As UFC prepares for a significant year with a new broadcast agreement on the horizon, the organization is also starting to move away from hosting events at the UFC APEX facility, opting for more shows in various locations.
During a recent financial call with investors, TKO Group Holdings CFO Andrew Schleimer announced UFC’s plans to expand to more international venues in 2025. He noted that while these international events are expected to increase revenue, the profit margins will be different compared to events held at the UFC APEX due to cost management at the APEX. Although UFC hasn’t publicly disclosed the exact expenses for APEX events, it’s understood that these shows are significantly more cost-effective to produce than events held at external locations, both domestically and internationally.
“In 2025, we anticipate hosting fewer events at the APEX in Las Vegas,” Schleimer stated. “While the complete schedule for next year is still in development, we are planning to host a greater number of international events compared to 2024. These international events are projected to generate higher revenues but typically have a lower profit margin profile in comparison to APEX events.”
UFC initially began utilizing the APEX facility for events during the global pandemic. The in-house venue served as a safe way to continue hosting fights without the risks associated with potential COVID outbreaks. Even after the pandemic subsided, UFC continued to hold events at the APEX due to the substantially lower costs, especially with a complete production setup already in place within the Las Vegas building.
Later in the call, Schleimer specifically mentioned that three UFC APEX events are planned to be relocated to international locations in 2025, although the specific countries or cities were not disclosed.
UFC has already begun its international expansion, including a partnership with Saudi Arabia to host events. Two events are already scheduled to take place there in 2024 and 2025, and this collaboration is expected to continue.
Besides the UFC Fight Night events, which are exclusively held at the APEX, UFC recently announced its return to Montreal for the first time in several years with a scheduled UFC 315 event in May.
The full UFC event schedule for 2025 is yet to be announced. As the company progresses with negotiations for a new broadcast rights agreement starting in 2026, it is possible that the total number of events in 2025 and 2026 could see an increase compared to previous years.
