my family so that i can buy some badass tickets
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Nov 19, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
80,000 seats with a MAX. up to 100,000 including standing with a Retractable Roof
This place blows Vegas out of the water. The only thing that will stop it from being there is the gambling in Vegas if you want to use that as a deterrent. The seating availability is definitely in Dallas. Besides, the chunk of the money comes from the PPV buys anyway. The door money is just extra for real.
by Haans Bishop on Nov 19, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Math
The live gate for Mayweather-De La Hoya was about $18 million. The site fee for that fight was rumored to be $20 million. That’s $38 million in revenue for having the fight in Vegas.
If a venue holds 100,000 people, to make $38 million in revenue, they would need to AVERAGE $380 a ticket for the ENTIRE STADIUM. Do you really think that 100,000 people would be willing to shell out about $400 a ticket to be at the fight???? Heck, they practically had to give away the $500 seats for Mayweather-Marquez…
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 19, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And a link for the DLH-Mayweather live gate
This is as official as it gets:
http://boxing.nv.gov/New_Gates.htm
The list hasn’t been updated for Pacquiao-Cotto yet.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 19, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Brickhaus, I considered Dallas and NY, but your argument for Vegas is seriously IRONCLAD. I’ll be shocked if it’s anywhere else at this point.
by steak_knife on Nov 19, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
maybe not but if it is Dallas, I’ll fucking be there
"I swear to God, I'll take this ******* ball and shove it down your ******* throat" - Serena Williams
by lcollins1 on Nov 19, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
YES, its possible..
especially if the `rumors/predictions` of Pacquiao vs Cotto are true. It will definitly surpass. Last I read, some had Pacquiao/Cotto at 1.6mil and still counting and some predicting close to 2mil. I know Arum is predicting (i think) 1.3?
I would love for it to be in Vegas, although it would be interesting in NY or the Cowboys stadium.. as a boxing fan, keep it in the city of Sin!
by jerranamo on Nov 19, 2009 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Vegas is most likely. The casinos get the fights because they pay the most money for them. Jerry Jones in Dallas or the Steinbrenners in NY could pony up more if they really wanted to. One of the bigger venues in Los Angeles (maybe even Dodger Stadium) would be interesting but they probably don’t have the money to compete with the casinos.
Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes
by SC on Nov 19, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I see it in vegas too
Makes it easier to go for me!
by Option27 on Nov 19, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s good to see that HBO is dedicated to making this fight happen.
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by VeeisAnimated on Nov 19, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
make it in Reliant Stadium plz
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Nov 19, 2009 4:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
"What's a percentage point here or there to satisfy somebody's ego?"
Has he seen one of the egos involved here?
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Nov 19, 2009 5:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
as someone on this site has said before, 45 each with the other 10% going to the victor is the fairest way to split the purse, however if Floyd agrees to that I would be V suprised
by Sweet science on Nov 19, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe all proceeds should go to charity
Or in Floyd’s case, the IRS
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 19, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Sweet Science (ME) back pocket charity is in dire need, i wont mind a 100 million dollars, whats that in sterling these days?
by Sweet science on Nov 19, 2009 6:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What if it turns into a trilogy?
Everybody has their own opinion about this superfight but one thing most people seem to agree on is its going to be very very close.
I keep seeing this as a pending trilogy more than anything.
As for where this fight will take place… I can’t think of many places where this fight couldn’t take place.
Mayweather and Pacquiao could sell out the Wembley Arena in London(about 90K seats) as they would most other arenas around the world.
If this fight gets made there are not many corners of the world tickets won’t sell like hot cakes. If it is advertised well too it’s going to be a huge fight.
I’m not sure why the DLH vs Mayweather fight did so well but I am confident this would do just as well if not better.
It all comes down to the way they avertise it though IMO. 99% of people buying boxing PPV’s only buy into buzzwords and euphisms so if this is advertised correctly you could potentially be talking a trilogy that has the potential to blow the doors off anything we’ve seen before.
It’s big in every sense of the word though there isn’t any doubt about it, it’s a huge huge fight.
by MannyPacquiao on Nov 19, 2009 7:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m not sure why the DLH vs Mayweather fight did so well but I am confident this would do just as well if not better.
Because it was the world’s most popular and recognized fighter against the guy that was considered pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world? This isn’t rocket surgery.
Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes
by SC on Nov 19, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
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