As you may know, I do not believe economics should be driving this debate and I do not think MMA will be legalized on this basis alone.
As you may recall, Zuffa commissioned an earlier “economic” study estimating impact to the state if MMA was legalized, i.e. a figure that would include economic impact to hotels, restaurants, bars, venues, employment to staff and organize events etc. The earlier study estimated these amounts at $11.3M for an event “Downstate” and $5.3M for an event held “Upstate.” At that time, Zuffa estimated putting on 2-3 events in New York a year.
These numbers will, I am sure, be higher in the latest study and particularly if the study attempts to look beyond impact to the state based purely on UFC events, e.g., Strikeforce, King of the Cage, etc. Strikeforce will be making what I believe is its East Coast debut on February 12, 2011 in New Jersey.
Whether the new number will cause anyone in Albany to change his/her opinion on whether the sport should be legalized is anyone's guess, but with an estimate $8-9 billion deficit I don't think the numbers will be all that compelling.
Instead, as I argued in the piece I wrote over at MMAPayout:
While money should not fall from the debate entirely, it is my view that the debate needs to be re-focused with an emphasis on the sport itself. A sport that is simply traditional martial arts (and Olympic sports) rolled into one with a significant, developed body of rules, clear and strict medical requirements and requirements that ambulances and doctors are available at the event, referees that are knowledgeable about the sport, and incredible athletes like Georges St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar, and Randy Couture that understand the sport and know how to defend themselves in all areas, including once the fight hits the ground. . . . the debate can be shifted to focus on some of the real issues that warrant legalization, including, inter alia, the statistical safety of the sport based on experience when properly regulated and when proper medical protocol is followed and the proliferation of underground fight clubs and the safety and welfare issues that these fight clubs present that could be curbed if MMA is legalized.It is my hope that some of these other issues will be addressed at today's press conference. I will keep you posted.
Fight Lawyer
