UFC president Dana White announced plans to add a hotel to house fighters in Las Vegas.
Following Tuesday night’s Contender Series event, White spoke to reporters backstage about the fallout of the card, as well as how pivotal the UFC APEX has been during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked if the APEX has, in essence, paid for itself, White revealed that the company has purchased extra land nearby and will be building a hotel to house fighters during fight weeks in Las Vegas.
“The APEX has been incredible,” White said. “What we’ve been able to do during this thing has been unbelievable. I don’t even know if you guys know this but I’ll f*ckin tell you anyway, we just bought another 10 acres [near UFC HQ]. We’ll probably start building again next year.
“We’re gonna build our own hotel,” White continued. “Then we’ll be completely self-sufficient. Obviously with what’s going on right now, having our own hotel would pay for itself quickly.”
With the promotion running consistent events in Las Vegas—especially during the COVID-19 crisis—having their own hotel would solve a lot of logistical problems.
The UFC president reiterated that his plans are to enhance the programming on their streaming service UFC Fight Pass with a plethora of events for combat sports. In addition to regional MMA promotions such as LFA, Titan FC, CES, and more, along with other programming such as Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground, White is hoping to expand the catalog even further.
Whether it be boxing, kickboxing, or other competitive events, White also plans on hosting other non-UFC events at the UFC APEX. The hotel, in White’s mind, will come in handy in a number of different ways.
“It would be more designed for fighters,” White explained. “Just like the APEX is designed for fighting and putting on special events, this place would be designed exactly for what our needs are for a hotel.”