Event Summary
Tens of thousands of people—mostly young men—traveled from states like Ohio, Tennessee, and New Jersey for a weekend event. They lined up to meet a fighter they had watched for years, see Zac Brown Band perform, watch a bald eagle fly over the crowd, and witness a history-making moment on Sunday night.
Government Resources
UFC CEO Dana White said he would cover production costs of over $60 million. Still, the presence of hundreds of federal law enforcement officers from multiple agencies suggested significant government resources were used for the event.
Public Opinion
When asked whether using taxpayer dollars was appropriate, attendees had mixed opinions.
Mark Bates of Michigan said he had "seen worse uses of it."
Matthew Ayers commented, "They spend our tax dollars on all kinds of stupid stuff. Just add it to the list."