UFC Lost $30 Million On White House Event

UFC lost $30 million staging the Freedom 250 event at the White House in June — and went into it knowing they would.

An estimated 4,300 guests attended the invite-only event on the South Lawn, including President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance, as part of celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. Tickets were not available to the general public, and initial costs were projected to exceed $60 million.

Reports in May suggested high-roller guests were being offered special access packages worth $1.5 million. UFC sources confirmed such packages existed but declined to detail the pricing.

Despite the hit, TKO Group Holdings reported a strong second quarter. UFC revenue rose 29% year over year to $535.7 million, with a $64.7 million boost in media rights driven by the promotion's $7.7 billion, seven-year deal with Paramount — which broadcast Freedom 250 exclusively on Paramount+. The event drew an average of 34 million viewers worldwide, making it one of the most-watched MMA events in history.

TKO's chief financial officer Andrew Schleimer told investors the losses were anticipated: Given the event's profile, which as anticipated resulted in an approximate $30 million loss, our margins at UFC as well as on a consolidated basis were meaningfully impacted.”