Several major American cities want Pacquiao-Mayweather
by SC on Nov 24, 2009 1:17 PM EST
in News Analysis
34 comments
The fight has barely started any negotiation at all and is mostly still in the press, but Bob Arum of Top Rank is fielding offer upon offer from major American cities that want to host a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Las Vegas
Go back a few days and read Brick's breakdown of why this fight needs to be in Las Vegas. Also recognize that the reasons listed point to this fight almost sure landing in Vegas. I'd say it's 95% that Sin City hosts Pacquiao-Mayweather. It's the most likely, most logical, and most profitable. Arum is also said to be working with a group willing to build a 30,000-seat outdoor stadium on the Vegas Strip:
Perhaps it's fitting that Las Vegas officials and casino magnate Steve Wynn have already contacted Arum about staging Pacquiao-Mayweather on the Strip. One possibility would be to build a temporary, 30,000-seat outdoor arena on a vacant lot at the old Frontier, where there would be room for corporate hospitality tents and a Super Bowl-like atmosphere.
New York or New Jersey
Yankee Stadium, Citi Field (home of the Mets) and Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (home of the NFL's Giants and Jets), have all been in contact. None are happening, and Arum explains why to FOX Sports:
"There's no conceivable way the fight can take place in New York City because of the tax structure."
In short, 15% of the purses would go to municipal, state and other taxes if the fight were in New York, and the Jersey taxes aren't much lighter. There is absolutely no way you convince Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao that this makes sense for them, because it doesn't make sense.
Los Angeles
The Staples Center has been in touch, reportedly. Pacquiao-Mayweather would surely obliterate the arena records set by Margarito-Mosley this past January, but they simply may not be able to afford it. In fact, it's beyond unlikely that they could outbid the casino folks in Vegas.
Dallas
Pacquiao hadn't even fought Miguel Cotto before this rumor started. The extravagant Cowboys Stadium could hold about 100,000 for boxing, and Texans have turned out in recent times, at least for Juan Diaz fights in Houston. Given that Pacquiao-Mayweather blurs most all fan lines, the fight could do very, very well, and would easily break Texas' record for live gate (which is Marquez-Diaz, by the way). But in the end, would they really make enough money? It'd be tough. But I still say you cannot count out Jerry Jones' desire for attention for himself, the Cowboys, Dallas and that damned mall stadium of his. Jerry might get reckless with the money just to have a trophy case sort of setup out in one of the halls of the stadium with lots of photos of himself standing too close to Mayweather and/or Pacquiao.
Texas also doesn't have those fight taxes.
New Orleans
James Carville -- yes, that James Carville -- is talking with Arum about bringing Pacquiao-Mayweather to The Big Easy, and sees it as a chance for poetry in violence:
"There is an incredible narrative here," Carville said. "This fight could signal a rebirth for boxing and the city of New Orleans. We could have one together."
The Superdome (home of the Saints) hosted the Leon Spinks-Muhammad Ali rematch in 1978, and capacity for that fight was 65,000. Officials say it would be about 70,000 now. Carville is speaking with the Louisiana Governor's office about getting the tax waived to try and help New Orleans' case. The Superdome was also the host for the "No Mas" Leonard-Duran fight. There's plenty of boxing history in New Orleans, but I don't think the juice is there to beat Vegas.
By the way, I went ahead and set up a coverage page to keep all of the Pacquiao-Mayweather talk together while we await what appears to be the inevitable, which is a fight made for May 1, 2010. If the date changes, I'll change the date. If it winds up not happening, the page goes away. But it's there for those interested.
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*Dallas here they come!*
Dallas and that damned mall stadium of his … Believe or not it will probably be a good venue for that fight. Don’t forget the big Jumbo Tron. It’s actually perfect seats everywhere in that stadium with that thing. Every seat would be front row.
by Haans Bishop on Nov 24, 2009 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Oh I agree it could be an incredible fight venue. It’s a ridiculous stadium (just ridiculous) but quite impressive.
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 24, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Date guesses?
Scott – Realizing it is pure guesswork, if you had to take a wild guess when do you think this bout potentially takes place. Just curious, thanks…
by NeilLomaxFan on Nov 24, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
May 1
That date has already been talked about and is a traditional big fight weekend. UFC has that date right now, but they’d move. They’d really have little choice but to move.
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 24, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks!
…something tells me UFC would not budge, but it does seem like they would simply have to move….
by NeilLomaxFan on Nov 24, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dana White is a businessman, and as a businessman knows better than to try to go up against a fight that could potentially break every record there is.
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 25, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If its in Cowboy Stadium I am there
My aunt has box seats and gets tickets to every single event there. She hardly goes to any of them either and she said she will not go to boxing. I will get all 12 tickets. I would be willing to have a drawing for people of this site for 4 of them and I use the rest for friends. Keep your fingers crossed for this one and 4 of ya’ll get free tickets.
by TXroyal on Nov 24, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You are one lucky man if the fight is made in Dallas then!
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Nov 24, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you’re serious, please tell me what I can do to better my chances :)
by cyke on Nov 24, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i’m in for the drawing too yo. you fucking rule
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Nov 24, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bring it to Staples
This way all the celebs have an easy commute!
by Option27 on Nov 24, 2009 1:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Actually Los Angeles has been in contact as well, and I forgot to put that one in. Fixing.
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 24, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
There stadium only holds 19,000. That’s too small for an event of that magnitude.
by Haans Bishop on Nov 24, 2009 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
There were 20,820 in there for Margarito-Mosley.
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 24, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Im so pissed NY is out of the discussion. Yankee Stadium, MSG and the new Meadowlands should all be in the mix! Can we finally realize that these ridiculous taxes are not helping the economy? FML.
by ryanwk628 on Nov 24, 2009 1:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Dallas = * BIG MONEY*
It will be Dallas because of the money that can be made on door sales which is basically extra money. The bulk of the sales that are always talked about are the PPV sales. Basically the math makes sense to have in Dallas and i would be surprised if they didn’t. Just on some quick numbers… If it sold out all 100,000 seats @ $40.00 that alone would be $ 4 million. That’s kind of hard too resist. And that’s the door.
by Haans Bishop on Nov 24, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hoya-Mayweather made $17M at the gate in a venue that holds 17,000
$4 million is chicken scratch
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 24, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
*My point exactly*
My point exactly… Now factor in the REAL seat prices for front row and all the other seats and don’t forget the celebrity inflation. Also, being that this would be the first time that this stadium would be hosting a boxing event….. Again 100,000 total possible capacity!
by Haans Bishop on Nov 24, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cowboys Stadium
all the actual seats of the stadium can go for a reasonable price, but they can charge a king’s ransom for the seats on the football field-level, right? And considering that area is bigger than a normal court level at a basketball arena or the like, doesn’t that mean you can bring in more VIPs as well as more common folk? The VIPs can all go for the field level tix at $1000-$10,000+ range while the stadium seats can range from $10 in the upper decks to $100 in the lower level seats.
We also shouldn’t underestimate the extent of Jerry Jones’s irrational narcissism. He might be willing to put up $10-15 million of his own cash to bring the attention to his new plaything.
by FunnyBigHat on Nov 24, 2009 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If he's willing to do that
then the stadium will get the fight. If he’s not, it won’t. Guaranteed money >>>> speculated money every time.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 24, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Supply and demand is an intriguing game...
I think they are going to have a tough time picking between a smaller stadium and pricing tickets higher and picking between a bigger stadium and pricing tickets lower.
Obviously if the fight is in crazy demand you can always put it in a smaller arena and bump the price.
If your going to sell 17 to 20K seats you wouldn’t have a problem getting asses in seats even at extortionate prices.
On the other hand even though you may be able to sell 100K seats in a bigger stadium chances are with the demand dropping due to a higher supply you’d have to make the tickets cheaper.
I think the temporary stadium idea is the best. About 30K seats sounds about the right combination of supply and demand. They will probably be able to sell through all 30K tickets in a few days so the demand will be there and 30K people paying a pretty penny won’t hurt.
I think it would be a missed opportunity to hold this fight in the US. When De La Hoya fought Mayweather it was a huge fight(though probably not as big as this) and it did 2.4 million PPV’s. After that fight boxing was back to its normal with the UFC doing what it was doing beforehand.
You can hold this fight anywhere in the world so why not take the opportunity to take it to a market untapped by boxing?
Europe is starting to turn onto boxing they could sell this fight in Wembley arena. Wembley arena packs in around 100K and Brits love Maywather as well as Pacquiao. Shit Mayweather should come live here people really do genuinely like him here though he does seem to act differently towards the British press.
The real trick is though in central London the average wage amounts to what is around 1400 dollars a week.. thats average. The city is one of the most expensive in the world and around 25% more expensive in day to day living than New York. This is why they were holding the 50 concerts MJ was doing in London. They could charge more per ticket than anywhere else in the world so he decided to do his entire tour there rather than travelling to places hed make less selling tickets.
There are a few other places that also come to mind. Dubai is one place. They have a serious amount of money out there and they have gotten events over there by offering to help the sports organisations with financial incentives. Not only that but there wouldn’t be a tax levied.. at all. You are basically getting money from the local government to promote the fight as well as not being taxed and you open yourself up to a new market.
Beijing would be my last suggestion. China is a huge untapped market for boxing and an asian superstar like Pacquiao should be pushed in Asia. If countries like China and India adopt boxing that could open a new chapter in the history of boxing because most of Asia is set to become a commercial monster in the next few decades.
This is a pretty big opportunity to expand outwards and bring fresh faces to the noble art of boxing. If this fight does 3 million PPV’s in North America and then everybody goes back to watching the UFC like they did with the Mayweather-DLH fight then it won’t mean anything for boxing.
If a nation doesn’t have the appetite for something you don’t try and force it on them you look for one that does.
by MannyPacquiao on Nov 24, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Beijing???
There would be so much outrage from American fight fans. That would be ridiculous.
Every fighter has a game plan until he get's punched in the mouth.
-Mike
by Craigman on Nov 24, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It wouldn't make any money in China unless the government put up the cash for it
Which I guess could happen, but I hear they’re still pretty strapped after the Olympics. I doubt holding the event over there makes boxing much more popular than it is. It’s not like boxing exploded in popularity in Zaire after the Rumble in the Jungle, and it’s a sport that’s just barely entering the consciousness over there.
Wembley might be okay, but there are the weather issues. London in early May – pretty much guaranteed rain. But they’d be able to pack the place. Best I can tell, Mayweather is about 5 times as popular as Pacquiao in England though. For whatever reason, he acts really nice to the British media and not like a prick there, so people have an image of him being some kind of good guy.
I raised Dubai before. If they can find someone willing to put up $30 million or so to promote something over there, then it could happen. Two problems with Dubai though. First, it’s 120 degrees outside, so you can’t have the fight in an outdoor venue. If it’s not outdoors, then the venue wouldn’t be any bigger than in Vegas (and on a quick look, it looks like even their soccer stadiums only hold 20,000 or so). Second, they’re pretty far over in terms of time, I think 7 time zones over from the East coast. To be on at prime time in the US, the fight would need to start around 5 in the morning.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 24, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dubai would be awesome. Or in one of those arena where they host the Soccer World Cup. More exposure of the sport would be good.
by Haans Bishop on Nov 24, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Again.. ridiculous.
This fight is not leaving the U.S. There hasn’t been this kind of talk and build-up for a fight in a long time. The sport would be committing suicide on foreign soil.
Every fighter has a game plan until he get's punched in the mouth.
-Mike
by Craigman on Nov 24, 2009 4:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, good. Dubai. Are you Bob Arum?
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 24, 2009 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
if you’re going to set up the cover page, add the little button on the bottom as well
and i’ll repeat what i said before: if this fight is in texas i will sell my family for tix
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Nov 24, 2009 3:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If they have it in a stadium that holds 100k
I’ll take off work and fly wherever it is to go. That would be amazing. I just don’t see it happening though.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Nov 24, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I would make the 9 hour drive or fuck it… take the 55 min flight to Dallas.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
by Zocalo on Nov 24, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I will try to fly from Scotland if that happens!
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Nov 25, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I see the fight going the Holmes/Clooney route… outside at Cesars…
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
by Zocalo on Nov 24, 2009 10:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ugh, Texas. If the fight ever lands there, surely they wouldn’t dare put Laurence Cole as the ref?
by The_Pen on Nov 29, 2009 3:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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