Exec: UFC Apex shows are here to stay, but promotion seeking home-away balance

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – The UFC added a new record for its books Saturday in Edmonton, a not-uncommon occurrence when the promotion travels in the post-COVID era.

UFC Fight Night 246 at Rogers Place at attendance in excess of 16,000 for a $2.6 million gate, according to Dave Shaw, the promotion’s senior vice president for international operations. That dollar total is a new high-water mark for UFC “Fight Night” events in North America, Shaw said.

The UFC has increased the amount of events it does outside of its Las Vegas home base, but the vast majority of its non-pay-per-view events have been at the UFC Apex. That makes sense, Shaw said. But he also said fans can expect some chances to see a card outside “Sin City” more and more in 2025.

“There’ll be an increased number of fan events outside of the Apex relative to this year as we get into the 2025 schedule,” Shaw said after UFC Fight Night 246. “With that said, is there always going to be a certain number of Apex events moving forward – like it will always be maybe one a month? Yes.”

The UFC started using its Apex facility in Las Vegas to keep events happening during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shaw said there are ample and obvious benefits to the promotion from a cost savings standpoint.

Plus, he said, it helps recharge the proverbial batteries for the production teams that travel.

“It’s tough for us to anticipate what two or three years down the road is going to look like, but it makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons (for us to do a lot of Apex events),” Shaw said. “A lot of fighters (live) in Vegas. It’s easier for us operationally. It’s obviously simple from a budgetary perspective and the rigor and the pressure – you know how laborious it can be to be on the road.

“… I think having home games and being in the Apex where you can just turn off the lights and lock the door, it makes a lot of sense for us. Will we ever get back to pre-COVID of no Apex? I don’t think so. But I think we’re going to find the right balance for us.”

Check out Shaw’s full post-event news conference in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.