President Donald Trump’s planned UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn has required a monumental effort from more than seven federal agencies, hundreds of staff working onsite daily and at least $60 million, according to a legal filing that offers a glimpse into the preparations.

Event Preparations

The event is part of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, and is scheduled for the weekend with the main attraction — seven mixed martial arts matches — on Sunday. The installation began May 20, and the Secret Service worked with the UFC to screen between 20 and 30 trucks of equipment — as well as between 700 and 900 staff — that came in daily for the installation.

The arena is expected to hold 4,000 spectators, with another 120,000 visitors — who swung tickets from an online lottery — anticipated to watch from the nearby Ellipse. The event will kick off Saturday with a ceremonial weigh-in at the Ellipse, followed by a concert by country musicians The Zac Brown Band.

Lawsuit and Controversy

A lawsuit filed by two Virginia residents against the National Park Service argues that Trump’s authorization of the event violated National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parklands. The National Park Service pushed back on that claim, but also detailed the event’s preparations to make a point.

The event has sparked controversy, with one of the attorneys, Brendan Ballou, characterizing it as a “corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain.” The National Park Service has allocated significant resources and manpower, along with six other federal agencies, including Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.