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This year is full of notable sporting events in the United States, including the first UFC card of its kind at the White House.
However, the event, scheduled for June 14, will cost the UFC a considerable amount of money.
TKO Group Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro spoke about the event at the White House during a quarterly financial conference, where he said the promotion expects a price tag “in excess of $60 million.”
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UFC President and CEO Dana White reacts during a bantamweight bout between Adrian Luna Martinetti of Ecuador and Mark Vologdin of Russia during Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Week 9 at UFC APEX on October 7, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“I think by the time it’s all said and done with the event and what we’ll pay the fighters and the fan festival that we’re going to have, it could move north,” Shapiro said of the expected cost of hosting the event, according to SB Nation. “It’s definitely not moving south. It could be moving north. At the end of the day, it’s still a moving target.”
TKO Group Holdings is covering all costs of the event, which included building an arena on the South Lawn of the White House as well as paying its fighters. The UFC hopes to recoup at least half of that $60 million through sponsorship and other means, but that’s still expected to be a big loss.
“We are working to determine, in parallel, a set of inventory during and around the event weekend that we can monetize, primarily with corporate partners,” Shapiro continued. “[Business to business] players who will offset half of the expenses. Even if that $60 [million] ride or ride on us, we think we can make up half the expense.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PK Press Club Digital.
Shapiro said there are “several current and potential partners pursuing multi-year partnerships” with TKO that would be inclusive in the White House event.
It’s no surprise to TKO and the UFC that the price tag is so high, with the promotion’s CEO Dana White previously saying it would be one of its most expensive events in history.
UFC CEO Dana White speaks with President-elect Donald Trump at ringside during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
Ultimately, everyone involved wants to do everything in their power to make this event one of the biggest in American history, especially since they are heavily involved in celebrating the America 250 this year.
“I want to be clear about something: We will not profit from the White House event independently,” Shapiro said. “We won’t make any money on America’s 250th birthday.
“It’s a long-term investment. It’s about earned media. It’s about sampling, it’s about new fans, it’s about casual viewers, it’s about a stage show that will ultimately expand our audience, our audience and our success on Paramount+.”
UFC CEO and President Dana White during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)
White has already promised the “biggest fight card ever assembled” for this event. Many superstar fighters have publicly lobbied to participate in the card, even though negotiations have yet to begin.
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