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Las Vegas Boxing Examiner | Chris Robinson
The latest rumors and discussion regarding the hopeful Pacquiao-Mayweather bout seem to be where exactly the contest will take place. From the get go the frontrunner to land the fight seemed to be Las Vegas, but rumors also leaked that Dallas, Texas, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and even random places such as the Congo were interested in staging the show.
When I talked to perennial boxing scribe Michael Marley last weekend, he seemed certain that Las Vegas would find a way to land the bout.
“I’m convinced that on March 13th, 2010 we’ll all be out there again to see Mayweather and Pacquiao in the ring,” Marley stated. “Especially now given the financial situation, Vegas is still on the ropes and Vegas needs this fight. The city of Dallas is going to roll on with or without the fight. Las Vegas needs it and the MGM Grand, the same company that owns the Mirage and the MGM and Mandalay Bay, I think they are going to clamp down and I don’t think they are going to let this fight of the century out their grasp.”
A fair assessment from Marley, one that reflected the fact that Las Vegas had been pegged as the ideal location for the bout from the get go. Just recently, however, I came across an interesting piece from MaxBoxing scribe Steve Kim where he stated an endless list of reasons why the fight would be better off outside of Nevada.
In the article Kim pointed to the fact that if the fight is held in Vegas that many hardcore fans will miss out on the chance of getting tickets at a decent price. He also noted that the newly resurrected Dallas Stadium would give fans the opportunity to appreciate the bout in a real fight atmosphere. Initially it appeared as though Dallas was out of the running, after Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer nixed a planned meeting with Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones but reports have begun to surface that Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum is still interesting in considering the option of Dallas after getting a huge deal from the Texas tycoon.
With so much taking place on a daily basis it can be hard to keep track of all the developments. Wanting to get a better sense of what the fans are saying, I dug up some of the more noteworthy quotes and messages on some of today’s busiest forums. In their own words, this is what the fans and public are saying about the eventual location of Pacquiao-Mayweather.
(O-Dogg33 @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“There is no way Vegas is losing this fight. They are about to open up that $8 billion city center they need this fight more than ever.”
(BRIANBA1 @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“NYC was ruled out the first second the fight was discussed due to the ridiculously high taxes....on to the fight of course it SHOULD be in a city not named Vegas but we all know it WILL be there. Texas definitely shouldn’t be considered until the Cole family moves out which but that def would be the optimal venue due to sheer numbers of seats, Jones fantastic track record in sports business and Texas has proven its boxing IQ and fandom. Its unfortunate UNLV doesn’t have a closer football stadium which would solve all these issues”
(Sandy Bunz @ EastSideBoxing.com)…
“Vegas has already been chosen as the venue for the mega fight. The town is invaded by thousands of Filipinos every time Manny fights. The Filipinos love to gamble and spend tons at the tables. No town can match all the advantages of Vegas. The hype is going to be HUGE for the next four months with Roach and Sr. as directors of the choir. The talk of another venue is crap. ”
(Valdosta @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“They better have this fight in Vegas at the MGM. I have no interest of going to the other shitholes that want to host the fight. I will go either way though as long as it's in Vegas. Not so sure if it was in the other spots. I will be getting my money back from all my damn losses on Pacquiao to. I am putting my biggest bet ever on Floyd.”
(Dilly @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“They need to quit the BS. We all know it's going to be at the MGM Grand, just choose the venue already. ”
(MichaelMC1 @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“My concern with Texas is the terrible decisions that have happened there over the last 8-9 years starting with the Micky Ward - Lejia fiasco. Knowing how Dickie Cole works I can see how one of the all time worst referees in the sport, his son Lawrence Cole, gets the nod to ref that bout. Actually that would be a classic and pretty funny. While there at it why not get Gale Van Hoy to score the bout. If I was fighter I would avoid Texas at all costs. I definitely am on board for a venue outside of Vegas, though those outdoor Caesar's fights were great.”
(Paulie again @ FightHype.com)…
“Yo let me get this straight…If I want to watch the fight live…I spend a lot of money on flight tickets, fly to Dallas, stay in an ordinary hotel (no casinos) that are priced ridiculously, spend a few days eating BBQ, going to bars, doing the tourist thing (which can be done in any metropolitan city), but ‘Texas’ t-shits (that’s all they have at tourist trap stores), pay a lot of money for flight tickets and then watch the fight on the big screen with 100,000 people? Seriously? Heck I can watch the fight at a closed circuit big screen in Las Vegas with all the Vegas amenities that Dallas doesn’t have!”
(napoleon336 @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“They really think anyone believes it’s gonna be in Dallas?”
(Jay Hova @ Digital Journal.com)…
“We all got a feeling it’s gonna be in Vegas and possibly MGM Grand yet again. They just are using all these other venues as publicity to get the whole country excited about the fight in my opinion.”
(Ron Champ Miller @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“Cant see this fight anywhere but Vegas. Nothing more electrifying than fight night in Vegas. Though I wouldn’t mind seeing that new stadium in Texas...looks like a beast!”
(ChristopherDA2 @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“I agree that Vegas is the last place that should get this fight, but I am also very leery of Texas as a host. We have seen some truly atrocious judging decisions handed down there over the past couple years. While I don't know which of (if either) fighter would get any unfair scoring advantage if the fight were held in the Jones majal, this fight is too important to the sport as far as the casual sports fan is concerned to have a poopy decision awarded. I love taking the sport back to big cities, but how about NYC? I think the Garden is about the best venue for a big fight before the weather warms up.”
(Tito4EVER @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“Just hold it at the MGM Grand already. If it's at Dallas I see the controversy right now. "It was an outdoor stadium he couldn't adapt", etc. Having the fight at the MGM Grand makes it a normal venue and will sell out regardless. ”
(Victor @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“I hope the fight comes to Dallas! 3 hour drive for me and no worry about hotel rooms or anything. Go Dallas!!”
(TrueWest @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Vegas was going to get this from the start. Too much money they will throw at it and nobody can really match it. I would've preferred Dallas as well but the writing was on the wall. I really don't mind it being in Vegas, I just wish they had a place that could accommodate more than just 18k with only 2k of those being real boxing fans.”
(Michael Matos @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“If the fight's May 1st, don't be shocked if it shows up in Yankee Stadium. Dallas just doesn't seem a fit. Yankee Stadium or Vegas. I have to go back to the Pacquiao-Cotto program and the full page, The New Yankee Stadium-Your Home For Boxing 2010 ad. Seems like a done deal from here, unless they're planning on selling out the place for the much anticipated, mouth-watering Yuri Foreman-Daniel Santos rematch.”
(BABABOOEY @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“I don't see what the hold up is. Floyd has already said he won't fight in Dallas b/c he doesn't trust Texas judges. So why is there even still an issue. Doesn't that make Vegas the choice? Sign the damn contracts!!”
(Smelodies @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Freddie Roach wants it in Vegas. Floyd, I'm sure, wants it in Vegas. It's going to be in Vegas.”
(JohnnyR @ Examiner.com)…
“Of course everyone knows it's all a ploy to up the site fee, but at least GBP should go through the motions. That's just bad etiquette and a frankly obnoxious for Schaefer to put it in writing like that. The longer Mayweather takes to put his name to paper the more it will look like he's making excuses to back out of the fight. Schwarznegger can't possibly damage his political image any more and can only profit by making a tax exemption to bring what is perceived as the biggest fight in history to California's economy. A little friendly side bet between Gov. Singson and Schwarznegger would certainly put the two on top of the media stream. I just don't see the Terminator as a Mayweather fan.”
(Joe King @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“I'm hoping for May 1st as well. May is a good month for boxing so another fight may be in Vegas the following weekend. NY has too many taxes for them to pay. They are not going to want it there. Vegas will get it.”
(MangoSpam @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Check out the prices for the rooms at MGM. From February to April, there's only 2 non-holiday dates that you can't use promo codes on. Guess which two. Arum needs to stop with the posturing, start the promotion already, March is only 3 months away.”
(AndrewP @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“I can't even think of that many big fights that have been outside of Vegas lately. I remember Atlantic City was right with them in the late 80's, but that went by the wayside for the most part. Maybe Whitaker vs. Chavez in San Antonio? It would be nice to see someone else break through, but I'm sure it'll be Vegas again.”
(Rebel @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“It has to be Vegas. You simply can't beat that atmosphere for a big fight.”
(9secondko @ DogHouseBoxing)…
“You know, it's interesting. I have never before heard so much made about where the site would be at. Usually all this is done behind closed doors. I would have to say that it seems strange. Is it all being put "out in the open" to give the illusion of honesty? GBP has been just as shady as any other promotions company and Arum is not above bending the rules himself. The Cowboys Stadium would be huge and would no doubt sell more tickets than MGM Grand for the fight. However, the Grand has a built in hotel and some people like to throw their money away at the casino. For a fight like this, I would think that a neutral site ground would be far better for the fighters. No LV peeps doing the judging and no CA referee. Keep everything as neutral as possible. Pacquiao deserves to have the fight somewhere else. Wherever the fight is held, the referee and judge appointments are key as is security. Pacquiao has accomplished so much and deserves to have at least as much in his favor as Mayweather does.”
(Shoeshine @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“So, I was at the Cotto-Pac fight and sat in 224L, Row B which cost $500 per seat. (That is the 2nd row of the upper level if you have never caught a fight at the Garden Arena before.) Those are OK seats, not great, but at least you don't need binoculars... Now, for this fight if it happens at the MGM (which seems like a 95% chance at this point) I'm guessing those same seats would be at least $750. Then, the $300 seats would become $500 and the $100 seats $250. The $1000 seats will be $1750. But hey, guess what? Only 5 of us from this entire board will get tickets so I guess we shouldn't bitch about the prices. I'm just pissed off that the atmosphere in there is going to be crap because it's full of comped suits, Asian businessmen who could care less about the fight and a bunch of whales there on a "perk". I am a firm believer that the atmosphere at a fight helps dictate and make the fight and enables the fighters to perform at their peaks.”
Source: Examiner.com
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