Trump Proposes 4,500-Seat Venue on South Lawn for White House UFC Event
Trump Announces Plans for UFC Event on the White House Grounds
President Donald Trump is continuing to transform the White House grounds, having recently paved over the Rose Garden for a new patio and announced a massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom. His latest venture includes hosting a UFC mixed martial arts event on the White House grounds next year, coinciding with the United States’ 250th birthday.
On July 2, Trump confirmed the event, which is set for June 14—a date that also marks his own birthday. This event, dubbed UFC Freedom 250, will feature a temporary arena accommodating 4,500 spectators on the South Lawn.
“Right there,” Trump said, gesturing toward the site, “they’re going to start building a 4,500-seat arena.”
Beyond the South Lawn, Trump indicated plans for significant crowds at the Ellipse, stating, “And then in the back at the Ellipse, we’re going to have 100,000, maybe 50 [50,000] to 100,000 people, I guess. They’re building tremendous stages, and we’re going to have massive screens of the fight.” The Ellipse is a public park that spans 52 acres, situated just outside the White House fence.
UFC President Dana White, appearing on Pat McAfee’s ESPN show, addressed concerns surrounding the event, emphasizing its apolitical nature. “It has nothing to do with politics. We just happen to be on the White House lawn and the President of the United States will be there,” he stated. White underscored the need to appeal to a broad audience, acknowledging that he cannot afford to alienate any political segment.
Last year, Paramount signed a seven-year media rights agreement worth an average of $1.1 billion annually with TKO Group, securing exclusive broadcasting rights for all UFC events in the U.S. This includes the anticipated White House event, which will be available at no extra charge to Paramount+ U.S. subscribers.
Regarding the event’s setup, White remarked, “All I want to see when I’m watching these fights is the White House in the background. So they found this thing, it’s being built over in Europe. It’s going to be shipped to Philadelphia and then it’s going to be trucked from Philly to Washington D.C. and we’ll start to build it on the South Lawn of the White House.”
While the structure promised by Trump may provide a temporary venue for the event, it is unlikely to be a permanent fixture, as it would obstruct the views of the South Lawn, Ellipse, and the Washington Monument.
