Comments on: Debating the future of the WEC http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:26:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: 45 Huddle http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68726 45 Huddle Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:35:54 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68726 I keep on seeing that Strikeforce sold 8,000 tickets. Where is this information coming from? I haven't seen the source. From what tickets are available on Ticketmaster, it seems unlikely. Unless they had the vast majority of the arena at $35 tickets, in which case they didn't make any money off the gate, which is still bad.... I keep on seeing that Strikeforce sold 8,000 tickets. Where is this information coming from? I haven’t seen the source.

From what tickets are available on Ticketmaster, it seems unlikely. Unless they had the vast majority of the arena at $35 tickets, in which case they didn’t make any money off the gate, which is still bad….

]]> By: archerD http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68720 archerD Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:37:13 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68720 I've already cut my UFC PPVs from every month to 1 in 3 or 4. WEC does not need PPV and it does not need to merge, It needs a new network. WEC is an opportunity to get the average sport/fisticuffs fan into the sport, it just needs better exposure. Damacio Page, Dominick Cruz, Joseph Benavidez, Fabiano, Torres, Scott Jorgensen, Aldo...are all exciting fighters that could grow this sport. Draining the current fan base of more money or burying them on unseen UFC preliminary cards doesnt help anyone. Get off of Versus and onto a real network. I’ve already cut my UFC PPVs from every month to 1 in 3 or 4. WEC does not need PPV and it does not need to merge,
It needs a new network.

WEC is an opportunity to get the average sport/fisticuffs fan into the sport, it just needs better exposure.
Damacio Page, Dominick Cruz, Joseph Benavidez, Fabiano, Torres, Scott Jorgensen, Aldo…are all exciting fighters that could grow this sport.

Draining the current fan base of more money or burying them on unseen UFC preliminary cards doesnt help anyone.
Get off of Versus and onto a real network.

]]> By: Joseph http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68717 Joseph Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:35:21 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68717 You are good for a laugh as always 45 Huddle. "Mark Brown" I've heard VERY good things in terms of ticket sales for the Nov 7th CBS show. 7-8K tickets have already been sold and there is still a month left for the event. Not bad. You are good for a laugh as always 45 Huddle.

“Mark Brown”

I’ve heard VERY good things in terms of ticket sales for the Nov 7th CBS show. 7-8K tickets have already been sold and there is still a month left for the event. Not bad.

]]> By: theYiffer http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68716 theYiffer Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:58:59 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68716 I'll have to agree with the majority on this one, WEC wouldn't have a prayer on PPV. Your average fan has very little idea as to what WEC is. To hype the show here in San Antonio, they promoted it as "the UFC presents WEC..." Without making any connections to the UFC, this would be another small-time show. On the radio this morning (99.5 KISS), the morning show basically crapped on the WEC and referred to (I believe it was) Reed Harris as the UFO of WEC. I've yet to see any commercials on Spike or local TV. Outside of Versus, I never see any hype about any other WEC events. So unless Zuffa is will to put some promotional muscle behind the WEC, it will sadly be rolled into the UFC if not dissolved all together. I’ll have to agree with the majority on this one, WEC wouldn’t have a prayer on PPV. Your average fan has very little idea as to what WEC is. To hype the show here in San Antonio, they promoted it as “the UFC presents WEC…” Without making any connections to the UFC, this would be another small-time show. On the radio this morning (99.5 KISS), the morning show basically crapped on the WEC and referred to (I believe it was) Reed Harris as the UFO of WEC. I’ve yet to see any commercials on Spike or local TV. Outside of Versus, I never see any hype about any other WEC events. So unless Zuffa is will to put some promotional muscle behind the WEC, it will sadly be rolled into the UFC if not dissolved all together.

]]> By: NOS http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68689 NOS Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:03:11 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68689 I like the idea of the UFC and WEC being kept separate, but I just don't see that happening in the near future. I've far much more enjoyed what WEC has put out more than the UFC has recently, but the UFC is all about the bigger weight classes and big stars, and smaller relatively unknown fighters just doesn't cut it for the average MMA fan. I already find it sad that Faber is being considered for yet another title shot after 1 or 2 fights. Seriously, he needs to be kept out of the title hunt for some time. Torres and Faber were their aces and with neither of them holding belts, they appear to be doomed. I just don't see the WEC really getting behind any of their new champions. I like the idea of the UFC and WEC being kept separate, but I just don’t see that happening in the near future.

I’ve far much more enjoyed what WEC has put out more than the UFC has recently, but the UFC is all about the bigger weight classes and big stars, and smaller relatively unknown fighters just doesn’t cut it for the average MMA fan.

I already find it sad that Faber is being considered for yet another title shot after 1 or 2 fights. Seriously, he needs to be kept out of the title hunt for some time. Torres and Faber were their aces and with neither of them holding belts, they appear to be doomed. I just don’t see the WEC really getting behind any of their new champions.

]]> By: David M http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68688 David M Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:48:53 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68688 Why would anyone say little guys can't draw? Have you guys never heard of Oscar De La Hoya or Floyd Mayweather? I know it's a different sport, but still, people are willing to pay money to see compelling and great fighters, fight. BJ Penn is a big draw, so is GSP; I don't see why a guy like Faber couldn't as well. I think if he were in the UFC instead of WEC, and had gotten the kind of hype that he got in the WEC, but on a UFC level, he would be a major draw. Why would anyone say little guys can’t draw? Have you guys never heard of Oscar De La Hoya or Floyd Mayweather? I know it’s a different sport, but still, people are willing to pay money to see compelling and great fighters, fight. BJ Penn is a big draw, so is GSP; I don’t see why a guy like Faber couldn’t as well. I think if he were in the UFC instead of WEC, and had gotten the kind of hype that he got in the WEC, but on a UFC level, he would be a major draw.

]]> By: WEC Doesn’t Appear To Be Going Anywhere With Faber Re-Signing & PPV Talk http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68687 WEC Doesn’t Appear To Be Going Anywhere With Faber Re-Signing & PPV Talk Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68687 [...] whatever reason, a handful of posts popped up today discussing the future of the WEC. It seems like the majority of fans think [...] [...] whatever reason, a handful of posts popped up today discussing the future of the WEC. It seems like the majority of fans think [...]

]]> By: 45 Huddle http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68686 45 Huddle Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:59:26 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68686 Dude, Mark Brown is the greatest Bantamweight Champion of all time!!! WEC 4 Life!!! I was a little bored and decided to check out Strikeforce's ticket sales through Ticketmaster: The $35 & $75 tickets don't even have 4 seats in a row available. The rest, which is includes $50, $100, $150, $300, & $500 all have blocks of 10+ tickets available. Some as much as 20+. 3rd row seats are still available on the floor..... And where the heck is the final card? We are 1 month and 2 days away and both Showtime & Strikeforce's websites only have Fedor/Rogers up there as a fight. We do know that Shields/Mayham is also a fight, and Mousasi is fighting somebody, but nobody worthwhile is available. But they need to get that information out there to the casual fans.... This has to be one of the worst "big fights" in terms of promotions that I can recall in a long time. And that is saying something. Will the gate even break $750,000 for Fedor? If they drew 8,000 paid, they would have to average a $94 ticket in order to even get to $750,000. And that doesn't even cover Fedor's known payout. And it's not like they get all that money, and Showtime doesn't pay out that much.... Not to mention without Carano, the ratings have the potential to be really bad.... You never know.... Because this stuff is sometimes hard to predict.... But I sense a train wreck happening here.... Dude, Mark Brown is the greatest Bantamweight Champion of all time!!! WEC 4 Life!!!

I was a little bored and decided to check out Strikeforce’s ticket sales through Ticketmaster:

The $35 & $75 tickets don’t even have 4 seats in a row available. The rest, which is includes $50, $100, $150, $300, & $500 all have blocks of 10+ tickets available. Some as much as 20+. 3rd row seats are still available on the floor…..

And where the heck is the final card? We are 1 month and 2 days away and both Showtime & Strikeforce’s websites only have Fedor/Rogers up there as a fight. We do know that Shields/Mayham is also a fight, and Mousasi is fighting somebody, but nobody worthwhile is available. But they need to get that information out there to the casual fans….

This has to be one of the worst “big fights” in terms of promotions that I can recall in a long time. And that is saying something. Will the gate even break $750,000 for Fedor? If they drew 8,000 paid, they would have to average a $94 ticket in order to even get to $750,000. And that doesn’t even cover Fedor’s known payout. And it’s not like they get all that money, and Showtime doesn’t pay out that much…. Not to mention without Carano, the ratings have the potential to be really bad….

You never know…. Because this stuff is sometimes hard to predict…. But I sense a train wreck happening here….

]]> By: Alan Conceicao http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68685 Alan Conceicao Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:57:03 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68685 <i>No network wants to be the home of the “feeder” show to the big show on a rival network.</i> This is the biggest issue with the WEC. Without the champs at 135/145, its a totally irrelevant organization featuring subpar talent. As it is, they more or less are a minor league show. Pushing them from AAA to single A will not make them any more credible an entity. It will not fix the crappy ratings, sell PPVs, sell tickets in new markets (like Youngstown), and so on. Give us another minor league and its another show I can skip. No network wants to be the home of the “feeder” show to the big show on a rival network.

This is the biggest issue with the WEC. Without the champs at 135/145, its a totally irrelevant organization featuring subpar talent. As it is, they more or less are a minor league show. Pushing them from AAA to single A will not make them any more credible an entity. It will not fix the crappy ratings, sell PPVs, sell tickets in new markets (like Youngstown), and so on. Give us another minor league and its another show I can skip.

]]> By: Zack http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/10/05/debating-the-future-of-the-wec/comment-page-1/#comment-68684 Zack Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:23:14 +0000 http://www.fightopinion.com/?p=4973#comment-68684 <em>"Time to increase the UFC to 8 weight classes, put on a few more shows per year, and turn the WEC into a feeder system."</em> No network wants to be the home of the "feeder" show to the big show on a rival network. <em>"Could the UFC just be using the prospect of PPV revenue to get Faber and Torres signed to long-term deals?"</em> Very interesting point. <em>"I’d rather see Mark Brown vs Urijah Faber"</em> Ouch, the champ in their premier division isn't a house hold name yet, eh? “Time to increase the UFC to 8 weight classes, put on a few more shows per year, and turn the WEC into a feeder system.”

No network wants to be the home of the “feeder” show to the big show on a rival network.

“Could the UFC just be using the prospect of PPV revenue to get Faber and Torres signed to long-term deals?”

Very interesting point.

“I’d rather see Mark Brown vs Urijah Faber”

Ouch, the champ in their premier division isn’t a house hold name yet, eh?

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