Time for Dricus du Plessis to Shine in South Africa
As a South African MMA fan, the idea of watching the Ultimate Fighting Championship live in our own country is an exciting prospect. And with our very own champion, Dricus du Plessis, holding the UFC middleweight title, the desire to see him fight on home soil has only grown stronger.
Since Du Plessis claimed the championship title last year, there have been talks about bringing a UFC event to South Africa. However, the main hurdle seems to be finding a suitable indoor arena with a capacity large enough to host such an event.
But recently, Du Plessis revealed another challenge that could hinder the possibility of a UFC event in South Africa – ticket prices. He mentioned that the cheapest ticket for a UFC event in Las Vegas, with a capacity of around 23,000 seats, costs approximately R6,000, while VIP ringside seats can go for a staggering R900,000.
Considering that the biggest indoor venue in South Africa can accommodate about 14,000 spectators, the cost of tickets for a local UFC event could skyrocket to R10,000 or more. This pricing structure is simply unaffordable for the majority of South Africans.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, acknowledges this issue and has expressed the need to find sponsors to subsidize ticket prices. The goal is to make the event more accessible to the local fans and ensure that Du Plessis gets the opportunity to showcase his skills in front of his home crowd.
While the idea of hosting a UFC event in one of South Africa’s renowned stadiums, such as Cape Town Stadium, FNB Stadium, or Loftus Versfeld, may seem appealing, the UFC has been hesitant due to weather conditions. Open-air events pose a risk, but with our mostly predictable weather patterns, this concern could be mitigated by carefully selecting the time of year for the event.
By opting for larger venues like stadiums, the potential for selling more tickets increases, which could lead to more affordable prices for fans. It’s time for the UFC to consider booking a stadium in South Africa so that we can witness our champion, Dricus du Plessis, compete in his own backyard.
