TKO and Arizona Sports & Events Alliance have announced a partnership to bring premium events to the state.
What We Know: TKO, the owner of UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing, will bring premier events to Arizona. The deal is for seven events over three years.
What They Said: “We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state. We look forward to creating unforgettable moments for fans across the region over the next three years.” -TKO EVP for Event Development and Operations Peter Dropick
“Arizona has proven time and again that we are built to host the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and we are proud to join forces with TKO on this multi-year partnership. This partnership reflects the momentum and innovative spirit of our community, and the dedication to creating high-impact experiences that drive tourism, economic impact and global visibility for our state.” –Arizona Sports & Events Alliance President/CEO Jay Parry.
What Remains Unclear: Which events, specifically, from which entities will be held in Arizona. The Phoenix area has several options to host major events. State Farm Stadium, the 63,000-seat home of the Arizona Cardinals, is one option. Other venue options include Chase Field (home of the Arizona Diamondbacks), and Mortgage Market Arena (home of the Phoenix Suns). The 20,000-seat Desert Diamond Arena also currently hosts a PBR event on the schedule.
What It Means: Arizona has been a major player for premium events for several years. The Phoenix area has become a major events hotbed. It has hosted the Super Bowl three times since 2008. It has also hosted two Final Fours since 2017.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
