The White House is hosting the first live professional sporting event on its grounds, UFC Freedom 250, which marks America’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 80th birthday. The event features a seven-fight lineup on Sunday night, with roughly 4,300 fans expected to watch from the stands on the South Lawn and another 65,000 at the Ellipse for a watch party.

Event Details

The stage is set on the South Lawn with a massive arena featuring an eight-sided cage and a towering 90-foot arch. The event’s website lists several bars showing the event live on pay-per-view, and Americans can also tune in by streaming on Paramount+.

However, the decision to grant Paramount+ exclusive streaming rights has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest. A lawsuit filed by the Public Integrity Project accused the Trump administration of exploiting sacred monuments to enrich the president and his friends, but a federal judge ruled that the plaintiffs likely didn’t have legal standing.

Financial Concerns

TKO Group Holdings Inc, UFC’s parent company, said that costs have increased meaningfully beyond its initial $60 million estimate and that it expects to lose approximately $30 million on the event. The company views this as an investment to raise the sport’s popularity.

The White House stated that UFC is funding and paying for the entire event, with no taxpayer dollars being used outside of what would be applied towards employees’ normal duties and responsibilities. However, a court filing noted that seven government agencies have allocated significant resources and manpower to make the event happen.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.