Atlantic Yards blood sport
By Stephen Witt
Comment
The new Barclay’s Center, the home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets that is expected to open sometime in 2010, may also feature Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts.
The UFC is the trademarked league that promotes and produces mixed martial arts fights that are growing nationally.
While currently not legal in New York, the State Senate and Assembly are moving bills to officially sanction the sport.
“I have talked with someone [from Forest City Ratner Companies “ the Nets owners and Atlantic Yards developer] unofficially, but it’s our understanding the arena won’t be built for another two or three years,” said Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs.
Ratner, who is not related to FCRC Chair and CEO Bruce Ratner, said he has spoken to upstate cities that have arenas such as Albany and Buffalo as well as with Madison Square Garden officials, and all are very interested in holding UFC events.
FCRC spokesperson Joe DePlasco refused comment on discussions involving the sport.
However, the sanctioning of mixed martial arts events does have the strong support of Brooklyn State Senator Marty Golden, who is the sponsor of the bill to legalize the fights on the Senate side.
“Ultimate fighting, I believe, is a sport that’s well managed and well supervised, and that goes around in Las Vegas,” said Golden, who represents Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend and parts of Sheepshead Bay, Borough Park and Midwood.
“We as a state are losing revenues by not having that promoted here, and I’m looking to get it promoted here in this state to increase our revenues and for the sport to survive,” he added.
Golden said he saw a lobbyist for the sport in Albany about two years ago and didn’t see any reason to not run with the bill.
“It [UFC] will increase revenue not only for taxes but for small business. When you have those types of venues, [they] draw people from around the country, they enhance the mom-and-pop stores around it, and ticket sales, and it’s all good for us,” said Golden.
Mixed martial arts fighting started in Brazil and came to America in the late 1990s, billed as a no-holds-barred fight, which got the sport banned across much of the United States.
However, in 2001, Zuffa LLC, a Las Vegas-based company started the UFC, and created regulations, instituting some rules such as no choking or biting.
The company also has strict regulations regarding medical exams both before and after fights.
Mixed martial arts fighting is now sanctioned in 32 states including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
UFC fights recently sold out in arenas in Columbus Ohio and Montr©al. The sport boasts one champion fighter from Long Island “ Matt Serra.
Marc Ratner said the sport continues to grow in popularity and the television ratings of those watching the sport who reside in New York ranks among the top in the country.
Both Golden and Ratner said they expect the state will sanction mixed martial arts fights before the end of the year.
The UFC is the trademarked league that promotes and produces mixed martial arts fights that are growing nationally.
While currently not legal in New York, the State Senate and Assembly are moving bills to officially sanction the sport.
“I have talked with someone [from Forest City Ratner Companies “ the Nets owners and Atlantic Yards developer] unofficially, but it’s our understanding the arena won’t be built for another two or three years,” said Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs.
Ratner, who is not related to FCRC Chair and CEO Bruce Ratner, said he has spoken to upstate cities that have arenas such as Albany and Buffalo as well as with Madison Square Garden officials, and all are very interested in holding UFC events.
FCRC spokesperson Joe DePlasco refused comment on discussions involving the sport.
However, the sanctioning of mixed martial arts events does have the strong support of Brooklyn State Senator Marty Golden, who is the sponsor of the bill to legalize the fights on the Senate side.
“Ultimate fighting, I believe, is a sport that’s well managed and well supervised, and that goes around in Las Vegas,” said Golden, who represents Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend and parts of Sheepshead Bay, Borough Park and Midwood.
“We as a state are losing revenues by not having that promoted here, and I’m looking to get it promoted here in this state to increase our revenues and for the sport to survive,” he added.
Golden said he saw a lobbyist for the sport in Albany about two years ago and didn’t see any reason to not run with the bill.
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Mixed martial arts fighting started in Brazil and came to America in the late 1990s, billed as a no-holds-barred fight, which got the sport banned across much of the United States.
However, in 2001, Zuffa LLC, a Las Vegas-based company started the UFC, and created regulations, instituting some rules such as no choking or biting.
The company also has strict regulations regarding medical exams both before and after fights.
Mixed martial arts fighting is now sanctioned in 32 states including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
UFC fights recently sold out in arenas in Columbus Ohio and Montr©al. The sport boasts one champion fighter from Long Island “ Matt Serra.
Marc Ratner said the sport continues to grow in popularity and the television ratings of those watching the sport who reside in New York ranks among the top in the country.
Both Golden and Ratner said they expect the state will sanction mixed martial arts fights before the end of the year.
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