- UFC 284 attracts nearly 9000 out-of-State ticketholders to Western Australia
- Millions of dollars injected into WA economy for local tourism and hospitality businesses
- Australian exclusive UFC event at RAC Arena is being supported by the McGowan Government, through Tourism WA
McGowan Government election commitment to lift ban on Octagon enabled Tourism WA to secure major UFC events for the benefit of local tourism and economy
Almost 9,000 out-of-State visitors have travelled to Western Australia to witness the sold-out UFC 284 double championship event.
About 70 per cent of the capacity crowd at RAC Arena on Sunday will be from outside of WA.
This influx of visitors is providing a huge boost to local tourism and hospitality businesses, injecting millions of dollars into the WA economy.
Hotels are experiencing very high occupancy rates as part of a huge weekend of sporting and cultural events in Perth.
Bringing UFC to Perth for the first time in three years is part of the McGowan Government's major event strategy to drive tourism and economic activity in the State from a wide range of events.
UFC has the potential to promote Perth to up to one billion households in 172 countries via television broadcast and streaming services.
The UFC 284 broadcast will include videos showcasing WA as an incredible holiday destination to a huge international audience.
While in Perth, UFC athletes have explored some of Perth's most iconic destinations like Rottnest Island and the Swan Valley - sharing their experiences with a cumulative social media following of more than 10 million.
Australia's undisputed UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volcanovski will take on newly crowned lightweight UFC champion Islam Makhachev in UFC 284's headline bout.
UFC 284 has set the record for the highest number of Australian UFC athletes on one card, with nine Australian athletes from WA, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria taking to the Octagon on Sunday.
WA will be represented by Perth athlete, UFC welterweight Jack Della Maddalena, who will feature on the main card ahead of the co-main event.
UFC made its debut in WA in February 2018 when UFC 221: Romero vs Rockhold drew a crowd of 12,437 spectators to RAC Arena.
The event injected $5.3 million of visitor expenditure into the WA economy, with more than 30 per cent of the tickets bought by people outside of WA.
UFC 284 is only possible because of a McGowan Government election commitment in 2017 to lift a ban on the UFC's Octagon, which allowed Tourism WA to secure major UFC events for the benefit of local tourism and the wide economy.
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"What a massive weekend for Western Australia.
"Securing UFC 284 for Perth was a major coup for the McGowan Government.
"This has paid off big time for local tourism and hospitality businesses with almost 9000 people travelling to WA from around Australia and the world to be at RAC Arena on Sunday.
"The international broadcast will showcase WA as an incredible holiday destination to a huge global audience via pay per view.
"UFC athletes like Charles Oliveira, Carlos Ulberg and Tai Tuivasa and the UFC commentators have also explored some of Perth's most iconic destinations like Rottnest Island and the Swan Valley, sharing their experiences with more than10 million social media followers.
"Hosting blockbuster sporting events like UFC 284 is all part of Tourism WA's Major Events Strategy, supported by the WA Government, to give visitors a time-specific reason to visit WA and showcase our incredible State on a massive global stage."
Minister's office - 6552 6500
