A seven-figure sponsorship package is reportedly the best way to guarantee you get a seat at the Ultimate Fighting Championship bout next month at the White House.
Reports suggest such packages can cost up to $1.5 million, and are considered a kind of de facto political contribution in support of the president.
“The Trump fundraising team is raising money for it,” a Republican lobbyist told NBC News. “It’s basically been added to the list of approved entities to give undisclosed money to and get credit with Trump.”
“They are raising a s*** ton of money and have used it as another unofficial vehicle for corporate donors to give and gain favor with Trump,” the lobbyist added.
“I get calls, texts or emails every day — a few times every day,” White House communications director Steven Cheung told the outlet of people eager for tickets.
“This is the offer: UFC Freedom 250, a partner welcome reception, press conference reserved seating, ceremonial weigh-ins, general admission access, Zak Brown concert access, UFC 329 floor tickets, and WWE event integration ring signage,” MMA journalist Ariel Helwani told the BBC of the reported packages on offer.
“It’s a deck being sent out to a lot of influential people, high rollers.”
The Independent has contacted the UFC and the White House for comment.
The president and UFC leadership are tightly controlling who gets access to the 4,000-strong crowd that will be assembled on the South Lawn for the president’s birthday brawl.
The fighting league has raffled off some free tickets, while the president has 1,000 to hand out personally. UFC leadership has another 400, and the remaining tickets are going to different branches of the military, UFC CEO Dana White said last week on CBS Mornings.
The fighting league is footing the costs for the event, which will feature a bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, as well as Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane.
The event will feature an open-air stadium, complete with the UFC’s signature “octagon” arena and an arch extending over the fighting ring, according to renderings.
Fans can watch the fight, part of the president’s suite of events for the 250th anniversary of American independence, on screens from just outside the White House at the Ellipse park.
The president regularly attends UFC fights, and league CEO White is a strong Trump supporter.
Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, social media giant Meta added White to its board, in a move seen as an overture to the incoming president.
