UFC 303 is a highly anticipated PPV of the UFC which has been on a roll this year. The Las Vegas-based promotion has been hosting stacked PPVs this year including their milestone PPV UFC 300. Some massive fights are set to take place in June 2024 with Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler being one of the most-awaited. The Irishman finally makes his comeback after almost three years away from the Octagon.
#UFC303 is ON SALE NOW 🚨
🎟️: https://t.co/g3KOPWPtnf pic.twitter.com/L21klWhbrL
— UFC (@ufc) April 26, 2024
However, what has got the fans talking are the prices for the UFC 303 event. McGregor will face Chandler at welterweight in the main event with Joe Pyfer taking on Marc-André Barriault and Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. also on the card. The ticket prices for the event are exorbitant and range from $1550 to $20,000. The prices set are one of the most expensive price ranges for a UFC event.
Fans who wanted to see McGregor’s return live in the stadium were not happy with the pricing. One fan wrote, “I had been planning to make this the first McGregor fight I’ve seen live because it might be the last and I’d be homeless trying to go to this one.”
Let me just take out my retirement fund for the cheapest tickets
— Elvis Sinosickk (@elvissinosickk) April 26, 2024
Another fan wrote, “Let me just take out my retirement fund for the cheapest tickets.” A third fan wrote, “These ufc 303 tickets prices are insane.” A fourth fan wrote, “I think it’s just that the UFC just got way too greedy. These tickets are almost double UFC 300.”
Comparing UFC 303’s price range with UFC 300 and Conor McGregor’s last appearance at UFC 264
UFC 300 also faced accusations of being priced exorbitantly, however, the event was sold out. More than 20,000 fans made their way into the T-Mobile Arena to make it the third-highest-grossing event concerning live gate after earning around $16.5 million. As of April 1, 2024, the ticket prices of the event ranged from $522 to $14,468.
Coming to Conor McGregor’s last event, UFC 264. The Notorious took on Dustin Poirier for the third time in their careers. They were 1-1 and Poirier won the trilogy as McGregor broke his foot during the July 2021 event which led to his long hiatus. When the tickets went on sale in April 2021, reports suggest that the prices ranged from $300 to $10,000.
UFC 300
Announced Live Gate: $16,508,823 (3rd highest grossing event in UFC history)
Attendance: 20,067 (sold out)
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 14, 2024
Obviously, in three years’ time, the prices will not stay the same, however, the jump is huge. Moreover, tickets were unsold for the event hours after they went on sale. Has UFC made a mistake by pricing it so high?
Tickets to Conor McGregor’s fights do not take long to sell out: Is UFC 303 priced too high?
Conor McGregor’s last two events sold out in quick time. UFC 257, which took place in Abu Dhabi in January 2021, was hosted during the pandemic era. The tickets for the event were still sold out fast. His last event, UFC 264, was sold out in seconds. The Irishman is no less a superstar now but still, UFC 303 is not showing signs of selling out at the same pace.
The last 2 Conor McGregor fights I went to sold out in minutes. There are currently over 1,000 tickets available on their site.
The UFC even out priced scalpers😭 pic.twitter.com/JmL7BoVRLZ
— Super Fan🇮🇪 (@McGregorRousey2) April 27, 2024
Hours after the tickets went on sale, it was reported that over 1000 tickets were still unsold for UFC 303. The event will likely sell out soon but maybe the high prices have affected the pace with which the tickets are sold.
#UFC302 is looking good! You better be ready! 🔥
Fight Club Pre-Sale is LIVE: https://t.co/uXAg0DZE2J#VisitNJ | @Visit_NJ pic.twitter.com/caueUh7J13
— UFC (@ufc) April 17, 2024
Moreover, June is a massive month for combat sports. Big fights are taking place globally with UFC 302 involving Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier being one. Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will finally meet in the boxing ring in Saudi Arabia, Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz will also box it out in June. The highly anticipated UFC Saudi Arabia takes place just a week before UFC 303 and more boxing is involved with Gervonta Davis taking on Frank Martin.
If UFC 303 does sell out, it might create the record for the biggest gate in UFC history. The event takes place on June 29, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.