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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said construction will soon begin on the temporary structure that will hold an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the South Lawn of the White House in June.
"The arena, they're going to start building it over the next week," Trump told reporters on May 1, describing an approximately 5,000-seat arena that will hold the octagon-shaped fighting cage. He said an additional 100,000 spectators will be further away at the White House Ellipse, where they can watch on screens.
"It's all free. It's going to be great," Trump said.
T-ball, hoops and hockey: Trump's UFC fight continues sporting legacy at White House
The seven-fight UFC event, set for June 14, falls on Trump's 80th birthday and will mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. The headliner is a fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. UFC CEO Dana White, a close friend and ally of Trump, has said he believes it will be the most-watched UFC event ever.
The centerpiece of the arena has been on display in Lititz, Pennsylvania, where a mockup of a soaring 90-foot tall, open-air structure was assembled ahead of the White House event.
The White House declined to provide additional details about the structure and event.
America's No. 1 sports fan? Why Donald Trump can't miss going to the big game
Trump, an avid sports fan, often held boxing matches at his casinos during his real estate days in the 1980s and 1990s and sat ringside as the likes of Mike Tyson won their fights. In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.
Trump has overseen dramatic cosmetic changes on the White House grounds during his second term, including paving over the grassy line of the famous Rose Garden and demolishing the White House's East Wing to make way for a massive ballroom.
Yet no other single event will display Trump's norm-busting approach at the White House more than hosting a night of UFC fights in the mansion's backyard.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says UFC arena at White House to begin construction soon
Continue reading...
"The arena, they're going to start building it over the next week," Trump told reporters on May 1, describing an approximately 5,000-seat arena that will hold the octagon-shaped fighting cage. He said an additional 100,000 spectators will be further away at the White House Ellipse, where they can watch on screens.
"It's all free. It's going to be great," Trump said.
T-ball, hoops and hockey: Trump's UFC fight continues sporting legacy at White House
The seven-fight UFC event, set for June 14, falls on Trump's 80th birthday and will mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. The headliner is a fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. UFC CEO Dana White, a close friend and ally of Trump, has said he believes it will be the most-watched UFC event ever.
The centerpiece of the arena has been on display in Lititz, Pennsylvania, where a mockup of a soaring 90-foot tall, open-air structure was assembled ahead of the White House event.
The White House declined to provide additional details about the structure and event.
America's No. 1 sports fan? Why Donald Trump can't miss going to the big game
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Trump, an avid sports fan, often held boxing matches at his casinos during his real estate days in the 1980s and 1990s and sat ringside as the likes of Mike Tyson won their fights. In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.
Trump has overseen dramatic cosmetic changes on the White House grounds during his second term, including paving over the grassy line of the famous Rose Garden and demolishing the White House's East Wing to make way for a massive ballroom.
Yet no other single event will display Trump's norm-busting approach at the White House more than hosting a night of UFC fights in the mansion's backyard.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says UFC arena at White House to begin construction soon
Continue reading...
