WE know it’s the most lucrative fight of its era but the figures the Floyd Mayweather–Manny Pacquiao mega-fight could generate are staggering. Estimates suggest the May 2 clash at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas could bring in over $400 million.
The event will make a fortune from ticket sales alone. Bob Arum, the Top Rank promoter, told Associated Press he expected the gate alone at the MGM to be worth more than $72 million, which would eclipse previous records. The arena seats 16,000 and those tickets which will be available to the public should range from $1,500 to $7,500. They’re expected to go on sale next week.
Tecate won a bidding war with Corona to sponsor the bout for over five and a half million dollars. Their logo is displayed, alongside those of the promoters, MGM and US television companies on the official fight poster:
The foreign rights to televise the fight are sizeable, with Arum telling ESPN he expected $35 million to come from international broadcasters. The price for the US pay-per-view is yet to be announced but could be around $100. If this fight outstrips the record of 2.4 million views, which Floyd Mayweather set against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, the pay-per-view buys in North America could total $300 million.
This ‘fight of the century’ may not be pitting the boxers against one other at the peaks of their respective athletic careers but the long wait for it to finally happen has fuelled an insatiable demand for the event itself. In terms of market value it appears to be prime time.
There are 37 days left to go. The countdown continues.
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO WILL SCREEN THE FIGHT IN THE UK AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO WATCH IT
