Coronavirus' Impact on MMAFlorida Government Ruling on Essential Services Allows for Possible UFC Event
Florida could be a potential landing spot for the Ultimate Fighting
Championship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a order from the office of Governor Ron DeSantis, the list of essential services in the state has been updated to include “employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production — only if the location is closed to the general public.”
The news was initially reported by
ESPN in regards to World Wrestling Entertainment, which resumed
live shows behind closed doors at its Performance Center in Orlando
on Monday. The WWE typically holds three shows per week.
However, the order seemingly opens the door for the UFC to hold an event in Florida, as well. The Las Vegas-based promotion had been moving forward with plans to hold UFC 249 — as well as upcoming cards — on tribal land in Lemoore, Calif., before Disney and ESPN executives told Dana White to suspend operations indefinitely. White has said the UFC is in the process of securing a private island to hold fights and that the organization will be the first sport up and running during the pandemic.
A spokesperson from DeSantis’ office told ESPN that “The memo does not specify specific sports, as long as the location is closed to the general public.”
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The UFC last held an event on March 14, when UFC Fight Night 170 took place at an empty venue in Brasilia, Brazil.
Businesses that were initially deemed essential through Florida’s shelter-in-place order, which runs through at least April 30, included those in health care, financial, energy, food, communications and transportation. Professional sports was added, per the spokesperson, “because they are critical to Florida’s economy.”
Sherdog recommends all readers comply with CDC guidelines and remain as isolated as possible during this urgent time. Visit the Centers for Disease Control at CDC.gov or the World Health Organization at Who.int for the latest information on the coronavirus and learn what you can do to stop the spread.
The U.S. Government is providing tax relief for you due to the economic effects of the coronavirus. H&R Block helps you find out what tax savings you qualify for by clicking here.
According to a order from the office of Governor Ron DeSantis, the list of essential services in the state has been updated to include “employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production — only if the location is closed to the general public.”
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However, the order seemingly opens the door for the UFC to hold an event in Florida, as well. The Las Vegas-based promotion had been moving forward with plans to hold UFC 249 — as well as upcoming cards — on tribal land in Lemoore, Calif., before Disney and ESPN executives told Dana White to suspend operations indefinitely. White has said the UFC is in the process of securing a private island to hold fights and that the organization will be the first sport up and running during the pandemic.
A spokesperson from DeSantis’ office told ESPN that “The memo does not specify specific sports, as long as the location is closed to the general public.”
RELATED LINKS SPONSORED BY H&R BLOCK:
The U.S. Government is providing tax relief on your upcoming tax returns due to the financial impact of Coronavirus. Find out what additional savings you qualify for your 2019 federal tax return by clicking here.
The UFC last held an event on March 14, when UFC Fight Night 170 took place at an empty venue in Brasilia, Brazil.
Businesses that were initially deemed essential through Florida’s shelter-in-place order, which runs through at least April 30, included those in health care, financial, energy, food, communications and transportation. Professional sports was added, per the spokesperson, “because they are critical to Florida’s economy.”
Help Prevent the Spread of the Coronavirus
Sherdog recommends all readers comply with CDC guidelines and remain as isolated as possible during this urgent time. Visit the Centers for Disease Control at CDC.gov or the World Health Organization at Who.int for the latest information on the coronavirus and learn what you can do to stop the spread.
The U.S. Government is providing tax relief for you due to the economic effects of the coronavirus. H&R Block helps you find out what tax savings you qualify for by clicking here.
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