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UFC-Bud Light press release
By Zach Arnold | February 28, 2008
Here it is. Dave Meltzer has more details. Meltzer also claims that Faber vs. Pulver will happen this summer in Sacramento. Unless they plan on a massive show at Arco Arena, put your money on the venue being the Convention Center (which contains the Memorial Auditorium along with exhibit halls that can be combined for a super-large show space).
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 19 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
IMHO, this is MUCH bigger news than the EliteXC/CBS deal. CBS own SHO, so many of the hurdles the UFC has faced were not there to get EliteXC on the network.
With BudLight, though, this is a major blue-chip sports sponsor that represents a significant cash influx for the UFC (I would assume), and legitimizes the UFC as a sports franchise.
Ironically, I think getting BudLight as a sponsor will *help* get the UFC on a major network in the future. In fact, the UFC may have used a yet-to-be-announced network deal in the works to help seal the deal with BudLight.
I gotta disagree. It’s a big announcement, but it pales in comparison to Elite XC getting a deal with CBS.
The timing turned out to be pretty bad for the UFC.
I’m more in agreement with Dukes than I am with you. No surprise. 🙂
Think about it. What did it take to get ExliteXC on CBS? One network is owned by the other. It’s simply a programming decision. I don’t think the long term ramifications of this will be too earth shattering.
The very first event will certainly garner a good deal of attention, but as we all know, EliteXC has a very, very small following in terms of the mainstream MMA fan.
Perhaps CBS could earn some $$$ from ad dollars during the show, but that’s a big “IF”.
With the UFC landing sponsorship (3 years at that) from one of the world’s largest corporations, it further places the UFC an not only the “MMA” brand in the US, but as a major sports franchise in the USA.
Ask yourself this: what is the net result for each company as a result of the deals? For EXC, it’s exposure. 4 times a year, people can watch EXC for free on TV. For the UFC, it’s further brand promotion, a cash infusion and legitimization of the UFC as a sport.
Remember, Vince McMahon’s XFL had a TV deal, too!
Also, this is not to diminish EliteXC’s accomplishment of getting on free TV – it’s certainly something to be proud of. It’s just the UFC deal means more to the company, relatively speaking.
When EliteXC bombs, whoever made the decision at CBS to spurn UFC should be fired.
“Bud Light’s three-year deal with Zuffa, LLC, owner of the UFC brand, makes the American-style light lager with superior drinkability the exclusive beer sponsor of the UFC – the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.”
Its like it came straight from Goldberg’s teleprompter.
So what is happening to Mickey’s/Miller?
Is Mickey’s in a different segment of the alcoholic beverages industry? I have no idea because I’ve never tried the shit*.
*product may not be shit.
Sounds like Bud Light is the official BEER, and Mickey’s will be the official MALT LIQUOR. Both are shit.
Tecate 4 life
An interesting quandry you just brought up Jeremy – Mickey’s is part of the Miller family, and Bud Light is Budweiser.
Two rivals under the same umbrella with UFC? 🙂
Now all they need to fill out the trifecta is to get Mad Dog (MD 20/20) on board as the official FORTIFIED WINE.
“It’s just the UFC deal means more to the company, relatively speaking.”
That’s just silly. The CBS deal is critical to Elite XC while the Budweiser deal is like the icing on Zuffa’s cake.
The very first event will certainly garner a good deal of attention, but as we all know, EliteXC has a very, very small following in terms of the mainstream MMA fan.
This is the dumbest thing I’ve heard this week, and I heard someone argue that Floyd Mayweather was a stupid choice to be the WWE’s targeted celebrity this year because he wasn’t well known among pro wrestling fans. Uhh, the reason EXC doesn’t have the same audience is because they’re on a premium network only. They’re going to be on CBS, and every single pundit show on ESPN referenced them in the last hour and a half. You might as well be arguing that TUF 1 will flop because UFC’s PPV numbers are in the toilet.
Who the hell is Justin McCulley?
According to what’s posted on Sherdog this deal officially ends UFC’s relationship with Mickey’s.
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=11527
How many shows on Network TV have one bad night of ratings and are never heard from again?
Even the WWE struggles on NBC.
I don’t see how EliteXC is all of a sudden a huge contender to the UFC until something is proven otherwise. Even Sam Caplan admitted this could turn into CBS’s version of American Gladiators. Why? Because EliteXC has no creative control.
On the other side of the spectrum, this is a big deal for the UFC. Having sponsors like Harley Davidson & Bud Light really makes the sport feel legit. When an older sporting fan watches a UFC, and see’s these logo’s, there is an unconcious response that makes it seem more legit compared to seeing Mickey’s on the canvas.
How many shows on Network TV have one bad night of ratings and are never heard from again?
Did you get the early ratings in for the April show yet? Hell, how about a date it will occur on? How about _______ announcing. Wild stuff.
Even the WWE struggles on NBC.
NBC really doesn’t want the WWE, whereas CBS went out and signed Elite XC and is paying them to be on. Oddly, I did say yesterday (in a post later deleted) that the reason no one had mentioned this deal coming up was because they were trying to think of SNME parallels. Surprise!
I don’t see how EliteXC is all of a sudden a huge contender to the UFC until something is proven otherwise. Even Sam Caplan admitted this could turn into CBS’s version of American Gladiators. Why? Because EliteXC has no creative control.
Well, wow, Sam Caplan said that. I’m sure Sam Caplan is very familiar with the way CBS has promoted sporting events over the last half century. I’ve seen them televise Supercross and it comes across better than UFC does half the time, much less Elite XC and their current announcers.
CBS went out and signed them?
Or CBS is grasping at straws because nobody within 20 years of my age watches their station?
Please, I need clarification.
Actually, go over to UFC.com and watch the video with Dana White & The guy from Bud.
1. They talked about a strategic partnership.
2. Bud talked about helping to promote the sport ALONG with the UFC.
See, this is how business should be done with two established brands. Not like the CBS/EliteXC deal.
That Sherdog story is a classic example of the rumorang. They take a comment, report it as “seemingly” then someone else cites that article as a real source.