Could the much anticipated Ronda Rousey/Holly Holm rematch come to Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn?
You never know, but so far it’s a split decision among the borough’s lawmakers on whether Mixed Martial Arts should be licensed and regulated in New York – the only state in the country where the popular money-making sport is banned.
MMA is a full-body contact sport dating back to Greco-Roman times that utilizes both striking and grappling techniques both standing and on the ground. It’s one of the world’s fastest growing sports and generates millions of dollars in neighboring states.
But for the past six years the senate passed the measure only to see it stopped in the Assembly because former Speaker Shelly Silver was against the sport and refused to bring it to the floor for the vote. But that changed with last year’s felony corruption conviction of Silver, which forced his resignation.
This year the Senate recently approved the measure for a seventh year, Governor Cuomo stated he’s behind the bill and Speaker Carl Heastie said he’s in favor of it, but will leave it up to the Democratic assembly conference to see if it comes up for a vote.
And if regulated and licensed in New York, the Las Vegas-headquartered Ultimate Fighting Championships, the world’s leading MMA organization, said Barclays Center is definitely on its radar to hold MMA events.
“UFC is committed to bringing the biggest and best events to New York, especially the state-of-the-art Barclays Center in Brooklyn. We are thrilled that, for the first time, the legalization and regulation of mixed martial arts has been included in Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget, and that the State Senate just recently passed legislation for the seventh year. We are confident that there is enough support in the State Assembly for MMA legislation to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Michael Britt, UFC Vice President of Business Development and Government Affairs.
“The overall economic impact of bringing MMA to New York would be substantial by generating $137 million in total annual economic activity throughout the state, creating 1,410 total jobs,” he added.
A preliminary KCP poll found Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in support of legalizing and bringing the sport to Brooklyn as does Assembly Member Rodneyse Biochote (Midwood, Ditmas Park, Flatbush), who is a red black belt in Taekwondo.
On the other side, Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) opposes the legalization of MMA because a, “Cost benefit analysis from a fiscal and safety perspective are not that clear to me.”
Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind has no comment at the time on the matter, and Bensonhurst, Sunset Park Assemblyman Peter Abbate, Jr. said he has no opinion at this time and it’s too early to tell if it will even come up for a vote as the assembly is currently too occupied in passing the FY2017 budget.
Also supporting the legalization of the sport are Barclays Center officials.
“More than anything else, fans are telling us they want MMA and it’s time to deliver,” said Brett Yormark, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment CEO. “We would be thrilled to host UFC at Barclays Center, and soon, the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Not only does UFC further our goal of being in the big event business, it helps drive economic activity in the area.”
