Rumour: UFC's next big sponsor

[smoogy]

January 11, 2008
UFC Close to Budweiser Sponsorship?

Multiple sources within the industry have told MMAPayout.com that the UFC is on the verge of consummating a deal with Budweiser. Negotiations reportedly began as part of the UFC's negotiations with CBS. Once the CBS deal stalled, conversations continued between the UFC, Budweiser, and Spike TV.

It should be noted that none of the sources referenced are parties to the negotiations (i.e. placed within the UFC or Budweiser). As a result, the above report should be considered rumor or informed speculation at best. It also bears mentioning that the situation is fluid and can change quickly, as evidenced by similar situations with the UFC and HBO/CBS.

UFC President Dana White has been adamant in recent media appearances that the company is on the verge of landing several blue chip sponsors. Budweiser, on the heels of Harley-Davidson, would certainly fit that bill and silence much of the criticism directed at the UFC for its failure to lure mainstream sponsors.

Payout: The Business of MMA: UFC Close to Budweiser Sponsorship?

[Jon-E-Law]

Dana said he doesnt want a corparate sponser like coca cola or budweiser lol. What a liar but if its true, its over

[Clint]

Originally Posted by Jon-E-Law

Dana said he doesnt want a corparate sponser like coca cola or budweiser lol. What a liar but if its true, its over

No, what Dana said was that they don't need a corporate sponsor. They would still welcome one but they don't need it.

One interesting hold up I see here is Mickey's is owned by Miller Brewing Company. I seriously doubt their sponsorship deal is exclusive but it could cause some problems having 2 beer companies sponsoring you.

[pa99fighter]

Originally Posted by Clint

No, what Dana said was that they don't need a corporate sponsor. They would still welcome one but they don't need it.

One interesting hold up I see here is Mickey's is owned by Miller Brewing Company. I seriously doubt their sponsorship deal is exclusive but it could cause some problems having 2 beer companies sponsoring you.

hmmm Budweiser or Mickeys sponsoring you idk thats a hard one lol. are u kidding me id drop mickeys like a bad habit for budweiser. Budweiser would make ufc mad popular

[Moriason]

Yeah Greg Savage mentioned this the other day on the SDS.

Good score for them if they do land Budweiser!

[baba]

Anheuser-Busch is about as big as it gets as far as sports sponsorship is concerned. Wow.

[Bran]

sweet.

[willpunisher]

if they were to sign bud and coca cola, they had be set.. and they sure could give the fighters a bigger pay out.

[spinach]

Gonna see some good commercials.

[Krazikarl]

I swear that I saw some Miller Lite ads in the Octagon in some old fights. That surprised me because I had always assumed that the UFC had never been sponsered directly by a big beer company.