TKO announces new multi-year deal in Arizona for WWE, UFC, Zuffa boxing & PBR events
TKO — the parent company of WWE, UFC, Zuffa Boxing and Professional Bull Riding — announced a multi-year deal with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance on Tuesday that will bring seven events to the state.
No further information was announced in terms of what events, when they could begin to take place or even where they could be held. No financials were disclosed to this point either.
For those perhaps looking ahead at potential WWE PLEs being held in a stadium or baseball park, WWE held the Royal Rumble at Chase Field in 2019 with 2010’s WrestleMania XXVI held at what is now known as State Farm Stadium in 2010. Several events have been held at indoor venues as well. UFC has also held events at the Footprint Center like UFC 274 in May 2022.
The agreement is the latest in TKO’s effort to secure guaranteed site fees and financial incentives (what TKO head Mark Shapiro recently coined as financial incentive packages) from municipalities for bringing their various events to town.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.