Finally the wait for MMA in Ontario is over! After hosting UFC events in two major Canadian cities the province of Ontario has finally decided to legalize mixed martial arts. Last year, UFC president Dana White had anticipated an event at the Rogers Centre capable of seating as many as 50,000 fans. This year, his dream is one step closer to becoming a reality.
It only makes sense that the Ontario government finally changed their views, after seeing sell out crowds in both Montreal and Vancouver it’s no wonder why Dalton McGuinty has had a change of heart. It is estimated that one single UFC event can generate as much as $6M revenue for surrounding local businesses. Seeing that Toronto is the UFC’s top market on a per person basis it seems idiotic to not want to increase revenue for Toronto’s businesses and give the fans what they want.
The UFC had recently hired Tom Wright as the new head of UFC Canada. They opened a Toronto office to help promote the UFC within Ontario and their strategy seems to have worked. The province of Ontario has lifted the ban effective in 2011. Tickets to UFC events in Toronto are going to be a hot commodity.