Anheuser-Busch, CBS Bring Legitimacy to MMA
This was a HUGE week for MMA. The UFC gained a blue-chip corporate sponsor in Anheuser-Busch, making Bud Light the league’s exclusive beer sponsor for 3 years. ProElite and CBS announced a multi-year partnership to put EliteXC events on broadcast TV (though it reportedly was a time buy and not a rights-fee based deal), a huge breakthrough for the sport.
Both of these developments signify that marketers are starting to see MMA as a legitimate sport and platform for promotion. I think we’ll definitely see more networks and sponsors get involved in the next year or so.
You can read more about the UFC-Bud Light deal here and the ProElite-CBS deal here.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
As more fighters have been in the spotlight recently it is interesting how down to earth, respectful, and polite they are even though they are in such an extreme and brutal sport. This is especially true when they are complared to professional athletes in more traditional sports, specifically, football. It will be interesting to see how this changes as the money pours into this sport.
Just my $.02.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I hope the MMA sports can maintain the level of honesty that you describe, Christian. Being out of the brightest of the public spotlights I think lets the best folks prevail - instead of the showoffs or immature people who let the ‘popularity’ get to their head.
only time will tell